FREE chicken coop plan (nice one too) on the Purina Mills Website

I can't find it... But I really like that coop. And just when we need to make one. Thanks

I kept a copy of the orignal plans in PDF format. Not sure why they took it down.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x1sajhy4cd91imf/ecmp2-0160674.pdf?dl=0

And as an image here:



This coop design has some problems which may be why Purina removed it from their website. Perhaps they were hugely embarrassed when someone pointed all the flaws out to them? Chief among them is it needs light and ventilation. Also, no need for a roost ladder of this type, as you only need one roost bar across the back, and if you did use the ladder, all the birds would make for the upper roost anyway. And for a coop this size, it only needs one nest box and it should be lower than the roost bar, or the birds will try to roost in the nest box. Eight full sized chickens? More like 3 to 4 at the most.

I'm always confused / amused by the ramp leading to the pop door. Why have one? This one is the same height off the ground as the roost and nest boxes are. They are expected to hop / fly up to those. Can't they hop / fly up to a perch just outside the pop door? (yes.......they can)

But all is not lost....tweak it a bit and you got something to work with. Make the changes mentioned above with roosts and nest boxes. Install some small gable or soffit vents on the sides under the eaves.......install some type of window for light and summer ventilation (and face it south if you can), move the pop door to the side and add a covered, screened in run off to the same side as the pop door. Just extend the roof line on out. The run could be about 1x to 2x the size of the coop and make it predator proof and use at least 2 x 6 treated lumber around the base.......maybe 2 x 8 being better......as it will be used to house deep litter to keep the mud, odor and flies down. And if you think you will want more birds than 3 or 4......kick it up to 6' x 6' and increase things in proportion.

Maybe Purina will take note of all this and start sending me royalties on their FREE plans?

I built one of these and love it. I have a 2x4 across the back and on one side for roosts.

For the ladder to the coop, my 4 girls use it every single day.

eta: Mine does have some mods. I don't have an external nest box.

M To The Maxx said:

You can see my BYC page. We built that same coop. We modified it a little bit but it is most the same.

Click to expand...

Nice pictures, but I could not find the plan... :-(

knygl said:

Nice pictures, but I could not find the plan... :-(

Click to expand...

Two posts up.......#323. That is the plan. That is pretty much what was on the Purina website. As is, it has problems, which may be why Purina removed it from their site.

Mark, I know you posted this a while back but if you still have those plans can you email me a set to [email protected] or just send it here. Thanks mate.