Posted: 1/25/2012 3:57:57 PM EDT
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I have raised chickens in the past, but the coop was already set up for me when I moved there. I am ready to build a coop on my land and have been looking at free plans on the net. the problem is that I dont know shit about construction, so I would need a book that gives me step by sep idiot proof instructions. Sort of a "Chicken Coop For Dummies".
Any advice? P.S. I used to raise chickens and turkeys together and may want to go the same route. |
Actually, there is a "Chicken Coops for Dummies" book.  http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/building-chicken-coops-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html |
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http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-chicken-experience
All you'll need to know about chickens and coops.
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Quoted:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-chicken-experience All you'll need to know about chickens and coops. +1 on this site. I just finished a really nice one with a totally fenced 10x20 run. |
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DON'T overthink it.
I see folks getting into chickens, spending a grand or better on a coop that's fancier than my house, to "save" a few bucks on eggs, LOL. Seen old cars, sheds, crates, etc used as housing. I made my current coop mostly out of scraps from the crate that held a 12,000 gal fuel tank 16 years ago, and some "experienced" plywood. The birds don't care. 
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Quoted:
DON'T overthink it. I see folks getting into chickens, spending a grand or better on a coop that's fancier than my house, to "save" a few bucks on eggs, LOL. Seen old cars, sheds, crates, etc used as housing. I made my current coop mostly out of scraps from the crate that held a 12,000 gal fuel tank 16 years ago, and some "experienced" plywood. The birds don't care. Totally agree. I spent more than I should've on building our first coop from scratch. If I could do it over again I'd have looked for a cheap or free garden shed that somebody wanted to get rid of. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the help. I would like to go the cheapest rout possible. I will have to start putting out feelers on old sheds etc. Check craigslist, etc And I've been known to ride around LOOKING for old cars/tractors/boats/sheds/kennels/you-name-its and offering to haul them off for FREE!
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Quoted:
Thanks for the help. I would like to go the cheapest rout possible. I will have to start putting out feelers on old sheds etc. Here is a thread I made about building my coop: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_19/646368_Picture_tutorial_of_building_a_chicken_coop_from_a_pole_barn___update_pg_2___56k_warning_.html&light=coop Should give you some ideas. I also went 'free or cheap' as my materials requirement. TRG |
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see above mentioned links.
And don't be frustrated if your birds don't use it at first. they will learn. We used an old metal shed for our first coop. No end to the problems with it. We took a corner of our barn that used to be grain storage, and turned it into a coop. Then we made an inside run for them, and a ramp that's about 10 feet long. It took some longer than others....but they all use it now with no problems. Took about a week for them to figure it out, and stop crowding around the old coop. |