A big THANK YOU to everyone who has sent in their photographs and stories. I hope by sharing other peoples pictures and stories here on One Hundred Dollars a Month we can all have a rock star garden this summer. Keep them coming!
Check out this DIY chicken coop my buddy Heather from Massachusetts built ALL BY HERSELF! You go girl!
Here is what Heather had to say:
The internet says building a chicken coop is a “weekend project”. And, well, we all know everything on the internet is true. Unless, of course; you’ve never built anything on your own – ever. And you don’t have a plan – except using free pallets. (side note: did you know that pallets are neither the same size or level, in any stretch of the imagination?) This “weekend-chicken-coop-project” took me the better part of 8 weeks.
PS: Some of you may be wondering why I haven’t included my husband in this little story. Well, when type-A husband begins every sentence with “ya know you’re suppose to…” well, type-A wife (me) fires type-A husband from the project in an effort to preserve marriage. 😉
We have four 10 week old chickens: two Rhode Island Reds and two Black Sexlinks. Both breeds are cold weather hardy. My kids named them Agnes, Roadrunner, Gold-finger (one of the Black Sexlink has one gold finger/toe) and Runt.
I began with the used windows I got from a friend and the pallets, then worked from there. I tried to use or re-use things I had around the yard or recycle as much as I could. The nesting boxes are milk crates that I’ve cut the sides out of. The roosting poles are green saplings.
Way more than I expected though, had to be bought. Hardware really adds nice finishing touches but is expensive. I chose metal posts for the chicken run because I didn’t want to have to re-do them when they rotted. And the wire is green 1×3″ fencing but with metal hardware wire on the bottom 12″ up the fence and 12″ flat on the ground to prevent predators from digging under the fence.
Finishing touches: The cinder blocks I spray-painted a “camouflage” color making them less bright, draping plants down the side takes up the empty space next to the door and a perennial hosta plant (that the chickens think is delicious!)
If we are working around the yard we let them free range, as long as we can watch them – we call it “chick sitting”. They love going under the deck as there are spiders and tons of bugs.
After visiting three grocery stores I found one that will let me take a box of food for the chickens! He said he gives 7 boxes a week to a local farmer but didn’t think the farmer would mind if he gave me one – yeah!
~Heather from Massachusetts
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If you would like to have your garden, chicken coop or something you’ve made featured on One Hundred Dollars a Month, here’s what I’m looking for:
- Your Garden Pictures and Tips – I’d especially like to see your garden set ups, growing areas, and know if you are starting seeds indoors this year. If so, show me some picture of how you are going about it.
- Your Chicken and Chicken Related Stories – Coops, Chicks, Hen’s, Roosters, Eggs, you name it. If it clucks, send us some pictures to share with the world.
- Cool Arts & Crafts – Made from your very own hands with detailed {and well photographed} pictures and instructions.
- Your pictures and stories about your pets. The more pictures and details the better.
- Garage Sale, Thrift Store and Dumpster Diving pictures and the stories behind the treasures you found including how much you paid for them.
If I feature your pictures and the stories behind them on One Hundred Dollars a Month, I will send you a $20.00 gift card to the greatest store in the world: Amazon.com.
Go HERE for the official rules.
Lisa says
Way to go Heather! I love that you did it yourself and it’s so dang cute! The flower box on the coop and the flowers on the ground really add a nice tough. So happy you’re getting a free box of “chicken scraps” each week. 🙂
Britteny Gayheart says
Hi! I am building a chicken coop pretty similar to the one you built. I had a question though. What did you use for the outdoor part of the enclosure, the netting or screen or whatever? That would work well for the situation we have. Our WHOLE yard is basically on a hill. So we need something that more flexible then a fence we also have a mild coyote problem so they have to be enclosed all the time unless we are right there. Thanks!!
Karlee Rennert says
I also would really like to know what exactly you used for your outdoor enclosure. I need to make a roof for my outside enclosure and whatever you have going on is perfect for my and my chickens needs. Thanks!
Jo Ann says
Love this but can any o e help me on building the roof? I have looked all over the internet and everyone posts pics of the walls going up but when it comes to the roof… the pics are after roof is on and completed… HELP MY LADIES WILL NEED COVERING
Marie says
Is there a video or step by step instructions on this? If possible, a list of materials that were used would be super helpful.