This is a really nice coop-in-progress. There's not a lot of "how-to" in the text, but the pictures are excellent, showing various stages of the build. The many-door access is great, but a adding some more ventilation would be a good idea. The interior paint job is a real eye-catcher (personally, I LIKE the purple!) Please tell your young painter that Michelangelo, and even Picasso, are probably rolling over with envy!
This is a great guide to building a coop from "leftovers." Instructions are generalized, but easy to follow. The video links are a really great touch, but they're so old that two don't work, anymore. As the author clearly states, this is not a "pretty" build, but it's strong, safe and functional. That's the most important part, anyway!
This coop is pure genius for the Do-It-Yourselfer with no budget to work with. Even if you have minimal skills, this can be done on the cheap ... and it looks nice, to boot! The instructions are simple and clear, as are the pictures. The ladies who call this coop home look happy and healthy. What more could you ask of a DIY coop project?
This is a great reuse of an old mobile home porch. The pics are good, but some text explanations and a few interior shots would help immensely. Some questions raised:
Was the under-the-porch space utilized, or was it left as empty space?
How did you handle ventilation, nest boxes, clean-out access?
How did you ultimately handle predator proofing the run?
And most importantly, what in the world is that busy circuit box for?
The pics of this coop are beautiful! It has a clean, simple style and a really child friendly touch ... chalkboard paint for decorating the outside! What this posting could use is some good explanations on the Whats, the Whys and the Hows of the build. There's a lot of potential, here, and I would love to see it fulfilled!
Oh my goodness, use the restroom before you read this one. It was so funny that I ended up reading most of it aloud to my family ... and even the teenagers laughed! The text is descriptive and very well written - full of details and snide little asides that will have you rereading over and over again. The pictures are clear and informative, progressing logically along with the story ... and it IS a story, not just an article!
Despite the obvious humor, the article is extremely effective and informative. It even includes some detailed "What I Would Do Differently," notes at the end. Even if the builder didn't have any "fun" building this coop and run, you'll have a great deal of fun reading about the adventure!
The pictures show a very nice coop and run set-up. Solid and well made, but there are no instructions or descriptions. This really belongs in a "My Coop" Gallery, not an article.
This is a lovely shot of an awesome run, but there is no article at all. I do think the picture is worth sharing. Maybe it should be in Coop Gallery, instead of an article section?
This is a really well done article on a very well made coop. The pictures plentiful and are clear; the comments are, too. The pictures of each of the separate pieces and how they go together are especially helpful. Kudos!
This is a unique twist on the standard rectangular coop. Lots of light, lots of air flow with plexiglass shutters providing winter and storm protection. The pics, taken before bedding and residents were moved in, are clear and give a very good visual on the overall coop. The "stable" and "hay loft" doors are a really nice touch! Build-out dimensions and notes on how to do the shutters would bump this article to five stars!
If I was to rate this coop on style and function, I'd give it a full-blown 5! I would really like to see some dimensions and maybe some hints on how to do it ourselves. I especially like the narrow storage area under the nest boxes, the two-level roof line and the piece de resistance ... hooks for coop shoes! Please, please, please, show us how you did it. This is beautiful!
This article is a description of a popular custom coop sold by a BYC member. It looks like a really nice coop, but there are, understandably, no building instructions. It does have some nice features, like the deep front on the pull out drawer and the double, six-pane windows, but you can't zoom on or expand the pictures to get a closer look. It's a good starting place for ideas or for shopping, but not for instructions on how to do something yourself.
Can someone contact this fellow and get some more information. The introduction makes me want to see more, but the only thing that comes up is the note about rebuilding a salvaged Victorian porch. I wanna see it!
This seems like a strictly a short term use project. It may work for meaties, but for longer-term residents, you'll need more "meat" in the coop!
The design is solid for a protected area with no predators. Surrounding it with an electric fence may not always work, as many predators can get past a standard electric fence.
A little extra weather protection would protect the birds from winds and blowing rain. It would also give them a dry place to sit.
Using the old swing set seems like a good idea, at first, but exposing food birds to all that pressure-treated lumber could be potentially dangerous to your family. Pressure treated lumber really needs to be sealed.
Chicken wire is made for keeping chickens in, not predators out. Hardware cloth would be a better choice.
Even meat chickens need some enrichment. A couple of perches and a few boredom busters might keep the chickens from messing with the wooden boards and make for happier, cleaner, healthier birds. And that means a better meal for you and yours!
On the positive side, this is a great way to reuse an old swingset. It looks sturdy enough to easily move around the field to green grass and it would be pretty inexpensive to build - all pluses for the backyard chicken owner!
This is nicely written and well documented. The text reads almost like a story with the pictures filling in the details - nicely done. The author notes where she would make changes and upgrades, like in using longer hardware wire for dig-proofing. There is a good idea for building a movable pen with just some wire fencing and a length of hose (not quite a tractor, but it works!) and a clever adaptation of a portable, modular playpen as a chick pen. My only concern is for winter ventilation. The plastic window covers may seem like a good idea at first, but I would like to see how winter ventilation of the coop was handled.
All-in-all, this was a good, informative article and I would definitely like to see more of such conversion plans. It's a great way to reuse an outgrown playhouse and keep a lot of plastic out of the landfill!
Chookingham Palace is a solid, basic coop with a nice run. The article is icely written, with step-by-step pictures and commentary with a smattering of chuckles thrown in for spice. Good ideas for snake-proofing, which would also help for rodent control. I would like to see some pictures of the totally finished coop once the watering and feeding systems were instaled, but even without those, this is a helpful article ... and kudos for all that clearing work you all did. I'm glad you were finally able to find "The Kid" in the middle of all that jungle. I sure hope that thumb has healed ... and the aim has improved!
This is an excellent article on an equally excellent coop design! The coop has everything needed for chickens , from lots of ventilation to rain-proofing to a storage area perfectly sized for a bale of bedding and five gallon buckets. The design is well thought out and includes pictures of a simple but efficient watering system and an easy-to-use home made feeder. Pictures are very inclusive, showing various stages of the build and close-ups of important details ... even some planning sketches. There are also thoughtfully added notes on adapting the coop as chicks grow into pullets and eventually start laying. And it doesn't hurt that is placed so perfectly into an existing arbor in the owner's yard. It will weather beautifully and blend right into the scenery. The Jj Hen Hut should stand the test of time - both for practicality and aesthetic appeal. Well Done - on both the coop and the article!
This is a wonderful idea for those who need multiple "apartments" for small groups of birds. It's a great way to handle selective breeding pairs. Although the builder has designed it for trios of tiny Seramas, the modular design is easily adaptable for slightly larger birds, like bantams or Silkies. The two-level design keeps food and water clean while still allowing easy access for coop maintenance. I especially like the fact that the entire structure is raised to table height - a real plus for anyone with back issues.
Since the entire coop set-up is in a larger building, there is plenty of ranging room, as well, but the outdoor "play room" is the best. It's even got its own vacation accommodations! Not everyone has access to a wonderful tree stump to build around, but it would be easy to make-do with a built structure ... just not as creative and cool!
The note about heavy doors is well-made, as that would be an issue. Reinforcement would definitely help. This coop could also be modified to work outdoors, simply by using hardware wire instead of plastic netting and making the top half of the door (across the feeding level) solid wood, as protection against the weather.
All in all, this is a very well thought out, nicely designed set-up.
This works, but only if you have a predator free area - or a predator proof run - to put it in. If your run is secure, this is an easy and inexpensive way to put ta shelter inside of it. I especially like the personal challenge of putting together a functional coop using only (or mostly) materials that are already on-hand. A good coat of paint and some caulk brings it all together & makes it look "finished." Taking a look around my own back yard and sheds for supplies, we may be doing something along these lines to rework the inside of our multi-run coop. I do love a good challenge!
