BonnieBlue
Songster
My new coop was finished in August. One I spent a long time thinking about and designing, and did what I could, given finances. I would have loved bigger, but did splurge on a couple of things. So for everyone looking at building a new coop, I thought it would be fun to list our two best "design elements" in our coops. Plus, it might give ideas for additions down the road for others of us. I'm thinking one practical element, one "splurge" element.
Here are mine:
1. Practical - Exhaust fans. Two 820 cfm exhaust fans, one on each end. At 12"x12", they were the biggest I could fit in the space, and really pull air. I have what is adequate passive ventilation, but the lack of odor in the coop tells me these work.
2. Splurge - Running water and a sink. I knew I wanted a "people side" in my coop so I would have room to work and store cleaning stuff. But the big splurge was the running water. I am too old and cranky to tote water from the house, or tangle with a garden hose in the winter. Cleaning is so much easier. Keeping waterers full is easier. I got a small deep tub laundry sink, and it is just right for fitting a bin for washing chickens and then just dumping the water down the drain, so even bathing chickens is easier. Because I am in a rural area, I was able to save money by having it drain into the water drainage easement. (Totally legal, safe, and a lot cheaper.) Even if I could only portion off a small 4'x4' area for a sink, I would have one.
So what are your coops' best features?
Here are mine:
1. Practical - Exhaust fans. Two 820 cfm exhaust fans, one on each end. At 12"x12", they were the biggest I could fit in the space, and really pull air. I have what is adequate passive ventilation, but the lack of odor in the coop tells me these work.
2. Splurge - Running water and a sink. I knew I wanted a "people side" in my coop so I would have room to work and store cleaning stuff. But the big splurge was the running water. I am too old and cranky to tote water from the house, or tangle with a garden hose in the winter. Cleaning is so much easier. Keeping waterers full is easier. I got a small deep tub laundry sink, and it is just right for fitting a bin for washing chickens and then just dumping the water down the drain, so even bathing chickens is easier. Because I am in a rural area, I was able to save money by having it drain into the water drainage easement. (Totally legal, safe, and a lot cheaper.) Even if I could only portion off a small 4'x4' area for a sink, I would have one.
So what are your coops' best features?
