Reviews by MROO

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!

This coop is an absolutely beautiful piece of craftmanship! It's solid, it's got all the access you could possibly need, but between the construction and the glass windows, it looks like it's pretty airtight. That leaves me concerned about ventilation. How is that you handled? A few pics that show how this gorgeous coop is aired out would help a lot. If air can get in and out, forget about moving chickens in ... I'll move in, myself!

Most smaller tractors don't have room for a nest box, but this one has one built right into the end ... and then the entire end comes off for cleaning. Nice! This style would actually work for those of us who are, shall we say, vertically challenged? Most tractors sturdy enough for me to trust with my chickens are too heavy for me to move easily. I simply lack the height to get the leverage needed to move them around. This one would lighten up quickly once that heavy end came off. I may have a chicken tractor, yet!