Thanks for reaching out! As a college professor, this is a particularly busy time of year which conflicts with my farming duties, lol! I ordered 3 Plymouth Rock Barred ladies 2 years ago and was sent 4. I will never know who the "extra" chick was, but the dynamics among them is amazing. And with 4, it helped seal their namesakes: Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche and Rose! So, I am a mom to a group of 2-year old ladies who keep me (and the dog) on our toes. My kids and husband are not as involved in the daily activities, but that's ok, it's actually therapeutic for me to venture out to the coop/run and visit with them, clean up, collect eggs and deliver some fresh produce. Who does not love a group SO happy to see you, even if it's just b/c you are carrying some escarole?
This is Sophia, queen bee of the group. She is my gorgeous redhead! Here is there coop tucked safely inside a giant run. We put on the metal roof and doubled up on the 14 gauge metal cloth around the entire unit AND UNDER IT. Best thing we ever did. Fox left hungry and gross mice could not get in!
Yes, those are curtains and a chandelier inside the coop, but the curtains help with draft (winter we wrap the whole thing up) and the chandelier, well, it gives them a soft glow as they find their way to the roosting bar each night. There are automatic doors on the inner coop and in between the inner run and outer run, on a timer but also easy to control right from my phone no matter where we are, a WiFi speaker to pump in classical tunes, and a camera so I can make sure everyone made it inside before the doors closed.
If anyone told me even 5 years ago I'd have a coop in my yard, I'd thought they were crazy, but now I think it's crazy NOT to have them! They are a total joy.