This coop is one of my biggest prides and joys that I have ever built!
Dimensions: Coop structure 8 ft. x 4 ft, with a nine foot roof peak
Run Is 8 ft x 4 ft, with another equal addition in the works.
I salvaged a large outdoor parrot cage from the junk, flipped it onto its side and used it as the structure for the coop. Awesomely the cage is fully covered in hardware mesh so it is predator proof.
I built a three nest nesting box on the outside. Dimensions are 4 ft x 15 inches.
I was lucky enough to have a neighbor who had a massive pile of pallet boards that were never assembled so that is what gave me the idea for a cabin style and I used it as the siding to the coop. At this point I had to use the four wheeler to drag the coop from my driveway to its permanent spot in my yard, otherwise it would be getting to heavy for moving safely. (safely, meaning, when I drag it it won't fall apart)
I needed to build a run for the girls, dimension are 8 ft x 4 ft. I used the old rubber wavy roof from the parrot cage and made half the run a shaded area and rain protector, the lower half I made a lift top lid for my own access. I have used locks on every possible opening area.
Time to add a roof. The front I was able to puzzle piece a bunch of mis matched tongue and groove slats that my neighbor had laying around. And a perfect size window for the girls to roost up and have a view out at night. But also serves a purpose in the winter months as extra natural lighting. I am so grateful to my husband and neighbor for basically doing the roof part for me. I tried but was struggling with angles and was wasting 2x4's.
We got everything up and secure, and while I was contemplating what roofing I wanted to do, meaning wooden slats or shingles, my cousin contacted me and offered old tin roofing from my great grandmothers farm that was taken down well over 20 years ago. I was so excited, we had to wait a few days to go get it so I took the opportunity to doll the coop up. I built a couple small window boxes, added a cute set of antlers to the peak, and arrows given to me as a gift to adorn above the windows.
The windows are on hinges at the top so I can prop them open. As you can see I left all the hardware mesh on the structure so predators cannot get inside.
We painted some large rocks with the names of my hens.
I love hunting so I added a set of antlers to the peak. Also I had a solar light that I fixed to be along the ridge of the roof line and will light up for the night.
Its time to add the tin roof!! Im was very grateful for my husband coming out to help, as he has just had hernia surgery a couple weeks prior. It helped me tremendously to have him do this part.
My husband also added a little left over tin to the nesting box because we had gotten some rain and noticed the nesting material was very wet. Now its dry and protected.
Inside of the coop I have an air purifier that I got from the good will a long time ago. It keeps air moving and it does help filter out their dander. I wash the filter every couple weeks, but once a week or so I lay a fresh dryer sheet over the filter to aid as odor and extra dust blocking.
I only have video cameras in the coop for fun mostly, and because I got them for extremely cheap at the goodwill. I think they were ten or twelve bucks each.
The back wall is just dolled up for fun with tin signs and chicken pictures.
From inside of the coop this is "Sister" hopping down from the nesting boxes.
This is popcorn coming out of the coop into the run. I cutied it up with a little boots flag and made door curtains from burlap, I used a staple gun.
These girls tend to get silly and swing so I transferred their old horse farming swing into the new run.
And there you have it. Im extremely cheap and frugal, so Most everything I used was picked up off the side of the road, or picked from junk.
Listed is my actual expenses.
Stain ($10.00) it was priced at $38.00 for the gallon but it was on clearance
6 2x4's ($19.00) Home Depot
flowers ($6.00)
screws ($8.00)
total $43.00. not too bad!
Other items I have purchased in the past that I used for this coop were
2 video cameras ($25.00) goodwill
front door chicken compass sign ($2.00) garage sale
White chicken on nest box ($1.59) goodwill
Teal paint for windows and accents (free) from an event at ace hardware on weekend on free paint samples.
Locks and hinges (approx. $15.00) bought over time throughout the years for other projects.
Air purifier ($3.99) goodwill
