• Last updated 5/3/13 by jennyp0208

We've been wanting chickens for years but didn't think it was possible on our small, in-town lot. After some careful law researching and thinking, we decided to give it a go! We knew we wanted a coop and fully enclosed run. Although we plan on free ranging some, we live between two schools with a big playground and a 3rd school only a few blocks away, plus the normal collection of stray and pest animal, so it's necessary for us to have a space where they don't HAVE to be let out to range.   We started with this idea:... read more

• Last updated 5/2/13 by trentropy

                              A-frame roof, about 7' high. Just about 8' x 4' area. Hard to see but I laid out red brick footings, long side down all around the base of the wood frame to deter critters from digging under the wood. Most of the frame is pressure treated wood, except the interior and under-roof framing. Has electric for the light fixture and possible heating lamp for the winter. I added some little plexiglass windows for light. Thanks to all the foks who posted their ideas here,... read more

• Last updated 5/1/13 by Davidlonghair76

Describe 'the Coop Deville' here the coop Deville is a design that i thought of while researching kkeepping chickens.I wanted a design that i s secure,safe,easy to build,and it had to be cheap,and easy to maintain. Cheap it was with a total of $87 spent on hardware,and pipe.The fence was a freebie,the lumber was freebies,the vinyl was free. ok inside deminsions are 4'x4'x5',the run is 4'x4'x10',three nesting boxes measuring 14"x14"x14" given the materials that i had on hand ,Some round fence post,alot of 5/8 moisture composite wood,and various sizes of... read more

• Last updated 5/1/13 by jefflouella

      I’ve been kicking around the idea of building a coop and raising some hens for a couple reasons. First, the eggs. Fresh eggs from chickens raised properly are much better in my opinion. Secondly, I wanted my children to experience a tiny bit of the food chain. Thirdly (is that a word?), I have a nice garden and the chickens can help me produce better compost, clean up the bugs in the yard, and aerate the lawn. Mostly, I think it would be cool to raise some chicks. Before I built the coop, I thought out what I wanted to do. I am new to raising... read more

• Last updated 5/1/13 by MyHenporium

We live in a mountain community, near Yosemite National Park.  Most folks here seem to have some sort of livestock, and I hear about the joys of animal keeping, daily,  from my co-workers. One day the bug just bit me!  I must have chickens!  And ducks!  Now!  So I purchased "Chicken Coops For Dummies" and read it cover to cover.  I spent some time trying to decide which of the coops I wanted, from their plans of very small, to walk-in sizes. After reviewing my strengths: I'm a 70 year old female, working full time, with absolutely ZERO experience at building... read more

• Last updated 4/29/13 by ChickenCrazy8

It all started a few years before when I wanted a pet. . . Who thought it would turn into this chicken addiction??   Thankfully, my mom was on my side and convincing my dad was a breeze.  He was the one who made this coop for me. We had no plans and no experience in building. Pretty much, my mum and I just told him what we wanted, fetched tools, and my dad worked the whole summer making this coop for me, Thanks dad!!!! We had two pullets I had gotten in the spring as chicks, added incentive to finish the coop before the winter.  With out further ado, the Sunflower... read more

• Last updated 4/29/13 by trinkets94

Our last coop was a large walk-in frame with little house on stilts inside of it.  We needed something movable this time around, so I wanted to go with a tractor type design.  I decided to do run below with a nesting/roosting house up above.     The coop is accessible from the run via a ramp attached to a door flap in the bottom of the coop.  At night, I pull the ramp up with a wire and it closes the door, protecting from cold and predators.             There are two front doors, both open.  One doorway is covered with wire, so I can leave it open on... read more

• Last updated 4/29/13 by SRChicken

This is a modified A Frame coop that I was able to build for under $100 using scrap lumber I had on hand and raiding the "discount" bin at the local home improvement store. It's really a simply design and I need to give credit to member Oandrea for the initial design genesis and idea. No formal plans were used, just a lot of thinking and measuring. Took about 12 total hours to complete - most likely 6-8 hours if I had to do it again. That's learning curves for you!    Hardware cloth in the bunk house for the summer so waste just drops through to the yard - a sheet... read more

• Last updated 4/29/13 by Momluvz3kidz

Describe 'Cluckers' Corral' here   We bought the "Chicken Coops for Dummies" and picked our "The Minimalist Coop" in Ch. 12. We went to Lowe's bought the supplies and the hubs and I built it over the weekend. We used T-post and goat fencing with poultry wire secured around that. And a gate for the corral. It is next to house, for electric purposed to keep the coop heated by lamp on cold nights. This is a temporary coop, and spot for now, until we get our electricity turned on in the barn and build a new BIG Coop and Corral. I love my 8 Buff... read more

• Last updated 4/28/13 by FluffyButt Farm

We took a 7x7' resin shed & built a 12x24' run around it. The roost and nesting boxes inside are stand alones so we can remove them & hose down the interior if necessary. Our 7 girls love it! The soil around the shed used to be 2 large raised bed gardens that we moved, so there are plenty of goodies they can dig for. We still let them free range when we're home though. Our old coop will be for sale after we have a chance to clean it thoroughly. http://www.backyardchickens.com/g/i/5695790/coop-run-2013 read more