the coop

countryDIY

You will need:

Floor
A 1.8m x 1.8m reinforced concrete slab will be perfect for this project and easy to keep clean. Alternatively, you could build a simple floor base by creating a 1.8m x 1.8m square of 100x50mm wood with two internal joists set 600mm apart. This could be sitting up on skids or concrete blocks to keep it off the ground, but even so it should be built of rough-sawn H3 or H4 timber. Line with plywood to create the floor, making sure joins are sitting over joists for optimum support. Add in nogs (that run between the joists) for extra strength if you wish.

Build your own chicken coop

A chicken coop can be as grand or as simple as your imagination will allow.

T 1

his plan is based on a coop featured in Chicken Coops by Judy Pangman, now available in our bookshop. See pages 71-72 for more details on how to buy a book on inspirational hen housing. Assemble your floor on your chosen site. This should have good drainage, get good sunlight but be sheltered from the wind if possible. For a wooden floor, use 10cm (4 inch) galvanised nails throughout the framework of the coop. When nailing the plywood floor down, use nails every 200-300mm.

plywood, or you can adjust the frame to fit a proper door frame if you have one. Attach to your wooden floor using 10cm galvanised nails, or for a concrete floor use 8mm dyna bolts (you will need a special tungsten drill bit that will pre-drill a hole through the frame and then down into the concrete). Attach the four walls to each other using 150x50mm nail plates.

Wall frames
H3 RS 100mm x 50mm

Trusses + purlins
H3 RS 100mm x 50mm

Wall cladding
7mm or 12mm Plywood

Windows
Pre-made window frames, perspex or glass, flashings

Roof cladding
Tin, roofing iron of your choice, plywood (as for wall cladding) and a ridge cap

Build frames, A, B, C and D. If you choose to have windows, you will need to buy windows or alternatively make up some frames out of 100x50mm in your chosen size and then tack a piece of clear Perspex to fit over it. In wall B the framing is different, to allow for the nesting boxes to stick out the side, so you can gather eggs without having to go inside the coop. For your door, you can build a simple frame to fit out of 100x50mm timber and then line it with

Make two trusses (E). You can slightly oversize these if you wish to create soffits to use as air vents (use chicken mesh to cover these gaps to stop wild birds nesting or rodents from entering). If you wish to have an overhanging roof but no true soffits, make the roof panels slightly longer than the trusses so it overhangs.

Attach the roof trusses to the frames, using Z-nails at the front and back of the coop (walls A+C). Z-nails are available from building supply stores and are twisted to enable you to join the joists and framing easily. Cut four lengths of 150x50mm timber 1.8m long for the
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