We live in a neighborhood with very small yards. I always wanted chickens but thought our yard space was too limited. My husband built this elevated playhouse for our daughter 6 years ago. The underneath was a sandbox that really didn't get played with at all. This past spring when the chicks were in the feed store I begged, and my husband said we could save yard space by building the hen house under the playhouse. The hen house is the green part. The height of the run is a bit low- I have to duck to get into it, we were stuck with the height of the playhouse. We usually leave it open for the girls to have free range in the yard and green space behind our house. Door has a window that can be shut for winter.
The food stays clean and dry inside, even when rain is really blowing. Bottom is all sand leftover from the sandbox. Super easy to clean! The wire was from a heat lamp that we used when the girls were first put outside in May, it has since been removed. Cant see the ventilation holes in top of green part here.
Ladder up to pop door. Artwork done by my daughter. Inside is moon - outside is sun! The door is opened and closed from outside the coop. The stick pushed door close and slides through metal holder to keep it shut. In the morning we slide the stick out and pull cord to open. Cord ties off outside so it stays open during the day.
Inside hen house. The heat lamp has since been removed. Two nest boxes. The roost bar is low in this picture (girls were small), has since been raised to upper position and a poop shelf is under it. The shelf slides out and is vinyl covered so hoses off. The bottom of the hen house is all linoleum lined.
Other side of house. Has two windows that can be shut in winter. Nest box opens from outside. Also can see the stick that we use to close the pop door.
Currently have 3 hens, but plan on getting 2 more this coming spring!
Marigold
Winter
Easter
