Choosing between a prefab coop kit and building from scratch

I had to pick between a $700 pre-made coop from the farm store or building my own with scrap wood. I went with the DIY route, spent about $150 on new hardware and roofing, and it took me two weekends. The big win was being able to make the nesting boxes exactly how I wanted, 14 inches off the ground. Anyone else go the custom build way and have tips for keeping the roof from leaking at the seams?

3 comments

3 Comments

christopherross24d ago

So you're telling me I built my nesting boxes at the perfect height for basketball playing chickens? That explains a lot. My roof leak fix was way less smart, I just slathered a whole tube of exterior caulk along the seams. It looks terrible but it's dry.

river_reed24d ago

That 14-inch height for nesting boxes is actually a bit high for most hens. The standard is usually 8 to 12 inches off the floor to make it easy for them to hop in and out. For the roof seams, I used a roll of ice and water shield under the shingles as a final seal.

adam_robinson3d ago

My first coop had nesting boxes at like 16 inches, total rookie move lol. The hens would just stare at them and lay eggs in the dirt corner instead. I had to rebuild them all at 10 inches and add a little perch. That ice and water shield trick is smart, way better than my old method of just hoping the shingles overlapped enough.