- Jul 10, 2009
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See my BYC page for how I did it. The windows are orientated so when the leaves are off the trees in winter, sunlight illuminates and warms the Coop-----that may be a problem where you are at with evergreens? I'm also a fan of the sub-ground level dirt floor with composting deep litter like it was done by European farmers for centuries.
Think now before you build your coop how to make your chores/work easier. Fruit trees suited for your climate will provide free food for much of the year if you time the varieties ripening times right. My ladder roost is pivoted and attached with chain and cable so I can lift it up from the door area. I don't have electricity or water run to the coop----don't need it---simple is better. I do collect rainwater from the coop roof into a stock tank which I keep goldfish in to prevent mosquitoes.
My coop has a brick foundation I built so no wood touches the ground or the deep litter compost. I have "egg doors" so the kids and womenfolk can collect the eggs from outside. (I go in). I did little things like using angle iron over the wood at the door threshold cause I remembered my grandparents coop having critter chewed holes there, must work, nothing has chewed its way in yet. I cut rubber strips from an old tractor tire inner tube to act as rain guards/drip edges over the egg doors. I used the rubber strip over the hinge of the Pop door to prevent chicken poo from solidifying like concrete on the hinge area---works, the poo pops off when I close the door.
Again---Think out your logistics of what you want and have to do to make a long term Chicken Coop/run easy. I have mine sharing a fence with the Garden and let them into the Garden in the fall when I'm done with it to have them glean and till and fertilize for me--works great.
Think now before you build your coop how to make your chores/work easier. Fruit trees suited for your climate will provide free food for much of the year if you time the varieties ripening times right. My ladder roost is pivoted and attached with chain and cable so I can lift it up from the door area. I don't have electricity or water run to the coop----don't need it---simple is better. I do collect rainwater from the coop roof into a stock tank which I keep goldfish in to prevent mosquitoes.
My coop has a brick foundation I built so no wood touches the ground or the deep litter compost. I have "egg doors" so the kids and womenfolk can collect the eggs from outside. (I go in). I did little things like using angle iron over the wood at the door threshold cause I remembered my grandparents coop having critter chewed holes there, must work, nothing has chewed its way in yet. I cut rubber strips from an old tractor tire inner tube to act as rain guards/drip edges over the egg doors. I used the rubber strip over the hinge of the Pop door to prevent chicken poo from solidifying like concrete on the hinge area---works, the poo pops off when I close the door.
Again---Think out your logistics of what you want and have to do to make a long term Chicken Coop/run easy. I have mine sharing a fence with the Garden and let them into the Garden in the fall when I'm done with it to have them glean and till and fertilize for me--works great.
