Richard Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Last week sometime I'm sure folk will remember me holding forth about the value for money of Eglus & Cubes (good value in my opinion, but accepting that they are expensive cf wooden coops). Having pontificated at length on the subject, I thought that I ought actually try to make a wooden coop - to see if I could (I'm not a particularly handy sort of bloke when it comes to DIY, I'll do it if I have to but am not very good; perhaps thats why I'm a manager in my job - because I can't actually do anything useful!). My excuse for this, apart from the Everest reason, was that Georgina needs somewhere to live when I tip her out of the Eglu when the new Cochins arrive. I haven't put her in with the rest of the new girls yet as they aren't big enough, so she is still in solitary in the garden. A new house is just what she needs! I had some of the wood, and bought the ply. I reckon the cost would be around £60 in materials if you bought them all new, but a lot of it would be stuff that most folk would have hanging around. I haven't painted it yet and intend putting some roofing felt on the top. As you can see I'm no threat to Omlet! I'm going to redo the door as it is too wappy - I've used too thin ply for that so will put a new door on later. I've put in a poo try, roosting bars and a removable nest box. I reckon it would take two hens comfortably and three if one slept in the nest box. Of course if its Bantams you keep and you layer them up you can probably get close to 100 of them in there All the bits (including an extra bit of roof that I made too small!) Inside - the roosting bars sit on the poo tray which sits on the base of the coop. The mesh on the front is a bit of old gutter guard. Finished - just needs painting and the roof felting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Wow I am very impressed I'm sure Georgina will be pleased with her new home karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 very impressive - thought you couldn't do DIY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 looks really good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Thats brilliant Want to make me one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 That looks great Richard - would make a good broody coop (minus the bars). Might need to dig that pic out next year to show OH, if one of my girls wants to be a mum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Look's fantastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Well done Richard, for someone who is not very good at DIY you show great potential. Bit of practice and you could be building full size hen houses and potting sheds and summerhouses and, and, and .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Its now a very dull grey/green - but it is Farrell and Ball paint (very Burnham UpMarket). I went to a sort of car boot sale years ago and bought three massive tins of F&B paint specially mixed for the National Trust. It is called Drainpipe green or something - I paid £1 per tin! Fantastic - Georgie has not only F&B paint, but special Nat Trust F&B paint! And at £1 a tin. Magic our Maurice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 oooh check you with your f and b paint!!!! That is FANTASTIC by the way! i [as your might have read in chickens had a set of 3 bantams and a cockeral yesterday] and i spent the monring trying to make a chicken pen, however, my 9 month old decided Mommy wasnt being FUN, so he cried and i had to stop. The bantams havent been getting on and they plucked the runts feathers out so much shes a bit bald. i now have a Rabbit Hutch being delivered at 5.30. The joys of Ebay! As a tempory measure as im worried sick about her dieing. Oh and i wish my DH was as good as you. Hes VIP at the V Festival as we speak! Im left at home i am going on Sunday though to see Pete Doherty! he used to be a friend of mine. When my DH gets back i will expect him to make something like you did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Having pontificated at length on the subject, I thought that I ought actually try to make a wooden coop - to see if I could (I'm not a particularly handy sort of bloke when it comes to DIY, I'll do it if I have to but am not very good; ..... Richard having seen the beautiful hen house i think you are brilliant at DIY! Well done you and using National Trust F&B paint too what a posh chick she is You should be really pleased with yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Richard having seen the beautiful hen house i think you are brilliant at DIY!Well done you and using National Trust F&B paint too what a posh chick she is You should be really pleased with yourself thank you very much for your kind words - I forgive you for being allowed such a long signature Trouble with the coop is that the colour now it has dried is terrible - its a really depressing grey! So, nuts to F&B, I've got some nice cheerful Dulux chestnut brown and a new brush so I'm off to change the colour! Have a good weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Paint flowers on it instead im sure she would appreciate it! And as for my signature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...