Anyone know how to build a cheap chicken coop?
Sara L asked:
I would like to find out how to build a cheap coop. I do not have a barn our anything please let me know what materials that I would need and how. It needs to be cheap for now please.
Click Here To Build Your Very Own Professional Looking Chicken Coop!
I would like to find out how to build a cheap coop. I do not have a barn our anything please let me know what materials that I would need and how. It needs to be cheap for now please.
Click Here To Build Your Very Own Professional Looking Chicken Coop!
6 comments Wednesday 01 Apr 2009 | admin | Frequently Asked Questions
field rock walls, or sundried mud/straw bricks covered with a hard surface like clay paint can be applied later or sod walls like the pioneers used and thatch roof for walls and roof floor made of cut wood planks tree truncks straight cut into 6″ long piece with sand placed around them on a gravel base
good luck
Draw your coop first and then figure out the size you want. You then count all the supplies needed. Go to the hardware store. Locate someone (experienced) and ask them about your plan. Purchase needed materials.
Think of it like building a extra large and tall doghouse. And if there yard will be enclosed figure that in your plans also.
You should be able to build this in a day.
You buy your 2″ x 4″ x 8′ to 10′ boards for the frame
Boards for the roofing frame, door, walls, floor.
Plywood for the sides and roof
Plywood cut to make platforms
I built mine 4′ x 8′ with a chicken wire run same size attached to the side. 5 sheets of plywood + some roofing material and you’re all set.
If you just want a cheap coop, go to any lawn mower, ATV, or motorcycle store. They get alot of their stuff in huge shipping crates, and then they just throw the crates away (or around here they just burn them). Ask if they’d donate a crate and make sure to get the lid too. Then just cut a hole in one side.
It’s really great because you can just lift the top off for cleaning, and you know it’s sturdy since they ship these things with huge pieces of equipment and stack them up.
Your big stores, like home depot and that, don’t donate crates, so don’t bother asking. Find a small specialty store. They’re usually really glad to let you have them.
Perhaps you should mention how cheap is cheap.Tractor supply sells a 150 foot long x 4 foot tall roll of chicken wire for around 55 dollars.This is about as cheap as wire gets.Lowes, Home Depot and Meeks building centers all sell a cheap 2×4 that just over 7 feet tall for about 1.00 to 2.00 each.Tin right now is a tad high though you can buy 3 foot wide by 12 foot long painted tin for about 18 dollars a sheet.
So depending on how much of a budget you have will make a difference.To build your coop you should figure about 4 square feet per bird inside and out.So if you are keeping 10 chickens in the coop the house would need to be 40 square feet.Which is 4′x10′ or 9′x5′.The yard part of the coop would need to be at least the same size or larger if possible.The more room you can offer the better off your birds are.
How much you have to spend or what you consider cheap makes a difference you can contact me direct if you wish to.How many birds you have and how much you have for your budget is rather important info to know.This will determine the size as well as the materials.Plywood is at an all time high as to prices,tin or fiberglass roofing is cheaper and can be used for the sides as well.
Actually if you go to almost any farm, or if you know of anyone on a farm, they may have one that they might just give to you. This is how I got most of mine. Then we loaded them onto a flatdeck trailer and it was off to home….hope this helps…..