How to Build a Chicken Coop Using Recycled Materials

Got some building materials to get rid of and you want to try building something? It's not too difficult as long as it can be closed in.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• building tools and supplies
• lots of time

1. Start of by marking the corners of the base of your building. You may want atleast 2 them to be 90 degree angles if it's four sides in order to help it stay up.
2. Start off by making the frame of the coop. The corners that you marked are where you should start. You will want posts for each corner. Then you may want to put another post between the corners, but it's not required althought it helps, but you may be limited. It's important that you put the posts in the ground to hold it.
3. Now you will build the horizontal part of the frame. You will want a board or something similar to go across the bottom on the ground. You then build the top part of the frame. If you want, and it helps, put another board between the top and bottom.
4. Now we get to the more difficult part. You can use caging/wiring to make the walls or use boards or even metal roofing like I have, and it's actually very reliable. If you use caging, make sure it's on tight. Nail it on every post and board. If you use wood, do the same, make sure that you don't leave openings. You can use plywood, which is actually better to cover up more surface and cut into shapes. Boards can be used to. Metal roofing is as good as plywood, except it doesn't rot.
5. The roof is pretty difficult as well. Once again you can use board, plywood, caging, or metal roofing. You will have to do this from inside the coop. You may also want another post to support the roof.
   If you don't have boards to put across to do the frame of the roo, it's ok.
6. Next is the door. Doors can be challenging. Cut out a piece of the wall thatr you want the door, before or after building everything. hinges are required. Put the dorr on with the hinges. A cheap way to lock the door shut is take a small block of wood, probably a 2x4, and nail it in the wall next to the door with 1 nail, so that when you shut the door, you can spin the block of wood 90 degrees to hold the door shut.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use netting as predators can chew it and get into the pen.
• Birds like light so you can build half wood half cage pen for shelter and outdoors, it's more luxurious for them.
• Have someone with you in case something bad happens.