Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DIY Homesteading Project - PVC Pipe Chicken Coop


If you are looking for an inexpensive alternative to house your chickens, a PVC pipe chicken coop may be the solution. The size of your coop can be easily expanded to accommodate new additions to your flock. It can also be kept to a minimum if there are urban restrictions on the size of your flock. The PVC pipe chicken coop gives you an alternative that is lightweight, easy to assemble or disassemble and provides an inexpensive alternative to using a wooden structure. 



PVC pipe works great for a support structure but experience has shown that you will need at least a 1 1/2 inch size pipe for the creation of a sturdier structure for you to attach your chicken wire. A 2 inch PVC pipe would make it even sturdier but will add some to the cost.




The larger size PVC pipe also makes it easier to attach hinges to your gate for easy access. The size of the opening can be varied quite easily and will mainly be determined according to your individual needs.



The PVC pipe can be glued for a more permanent type of structure or you can drill small holes and join the sections with screws. The latter method will allow easy disassembly and reassembly if it becomes necessary to move your structure. Even a large PVC coop can be moved quite easily if necessary.




Corrugated plastic panels can provide a sheltered area for your chickens or you can opt for a more natural approach and allow vines to grow over your PVC coop. A PVC coop allows you a very affordable alternative in any case. PVC pipe is also easy to work with and requires a minimum skill level in order to build a decent structure.

Got PVC coop?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

4 comments:

Kelli said...

There is a great example of a PVC chicken tractor on backyardchickens.com

Anonymous said...

That is a very cool project. I made a structure that conceals our push lawnmower, tiller, and a few odds 'n ends' as a lean too building next to our house. The PVC frame has 1x4s bolted to them at 16" o.c. so that the corrigated metal (lamina in Spanish) is attached to them. The roof is made of same materials, with a green transluscent panel in center for lighting.

We weren't sure how long we were going to need it, so that is why I built using these materials. But the structure is 15 years old and has even lived through a Cat 1 hurricane (Dolly) with little damage.

The only needed replacement was galvanized metal gate post, which became rotted at grade top. PVC - still going strong. I thought I was going to need grout fill for strength, but it hasn't been the case. I wouldn't want to climb on top of it - thats a YouTube 'Here, hold mah beer . . .' moment, lol.

Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

Great idea!
I understand that building a chicken coop can seem like a hard project. Working out dimensions, materials, insulation, ventilation, lighting, positioning, nesting, perches, waste collection and protection from the elements and other predators can seem complicated. But when I see this how to build Chicken Coop , it very easy.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your simple instructions and pictures

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