Hare brained idea? Steel coop...

[ladybug99]

Quote:
We used a metal refrigerator box from the back of a tractor trailor for our first coop.... works great for the girls.....the coop we are currently building is a full size trailor box. We have the brooder in there currently, we just added some windows for ventilation, all we need is the big pen for when the girls get bigger and we are good to go.

Here is a picture of our first little coop

 

[dewey]

Mikey, the pic below is a welded coop using 8 ga wire (http://www.quickstalls.com/coop.htm). A lot of folks retro the 8 ga welded dog kennel panels for coops and just add a roof. Making the panels is easy to do (I prefer the look of wire that's welded on to the square tubing).

The expanded metal is more secure but outrageously expensive and it could have issues being galvanized -- do you have hot dip galvanizing in mind? The expanded metal might end up with a lot of webbing.

For the frame, 5/8" square tubing might be less likely to show obvious runs from the tank, plus it's more cost effective than angle iron, if budget is a factor. Our average item costs around $400 to galvanize and the finish is a rough, semi shiny silver color that's more suited for industrial use where a nice finish isn't an issue. Painting the rough galvanized finish requires a special product that doesn't always give great results.

Does your coop roof need to be below fence height?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

If I build anything close to carport size I had better air condition it and provide a bed 'cause that's where i'm gonna wind up sleeping!

I think you could probably get one most any size you want.

The spacing is 5 ft between the vertical posts.

I often see used ones on Craig's list, and if you already have a welder, you could custom size it to your needs​

 

[Poppafrog]

Just another idea I used tinted corugated roof material to build my coop. works well.

 

[Mikey D]

Quote:
All excellent points Dewey.

Your coop looks close to ideal for out here though mine will need to be more of a longer, narrower rectangle. I also prefer welding the wire. I've use AZ galvanizing and it is a hot dipped porcess, they are pretty good about not webbing the expanded steel. There is a $150 minimum & @ last check it was .25 / pound, so the coop could weigh up to 600 lbs for the same minimum.

I too like square tubing but to galvanize it (Painting it would not be an issue) It would need holes in each piece top and bottom. (So the zink could run in and out - they will not dip any hollow sealed pieces/assemblies - floating & exploding issues

)

I'm really OK (and so is the control tower) with this looking industrial - I think it is kinda cool

We do not live in a HOA so I could build it sky high with no problem.

Thanks again for all the good points & keep em coming!

Mikey

 

[dewey]

I too like square tubing but to galvanize it (Painting it would not be an issue) It would need holes in each piece top and bottom. (So the zink could run in and out - they will not dip any hollow sealed pieces/assemblies - floating & exploding issues

)

Yep, haha...gets drilled all over to submerge it...sure changes the purdy look, and about 65% of our customers change their minds when they're told that holes must be drilled, lol. We pay .60 lb for galvanizing on item weights over 240 lbs. We do do a lot of industrial look items...they're very popular.​