Chicken Coop Project
See this page at http://www.buildeazy.com/chicken_coop_8.html
How to build a Chicken Coop |
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Page Contents
1: About the chicken coop 2: Wood sizes and measurements 3: The materials list 4: The flat plan 5: The front elevation plan 6: The side elevation plan 7: The nesting boxes and storage area plans |
8: Making the floor and the wall frames 
9: Making the nests and the roof frame 10: Fixing the wall cladding (siding) 11: Fixing the roof boards and battens 12: Door, hatchway, and windows 13: The perch, the mesh and ventilation 14: Photos - other peoples handiwork 15: User Photos/Comments |
Step one: The floor
Place the 4" x 4" (100mm x 100mm) skids level and parallel on firm ground. See the front elevation plan on page five for placement.
On level ground, make up the Floor Frame comprising of two end joists, two intermediate joists evenly spaced, and two boundary joists - all 2" x 4" (100mm x 50mm) stock. The end result should be a square 72" x 72" (1800mm x 1800mm). Place the square floor frame on top of the skids and fasten in place.
Cover the floor with 3/4" (18mm) plywood, nailing a maximum of 8" (200mm) apart on all joists. Any join should be on a joist.
All the wood used in the floor structure should be suitable for exterior use.
Step two: The frame
Make up the wall frames as shown in the drawing. The dimensions and stud placements can be seen in the plans ('looking down view' on page four) and the height of the horizontal nest support members in the rear wall can be seen in the plans ('side elevation' on page six). The four corner studs are of 4" x 4" (100mm x 100mm) stock. The rest of the frame is 2" x 4" (100mm x 50mm) stock.
In this particular case there is no bottom plate - the studs are nailed directly to the floor. This will make the floor easier to clean out.
The positioning of the studs either side of the door can be altered if need be, to suit a different size or style of door.