it is like making a hoop house. How cool is that. I might make one for the Sebrights since they are all so tiny and I don't want Little Man breeding my Araucanas when they grow up. You could make it as long at you want or taller too.
http://www.chickenhousesplus.com/pochcodosh.html
This message was edited Aug 5, 2010 10:06 PM
Easy Cheap to Make Coop
That is great!
I wonder how predator-proof that would be, though. I'm thinking about the way the mink or whatever it was tore through the window screen in our new coop...
you use 1/4" hardware wire
That should take care of them!
Those little things are cute, and cool. Trust me when I tell you they are a pain in the butt. They also are not cheap after all is said and done. Most of us who raise chickens are older and getting on hands and knees to deal with them, retrieve eggs and the like, gets old real fast. A four X eight that you can walk into, house more chickens, and utilize more space is not only cheaper but much handier, and more effecient...Even those of us who are carpentry challenged can build a four X eight using all standard plywood and 2X4's...Hay
This message was edited Aug 6, 2010 9:21 AM
This message was edited Aug 6, 2010 1:12 PM
I agree with Haystack: the little coop is really cute and would be great for suburban chickens when you can never have many, but add the tougher hardware cloth and it isn't as cheap anymore and it is harder to work in little spaces.
I was also thinking it would be great to seperate roosters or for when you want selective breeding. My Sebrights are very tiny and are not good layers. Just well loved pets. It has door front and back for easy access lol. I keep a low step stool and chairs all over in the yard and pens to sit on. I also have a grabber for when they lay eggs in the back of the big coop that I can't reach. I enjoy visiting with my animals everyday.
Yes the Hardware wire is expensive but also very secure for those that want a small pens for a few pet chickens and easy enough that anyone could build
I made the 12' run/dog house coop run free at MotherEarth. It was very sturdy...but I know that it would have been much more practical with a top that opened rather than just the ends. My first four chickens were such pets, you could get them out easily, but later with wilder chicks...it was horrible slip/sliding on my knees on a big plastic garbage bag, trying to get to the back of the pen.
So I really like this one, and I would like to build it....but I would also like some sort of hatch top too.
you could make it square instead of round. Just need 2 or 3 more 2 x 4's and make a top hatch with 2 x 2's