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Barnyard Buddies:  Building a Chicken Coop  |
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Lea Vollmer
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Lea
Evansville
IN
USA
25 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 10:55:01 AM
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I would like to build a chicken coop for 4-5 birds but can't find plans anywhere! Does anyone know of a good source? I'd prefer free plans, but am willing to pay for some if I can't find any free ones. Thanks!
Lea - Farm Girl #143 at Heart in Southern Indiana
My blog: www.kneedeepinfibers.blogspot.com
Ravelry ID: LeaMV |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 6:40:23 PM
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backyardchickens.com has a whole section on coops that were posted by readers. I'm not sure about plans though. It depends on the posting - some have plans some dont.
Here is a plan I found - http://www.buildeazy.com/chicken_coop_1.html
Good luck!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Edited by - willowtreecreek on Apr 04 2010 08:21:23 AM |
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nancypo
True Blue Farmgirl
362 Posts
nancy
boise
idaho
USA
362 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 10:03:56 PM
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Lea have you googled "chicken coops", in various sizes, etc? http://www.backyardchickens.com/ has a sections "coop design" with lots of ideas. You can do it simple, just create a lean to, use palletts, etc...
Be the change... |
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Lea Vollmer
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Lea
Evansville
IN
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 10:34:52 PM
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Thanks - I've googled, Binged, searched and I find a lot of pictures but no real "plans". The Build Eazy site was very helpful though - they actually had a plan!
Lea - Farm Girl #143 at Heart in Southern Indiana
My blog: www.kneedeepinfibers.blogspot.com
Ravelry ID: LeaMV |
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nancypo
True Blue Farmgirl
362 Posts
nancy
boise
idaho
USA
362 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2010 : 12:01:40 PM
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Good luck!
Be the change... |
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Lea Vollmer
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Lea
Evansville
IN
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2010 : 1:32:47 PM
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I'll need it considering I've never built any kind of a structure before! I just wanted an idea of what I needed in the way of materials, how to build it, etc. I've now got the wild idea that I'm going to "remodel" the swing set that's already in the backyard into the coop. It has a tower attached to it that has a slide attached to it and a ramp for climbing, and since my son outgrew it a long time ago, I'm thinking I can use the tower part as the frame for the coop.
Of course I don't think the chickens will need the slide (now there's a sight!) but I could use part of the ramp and take off the end where swings used to be. Could work!
Lea - Farm Girl #143 at Heart in Southern Indiana
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2010 : 08:35:00 AM
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What a great idea!!!! My first chicken coop I designed and built myself. It was funny looking but it worked!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Lea Vollmer
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Lea
Evansville
IN
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2010 : 6:50:14 PM
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Dad came over last night for dinner, so I ran the idea past him of converting the swing set into a chicken coop and he says it's do-able. I'm going to use the part that used to hold the swings to make the outdoor run part. Now all I have to do is start taking off what I don't want and figuring out how to make the rest! Dad has done wood working stuff all his life, so he'll be a great help.
I'll have to post before, during and after pictures! Now, if I can just find my crowbar!
Lea - Farm Girl #143 at Heart in Southern Indiana
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nancypo
True Blue Farmgirl
362 Posts
nancy
boise
idaho
USA
362 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2010 : 9:46:18 PM
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Great idea!
Be the change... |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2010 : 07:28:02 AM
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i am going to keep that idea in my head. thats a good one for us girls. i do not build much. papa does it. but i have thought of how pallets could be put to use. this is another good one sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2010 : 12:11:16 PM
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My DH was nearly rolling on the ground imagining those chickens going down the slide!!! LOL! We really needed a laugh today! Thank you so much! He said put the statues of chickens on there! You could use it for penguins in the winter they'd use the slide! LOL!
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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Lea Vollmer
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Lea
Evansville
IN
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2010 : 2:48:36 PM
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I have a very active imagination - I think weird things!
Lea - Farm Girl #143 at Heart in Southern Indiana
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Shery Jespersen
True Blue Farmgirl
115 Posts
Shery
Upton
Wyoming
USA
115 Posts |
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chick-chick
True Blue Farmgirl
322 Posts
Liz
New Britain
CT
USA
322 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 10:25:21 AM
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Lea,
The swing set idea is not so crazy. About two years ago hubby brought home 3 ducks and 2 chickens, we have the same type of swing set. we fenced in around the bottom part the part that holds the fort so we would have a place for them, then I put a tarp around two sides, well the chickens and ducks are still in there and I'm still waiting for my coop! But the birds haven't complained and the made it thuough the winter, However they really don't like when we have a heavy rain with wind
When you get it completed you should post pictures of it, maybe I can convert our swing set the same way.
Liz |
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Lady Woodworker
True Blue Farmgirl
259 Posts
Karen
Chamberlain
Maine
USA
259 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2011 : 3:40:04 PM
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Hi all,
This interests me too.
I started a thread yesterday asking for everyone's wish list for their dream chicken coop.
I have received lots of good advice too but I see some things here that are also hugely valuable.
Lea, I looked at the buildeazy site that Julie recommended.
I have done a lot of building (not houses, but boats and furniture)
and I can see that there are a ton of helpful sections on this site.
It looks at each step of the process and even though it sounds like you are
repurposing at least some parts of your coop this site has great stuff on creating
your materials list and some other steps that will save you a lot of time,
money and aggravation along the way.
It looks like there are some other good recommendations here too.
Thanks for this great (and timely) thread!
Karen
Farmgirl Sister # 2419 |
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Barnyard Buddies: Building a Chicken Coop |
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Building a Chicken Coop
