DIY coop or ebay

[Hilary B]

Cheaper than exterior ply (at least it used to be) and just as good for a chook house, try Sterling Board (also known as OSB). It's a bit heavier, but if you plan on painting/sealing it, Sterling board is the better bet. Even the most weather-resistant of ply will rot if moisture gets past the invisibly small 'gaps' in the paint (and there will be some, if not immediately, soon), and then can't get out!
Best roofing material is Onduline, on close-spaced battens (the steeper the roof the wider spacing you can get away with, but don't go over 3-4 ft at all, and if it is less steep than a 'typical' house roof, you probably want a bearer every 18 inches - 2 ft of the slope).

[Jimmy]

Sounds good, how do you plug the holes at the end of the corrugated roof?
Jimmy

[Suechooks]

Sounds good, how do you plug the holes at the end of the corrugated roof?
Jimmy

If you mean the ridges in the Onduline - you don't plug them! They need ventilation and these provide it vey well. You can put some chicken wire or weldmesh under the roof to keep rodents out.

[Jimmy]

On ventilation etc.
How do DIY coops cope with cold weather. We had temperatures down to -15 at Christmas. How would the chicks cope with that. Would ventilation be to much ?

Thanks
Jimmy

[Snadger]

On ventilation etc.
How do DIY coops cope with cold weather. We had temperatures down to -15 at Christmas. How would the chicks cope with that. Would ventilation be to much ?

Thanks
Jimmy

Chooks can stand any amount of cold weather.......its drafts and dampness they dont like.(After all, they have a built in feather mattress!)
I have cockerels that through choice,sat outside, under cover all winter.

Combs and feet can be susceptable to frost but if you have a few chooks they generate heat within the coop and as they are up off the bottom, they sit on there feet and cover them.

[Suechooks]

On ventilation etc.
How do DIY coops cope with cold weather. We had temperatures down to -15 at Christmas. How would the chicks cope with that. Would ventilation be to much ?

Thanks
Jimmy

When it was really cold (-13 and less) I just chucked a piece of carpet over the top of the roof to insulate a bit but they managed fine. There are more birds die from overheating than cold. Young chicks are a different matter but adults cope well.

[Glutton4...]

I've heard of carpet, bubble wrap and all manner of things being used to wrap a coop. My Roos were out all winter, by choice. When it was really cold they went in and snuggled up, but most of the time they sat on the roof, crowing at the moon. Nutters!

[Graham K]

Freecycle.co.uk (or freegle as it's now called, search on google) loads of people giving away stuff they don't want any more. Sheds, rabbit runs/hutches etc come up pretty regularly but you have to be quick.

Graham.

[Hilary B]

If healthy adult chooks can stay dry, and out of direct gales, they won't get cold! Ex-battery hens that are short of feathers, and have recently been let out of a temperature-controlled shed might need a bit of help (you can get patterns for making 'jumpers' until their feathers grow), but otherwise, just plain cold shouldn't be a problem.

[snakeshack]

DIY every time,this is mine ,built from recycled bits and pieces,had to buy the hinges and metal joining plates + the wire and screws. no plan just 2 weekends with a circular saw and a rechargeable drill.final cost under £70.00 still looks good 2 years on,I creocote once a year and no redmite yet.