I wanted my coop to be functional but super cute in our backyard, so I chose to convert a child's playhouse into a coop for the 5 chicks that are coming in April. The cedar playhouse is 4' wide, 4' long and 5'6' tall on the interior. Plenty big for 5 hens and for me to stand up in if needed. I did a lot of research and designed my coop with the following features:
1. Insulated walls and roof for the cold Maryland winters and hot Maryland summers
2. Insulation is covered with plastic horse stall sheeting. No exposed wood leaves parasites no place to hide and its easy to clean.
3. Acrylic Pop door on an automatic door opener allows floor level light to come in and I can sleep in!
4. Vinyl gutters are attached to the 2x4 roosts to catch the poop before it hits the coop floor. They are attached by drawers slides so they can slide out of the small doors cut into the walls for easy cleaning.
5. Windows and ventilation panels are covered in 1/2" vinyl covered hardware cloth to keep predators out. Additionally, removable acrylic window panels are installed for additional weather protection but let in lots of light and can be adjusted for air circulation too.
6. Working window shutters have weather stripping and latches installed to provide extra protection
7. The coop sits on a 4 foot high platform for predator protection and I don't have to bend over to clean anything!
8. The 2 seater nesting box is also lined with the cushioned vinyl flooring on the walls and floors for easy cleaning and additional cushioning. It can easily be accessed by lifting the outside lid. I can also block the nesting box until the chicks are ready to lay.
