Simple & Cheap Coop for 6 Chickens in Northern PA?

[yakx]

Hello all. I got 6 chicks (for egg purposes) a couple of days ago. I figured a couple of weeks would be enough time to get a coop setup, but after hours and hours of searching, I'm still just not sure what to go with. I want to do it as cheaply as possible because I don't have the money to spend a grand on a coop right now. However, all the plans I've seen are either too complicated, too expensive, or too small.

I found some "Hoop Coop" designs, and I liked them, but I don't think they would be suitable for winters here. This past winter, we had quite a few days in the single digits.

Could anyone help me out?

 

[DLA]

Here's our state thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pennsylvania-unite.248345/
A hoop coop can work for winter here if you cover it with a sturdy tarp and keep the snow cleaned off so it doesn't collapse it, put plastic around lower parts and stack straw bales or whatever else you have around to block the wind and give some added insulation. You want to keep them dry and not have wind blowing directly on them where they are roosting but lots of ventilation is good. You didn't say what kind of chickens you got but most typical breeds like rhode island reds/production reds, barred rock, easter eggers, wyandottes do just fine, they're pretty hardy. Smaller combed breeds are better as less risk of frostbite on the combs.
One of the bigger expenses is probably going to be the 1/4 in hardware cloth to cover the hoop coop. Chicken wire will not keep out predators, it only keeps the chickens in. You also need an apron of hardware cloth around it to keep predators from digging under and getting in.
https://www.amazon.com/48inx100ft-H...6df-889e-9dc678fc9ef7&pd_rd_i=B08PPYX999&th=1

The hoop coop can be put together relatively quickly and you need that since you already have the chickens. It would at least give you time to find resources to build a more permanent structure if you so choose. Just be sure to stake the hoop coop down with grounding rods or the wind will flip it.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

Here is mine. It was designed to be relatively inexpensive and to make the most of the material. Link. I built it 10 years ago and it is still being used today.