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  • Articles
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  • Large Coops

Orpington Stronghold - **article has multiple pages**

  • Author Sstuder
  • Publish date Oct 19, 2020
  • Updated Feb 24, 2025
  • Article read time 7 min read
Article Reviews (10) Gallery
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Overview The Before Assessing the damaged areas Starting to secure the coop from the ground up Renovation continues Nest Box and trenching Windows and door Covered run Inside the coop Curtains for the nest boxes Bedding and dropping boards The girls are finally moving in! A good use for all those rocks Wifi Winterized Planning Winter time Update Summer 2021 Update 2022 Run Expansion Updates View full article

The girls are finally moving in!

Our girls that patiently waited in their makeshift housing (one of our horses’ stalls) are finally moving in! 63AA0A7B-74CE-42C5-B04C-B039E27B6A59.jpeg 5D97F3E4-27FC-48A2-B332-5276E3D759DB.jpeg 9ECCAA9B-B395-4EEC-AC08-FC661A9E0B40.jpeg
CF9BB4D8-1A6F-4832-A2A3-136E942BD7F0.jpeg
Next page: A good use for all those rocks
Previous page: Bedding and dropping boards
  • 64F3A978-0C50-4D90-86BF-71EECF36E289.jpeg
    64F3A978-0C50-4D90-86BF-71EECF36E289.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 15
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Latest reviews

Midnight Roost
  • Midnight Roost
  • 5.00 star(s)
  • May 21, 2025
I love this design. I like that its compact vs the going super long with a run. I wonder if you used a metal roof could you collect rainwater and make it a self filling system? 🤔 I am looking at building my first coop and as a former hog farmer, the less work I have to do later is worth the work I do now.
BDutch
  • BDutch
  • 5.00 star(s)
  • May 13, 2022
Great work to reuse an old shed. Its really great and obvious you did lots of research building this beauty.
Only wonder how the ventilation is on the highest point (under the roof) and why you start heating as soon as its freezing (under 0 celcius)? Chickens can handle lots of cold if they are accustomed.
And do you use a bedding now in the nest boxes?.
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Reactions: haroldnkit, Sstuder and 3KillerBs
Sstuder
Sstuder
The roof has a ridge vent, but the entire “attic area” is completely separate from the coop and run and is just a storage area, pretty much wasted space. I would have preferred to include it in the coop and run but the orientation of the roof was not conducive for that layout. We use thermocubes and heating plates inside the coop and a heating cable under the nest boxes to prevent frozen water and frozen eggs without raising the temperature too much, our girls are quite cold hardy in fact. We do not use bedding in the nest boxes, our roll away paint trays are lined with artificial grass washable mats for padding and easy cleaning.
YellowRoseFarm
  • YellowRoseFarm
  • 5.00 star(s)
  • May 13, 2022
This is absolutely wonderful! I love everything about your coop, especially the added round vents. And the coop and run being under the same roof is a brilliant idea. You've given me some things to think about...hmmm.
  • Like
Reactions: peastix, haroldnkit and Sstuder
Read more…

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Comments

The Meadow
  • The Meadow

    The Meadow

  • Oct 19, 2020
Wow! This looks great! How lucky was that to have the overhang already there. I'm betting the chicks - now pullets - are enjoying themselves.
 
  • Like
Reactions: haroldnkit, Madhouse Pullet, Sstuder and 2 others
P
  • P

    PStuder

  • Oct 19, 2020
My wife found a lot of great ideas for this project on this site. Thanks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sstuder, Madhouse Pullet, Vickischics and 1 other person
Chold05
  • Chold05

    Chold05

  • Oct 20, 2020
Wow! great job!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Madhouse Pullet, Sstuder, Vickischics and 1 other person
Djgm
  • Djgm

    Djgm

  • Oct 22, 2020
Omg I'm jealous! I'm in NJ too, wanna come build me one just like it ;)
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: Shabby Chic-Hens, Madhouse Pullet, PioneerChicks and 1 other person
Madhouse Pullet
  • Madhouse Pullet

    Madhouse Pullet

  • Oct 23, 2020
Very nice coop! I love the layout and size as well as the rocks around it. The linoleum looks great and must be waaaaay easier to clean! Good article :thumbsup loooove the picture overload.
 
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  • Love
Reactions: haroldnkit, Sstuder and PioneerChicks
OppingtonBuffBrothers
  • OppingtonBuffBrothers

    OppingtonBuffBrothers

  • Oct 25, 2020
Beautiful coop! That was what originally got me started visiting BYC, I was looking for ideas on coops. Your girls will be forever grateful, no doubt. :) Love the attention to detail and your ability to be able to repurpose an existing structure. Glad no injuries occurred with evicting the critter and stepping in someone's former underground den. :yesss:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Madhouse Pullet and Sstuder
C
  • C

    CoopDeVille1986

  • Nov 14, 2020
Nice job on the Vinyl! Where did you get that and how is the vinyl secured at the bottom so the sheets don't blow around
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sstuder and Madhouse Pullet
Sstuder
  • Sstuder

    Sstuder

  • Nov 15, 2020
CoopDeVille1973 said:
Nice job on the Vinyl! Where did you get that and how is the vinyl secured at the bottom so the sheets don't blow around
Click to expand...
Here is the link for the vinyl:

https://www.marinevinylfabric.com/products/clear-marine-vinyl

We added grommets at the bottom, they are being tested as I am writing this since we have a thunderstorm with very strong winds. Will assess tomorrow morning to see how well it held. If necessary we can add more grommets.
 
S
  • S

    SkiboJeff

  • Dec 10, 2020
Great photos and well told story of your creation. I will attempt something similar this spring but I'm starting from scratch without a building.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sstuder and Madhouse Pullet
Sstuder
  • Sstuder

    Sstuder

  • Dec 12, 2020
SkiboJeff said:
Great photos and well told story of your creation. I will attempt something similar this spring but I'm starting from scratch without a building.
Click to expand...
Much better to start from scratch, you will have more flexibility.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Madhouse Pullet
Memoli
  • Memoli

    Memoli

  • May 13, 2022
Inspired me a lot. Thanks for sharing...
 
N F C
  • N F C

    N F C

  • May 13, 2022
Beautiful coop, good job! I especially like the covered paint trays used in the nesting boxes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: haroldnkit
GodLovesU
  • GodLovesU

    GodLovesU

  • Feb 26, 2025
That is gorgeous!
 
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  • Chicken Coops
  • Large Coops

Table of contents

Overview The Before Assessing the damaged areas Starting to secure the coop from the ground up Renovation continues Nest Box and trenching Windows and door Covered run Inside the coop Curtains for the nest boxes Bedding and dropping boards The girls are finally moving in! A good use for all those rocks Wifi Winterized Planning Winter time Update Summer 2021 Update 2022 Run Expansion Updates View full article

Article information

Author
Sstuder
Views
35,732
Comments
13
Reviews
10
Last update
Feb 24, 2025
Rating
4.87 star(s) 15 ratings

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