Reviews by karenerwin

What a cool idea. I would like to know more about how you put it together. Like, what is it covered with? How long does that hold up before you have to replace the outer cover?
Where did you buy the frame? How much did it cost? Did you anchor it to the ground? Has it ever blown over? I don't know what a horse wall is ( I think that is what you called it) that you use to keep the chickens in and predators out. How tall is that wall, I can't really tell from the pictures.
Have you added the burlap for extra warmth? Was that enough to keep them warm in the winter?
Oh, how is the ventilation? I didn't notice any windows, does light filter through the outer cover? Dos the cover keep out the rain?
Sorry, I'm full of questions. LOL.

I really like how your coop turned out!!
However, I would need more details if I were going to try to build one like this. Do you have a materials list that you could include? Also, on one picture I am not sure what I am seeing. It is the picture from inside and it looks like there is welded wire going across a small portion under the roof and along the upper side. What is puzzling me is that it looks like all this wire is under other material (like the roof panels). Is it really covering open areas that just look covered by the roof panels? And the angle just makes it look different?
How many chickens are you keeping in there? How much did it cost to build your coop?
I like that you reflected on what you would change.

Thanks for sharing your coop with us.

What a nice looking little coop! I would have liked to know what the dimensions of the coop and run are. Also what did you use to cover the outside corners?
I am concerned that you used chicken wire on the run, that is very easy for raccoons to tear through. Welded wire or hardware cloth would make it much more secure.

I am glad to hear that you know that you need to add ventilation!
Your coop is the 1st one that I have seen that built the nest box that way. It makes sense, I have heard of some people adding curtains to the front of the nest boxes to make the inside darker.

What an interesting coop! I like how you made use of what you had on hand, were given by friends or found! I was/am concerned as to whether or not there is enough light and ventilation inside the coop since you used a lot of metal corrugated sheets.
I especially like your idea of having the compost bin right on the side of the coop making clean up a breeze! I am sure the chickens love digging through the compost.

What size did your coop turn out to be? How tall is it?
Is there anything you would change if you were to build it again?

What an awesome, creative coop! I love that you give enough details that someone could re-create this coop for them self. I also like that you used an arduino and raspberry pi in your project. My husband likes to find ways to incorporate those too.

Thank you for sharing your awesome coop with us!

I love all the pictures!! I would have liked more details about the actual build.
I am also very concerned that you used plastic mesh to cover the run. I don't think that will be very predator proof. I also think it may deteriorate very quickly from exposure to the weather.

Why did you decide to add on the second part of the coop?

Thank you for sharing all of your pictures,and your reflections!

I like how you reflected about potential problems as you went ( nest boxes may be too high, I'll lower them if they are).

I am concerned that you used chicken wire on the windows and the upper part of the run. Raccoons are good climbers and can easily tear through chicken wire. I would suggest welded wire or hardware cloth every where you put chicken wire.
I like your small shelf for germx and how you have your cleaning implements hanging on the wall within easy reach.

I see that you purchased this coop, rather than built it yourself, so I don't really expect you to give details about how to build it.

What features do you like about it? What would you change? How much did it cost you?

I see that the run is covered in chicken wire. Raccoons can rip through chicken wire without much trouble. I would suggest replacing that with hardware cloth or welded wire.

Thanks for sharing.

I like the idea of re-purposing a playhouse. I wish you had given more details about how you did it.

Did the chickens pick at or eat the black seal stuff? What did you use for roosts?
I see that you used chicken wire for the run. Raccoons can tear through chicken wire very easily. Hardware cloth or welded wire would be safer.

Did you do anything to make the sides of the playhouse hold together better? bolt them or anything?
What would you do differently if you were to build this again?

Interesting coop. However there are no details about how to build it. I'm also curious as to why you left half of it covered just in tar paper but put siding up on the other half. Also, how do your chicks go in and out? Just jump?

What would you do differently if you were to build this again? What all did you include on the inside?

Thanks for sharing your picture with us.

I love the picture of your finished coop! What a cool idea.

Too bad you did not include details about how you built the coop or what all you have inside. Also a reflection about what, if anything, you would change would be nice too.

Thank you for sharing your coop with us.

What a fabulous job you did on the coop and run!!
I rated it low only because there are no details on how to build what you did ( unless you are good at interpreting pictures).

Your building looks well built enough that someone could live in it!!

Is there anything you would do differently if you were to build it again?

Very nice details. I like the supply list near the end and the reflection about what needed to be changed as well as the report about how it held up in the first year.

Unfortunately, when I clicked on both links, they did not take me to anything useful. Both sites were no longer available.

Thanks for sharing your coop with us.

I like the running list of materials and there cost and where you acquired them from! I like how you explained some of the details ( like the window hinges). Your pictures are nice and clear.

I would have liked to see details from the inside of the finished coop and run. I also would have liked a reflection about what you liked and didn't like about the coop after it was finished.

Thank you for sharing!

What a cute little coop! I could build that using pallet wood.
I was disappointed that there wasn't more information about how to build it, so I could try to recreate it.

I like that you were able to get a lot of things free from Craig's list. What a good use for the roof of the treehouse (or whatever you said it was) that you used as the floor of the coop.
I got a giggle out of your description of how to open/close the door!
Even though you live in California, I am still concerned that you used chicken wire to cover the run. I am pretty sure that raccoons live in CA and I know there are cats and dogs that sometimes get out or roam around. Raccoons for sure don't have any problems tearing through chicken wire.

Thanks for sharing your coop with us.

Your coop and run both look very nice, however, there is not enough information from the pictures ( and none from the text) that shows or tells me how to build this coop and run.
I do like that you have reflected on what you would do differently if you were to build it again.
I know that you said this was an 8 x 12 shed, but you could have given a lot of details/information about how/what you modified to transform it into a chicken coop. Also more information about how you built the run(s) that go with it.

Thanks for sharing your coop and run with us.

I would like to see a supplies list, how much it cost to build, what did you like, what would you change about it.

From the front I thought it was 2 coops with runs on opposite sides. However, I believe form what you say in the test, it is just one coop.

Nice use of the dog box. At first, I thought that was going to be the coop and the wood part the run, but I see you have it the other way! If you add wheels and handles ( like on a wheel barrow) it might make it easier to move around.

What did you end up liking & what would you change if you were to build it again? How do you think you could build it so it wouldn't be so heavy? Have you had any trouble with the dog jumping on it an knocking it over? Wasn't sure if you would or not since the top is larger than the base.

While there are no blueprints ( as you said there were none), the pictures and descriptions seem adequate in following what you did to build this coop.

I love all the pictures and details you give about how you built it and what you would do differently, if you built it again.

Thanks for sharing!

Fabulous!! Yeah! to the school for allowing this project.
I blueprint or sketch of your building would be helpful, however you do give many details in your test. That, along with the pictures, are very helpful. I link that you included the link for the hoop run.

I hope the kids enjoy their chickens at school!