Like and dislike ?

Likes:

 

Close access to my backdoor. Very convenient for me.

Sand floor is easy to keep clean (poop just vanishes into it after a few days).

Lots of space/I can walk into it & big enough I can leave birds in there all day if necessary.

Fresh air (coop is screened on 2 sides).

Predator proof so far (the chickens have been in there 10 months).

 

 

Dislikes:

Metal is very hot in summer, although the 2 open sides help I am always trying to find ways to shade it.

It floods when it rains.

 

I have a large access door on one side which makes cleaning the coop super easy.  I also am happy that I didn't cut corners in building it.  I don't even want to tell you what my first design idea was.  Click on my coop page for pics.

My first coop I like because:

Every time I move it the floor is clean again. No coop clean up.

It's the right size for my large garden beds.

Dislikes. The coop is awkward for one person to move

 

Runs:

When I put the chickens to work, I can make the runs any length I need.

My workers are enthusiastic and work tirelessly.

When there done I have a well worked over bed which saves me time.

The coop and runs set in a predator heavy area with no problems for the chickens.

Dislikes

Care must be taken when moving them as all outside edges are sharp, which is part of the design.

Overall this was one of my favorite projecst as well as a fun one.

 

likes:  it's built inside a small barn.  i can work without being in the weather.  large enough for me to go inside for cleaning, etc.   the pop door lays down so it serves as the ramp when down.  i can access the eggs without entering the coop (no eggs yet, my babies are too young). it's a good size for 10 standard birds.  has a large clean out door. it's very cute (which is so important to the chickens - they told me so).

 

dislikes:  kinda wish it was bigger.  the roost is lower than the nest boxes (oops).  i may have a problem when the heat gets going.

I'm using a 8x10' wooden shed as a coop.

 

Cons

-Needs a screened opening to allow extra airflow and light and keep the chickens in, I plan to do it this summer. 

-Needs a better pop door

-Needs electric ran to it

 

Pros

-It's big for my back yard flock

-It stays decently cool

-It came with the property so it was free (So far I have less then $60 invested in it and most of that is zip ties LOL)

Likes:
Several roosting areas
Lots of room
They can go in and take a nap and or just relax and still see what's going on in the chicken yard
Can put feeder and waterer in
Dirt Bath Central when it's raining outside
Takes less than 1 minute to lock up over 100 chickens
Can place single or nesting boxes inside (in addition to the large chicken house being the Central Location for Egg Laying)
Doubles air breeding pens
Single pens can be used to house young chicks or injured birds. Can also be used for housing broody hens and used as a brooder.
All materials used are recycled.

Dislikes:
Not tall enough for ME. I bump my head when I go in to fill water and food and get eggs













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Open Air Coop

Likes:
Easy to clean when I line with hay. Just remove the hay and put new hay in.
Chickens get fresh air
No smells
Lots of room under the coop for them to get out of the heat and rain and other bad weather.
They can still have dirt baths under the coop when it rains
I can place feeders and waterers under the raised coop
All materials used are recycled.

Dislikes
Wish I had a floor that could drop down to clean in the event I don't want to put a hay bedding. The builder (family member) laughed at me when I said described what I wanted and didn't do what I asked. Now he understands why I asked for a "detachable" floor.

Pros:

it's way big enough for my 12 girls.

it's very cute :)

It's water proof (almost - I have to fix the window)

it's clean (lol - they haven't moved in yet!)

I have a separate area to store feed/supplies - which I can also use as a grow-out pen.

it's strong

Cats can't get in (where they are now, a cat keeps sneaking in and sleeping in the nest box)

 

Cons:

the floor sucks.  I used osb, and I think it's going to deteriorate after a short time...

It is well supported, so to replace won't be that big of a deal....  oh well...  :(

 

The back wall doesn't match.  I tried to use all recycled materials, but ran out and had to buy

some plywood for the back side...

 

 

 

Pros, Nice looking fit's in with the rest of the building and my set up.

Price.

Set up and lay out ( Needs to be bigger ).

Like that it's off the ground.

Rabbit hutch is built in.

 

Con's Wish I would have gone bigger,

Needs a Screen/Wire Door for summer time use,

Wish I had a Sectioned off area for storage and maybe a build in Area for baby Chicks.