Building a new coop and run

[WiccanKC]

It has come to my attention that my coop and run are smaller than they should be, so I am renovating. I am looking for cheaper ways to build my own coop, ideas, and tips. Thank you sooo much in advance. My girls will be happier.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I built mine from pallets about 11 years ago. It’s still standing.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

There are several YouTube collections of cheap coop construction I’ve been looking at. Of course, most of them are not model designs, but there are lots of ideas.

 

[WiccanKC]

I was actually looking at a bunch of them and they really helped my ideas for the new coop

 

[N F C]

Under the Articles tab, there is a section labeled Coops...you can find lots of ideas that might work for you.
chicken-coops.12

Here's one where pallets were used:
Judys Free Pallet Chicken Coop

 

[flyin-lowe]

When you say cheaper what exactly do you mean? Like $50.00 cheap or $350 which is still way cheaper then many coops sold today. I priced some coops at a company that builds mini barns and they wanted like $1500-$2000 for a coop about 6'x8'. I bought all the lumber and built it myself for just under $300.00. So to me that is considered cheap. That didn't include my windows (which were donated) the run etc. that was just for the coop itself. I used treated lumber for everything below the coop floor and untreated from the floor up. Pine 2x4's are pretty cheap.......Give us an idea of your budget and you will get better answers.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Go to youtube and type it "beckyshomestead" a video will come up, click on the video and click on her youtube channel. Type in the search box: "chicken coop design" or "chicken coop". Also, make sure to hit "subscribe"! She has an awesome channel!!!

 

[50-45-1]

My husband and i built our coop, around 11X 14 from reclaimed lumber and roofing material. The only new items we had to buy was the roof rafters and the galvanized hurricane ties. My husband frequinted 3 area lumber yards and purchased 3 partial palets (returns from contractors)of cedar shake of different color, farly cheep. We have 4 outbuildings now matching cedar shake, and enough to do a couple more left over.
Watch your area craigs list and go to area habit for humanity or similar restores and gather materials. Yard sales are Great places to find stuff. I got 2 almost full rolls of tar paper for two dollars a roll. Windows and doors are put out for the trash all the time. These items are purfect for chicken coops.
Below is our coop during construction,

the first winter before we put the cedar shake on. And one photo of it finished.

 

[aart]

First understand what chickens need,
then you can be a better shopper and/or designer-builder.

Here's a thread I saved back when I first started, I learned a LOT from others mistakes:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-mistakes-coop-building-questions.139900/

Other good links in my signature, let me know if you can't see them.

There are very different needs in Florida than Michigan.
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[WiccanKC]

My husband and i built our coop, around 11X 14 from reclaimed lumber and roofing material. The only new items we had to buy was the roof rafters and the galvanized hurricane ties. My husband frequinted 3 area lumber yards and purchased 3 partial palets (returns from contractors)of cedar shake of different color, farly cheep. We have 4 outbuildings now matching cedar shake, and enough to do a couple more left over.
Watch your area craigs list and go to area habit for humanity or similar restores and gather materials. Yard sales are Great places to find stuff. I got 2 almost full rolls of tar paper for two dollars a roll. Windows and doors are put out for the trash all the time. These items are purfect for chicken coops.
Below is our coop during construction,View attachment 1709714 View attachment 1709715 View attachment 1709718 the first winter before we put the cedar shake on. And one photo of it finished.

I love this, I was wondering what I should do for the roof though