Coop with a mini pond
About four years ago some City friends asked us to take their chickens after the city code officer started giving them trouble. Soon we found ourselves with 19 chickens and two ducks. At first we put them in an old shed but after the bear tore apart our storage and ate two fifty pound bags of feed in one night, (how is that even possible?) we knew we needed a bear proof well ventilated shed that could accommodate our cold Pennsylvania winters and suffocating humid summers.
To keep the cost low we reused the corrugated metal roofing from the old coop and built on the old railroad tie foundation
To keep the cost low we reused the corrugated metal roofing from the old coop and built on the old railroad tie foundation
Our old shed was a pushover
First we had to demolish the old coop. We left the railroad tie foundation in place. Half of the old foundation would be the new coop and the other half a mini pond. We dropped a rubber liner into half of the old foundation, lined it with rocks, added plants and water. Instant mini pond. It’s only 20” deep but the ducks love it.
Our genius carpenter friend
Our friend studied backyard chicken articles and came up with a plan for good ventilation. The shed roof structure is 2 x 6 s on end, left open to the outside air front and back to draw in fresh air. It really works well. It’s never hot in the coop in summer and their water never froze overnight last winter. Chickens put out a lot of heat.
He salvaged the corrugated metal roofing from the old shed for the roof and left an overhang on the back end that directs rainwater into the mini pond. T111 covers the sides. Sliding 24” Windows on the east and west sides add ventilation and natural light.
He salvaged the corrugated metal roofing from the old shed for the roof and left an overhang on the back end that directs rainwater into the mini pond. T111 covers the sides. Sliding 24” Windows on the east and west sides add ventilation and natural light.
Roosts and Finishing Touches
He added 2 1” x 2” roosts the width of the coop. The boss chickens roost on the high one, 43” high. The low status chickens roost on the low roost at 24” high.
My favorite features are the solar lights on either side of the door. I don’t like going out in the dark when the bear is around. One problem I’m still struggling with is the little pond. Rain fed from the coop roof, the water stays fresh so even the chickens like drinking out of it. But I have yet to find any pond plant the ducks won’t eat down to the roots and I’ve tried quite a few
My favorite features are the solar lights on either side of the door. I don’t like going out in the dark when the bear is around. One problem I’m still struggling with is the little pond. Rain fed from the coop roof, the water stays fresh so even the chickens like drinking out of it. But I have yet to find any pond plant the ducks won’t eat down to the roots and I’ve tried quite a few
