Coop DeVille

Introduction
My partner and i had bought our first house. Never having enough room in the backyard at my parents home i had always wanted to keep chickens. We decided to build a chicken coop to utilize the space at the back of our yard whilst also having the benefit of obtaining fresh eggs from our own healthy chickens.

Coop Design
I had done a little bit of research. Countless books and looking through websites. I wanted a medium to large coop run and chicken house. The coop run had to be easily accessible and with enough space for up to 12 chickens. The hen house had to be large enough to be accessible for cleaning and general maintenance. I also wanted to be able to access the nesting boxes externally from the coop run and internally. After collaborating with my partner and my dad, we designed a coop run and chicken house. But the difference between design and the ability to build was a steep learning curve. We eventually settled on a design that was relatively easy and cost efficient. I add measurements of the coop run and chicken house when complete.

Building
The build has been a great experience so far. My dad was able to source second hand and new products in order to build the coop run and chicken house. As a result of this cost was able to be kept down. When the build is complete i will add total cost of the project at the end.

Family have been heavily involved with the build which has made it a great experience.

Here are a few photos of the work done so far:


Pegging out the coop run.


One of the corner peg markers.


Pegs are all in.


String line being set out.


String line set up for the boundary.


Setting up the string line for the centre of the coop.






Frame work starting to come together.


One of the posts in the ground before cementing.


Posts in the ground. Ready for cement.


Chicken house. Fame work.




Nesting boxes. Internal view.


External view.


Frames for the main run area starting to go up.




Chicken... in the chicken run.


Painted the chicken run frame.


Chicken house now in place.


Paint drying on the chicken house.


Chicken house and run view.


Another view. Paint still drying.


Another view. External.


Another view. Internal.


View from outside into the chicken nesting box and into the chicken house.


Door to the hen house.


Internal view of the hen house.


Another view.


View when walking in.



Wire starting to go up.


Internal view.


Front door to the run.


Internal view of the chicken house.




Digging the trenches for wire. Fox proofing.


Another internal view.



Inside the chicken house.


Another view inside the chicken house.



Chicken coop and run finished!