coop designs that "hide" what they are?

[Wifezilla]

That's the thing that chaps my hide.....chicken's (and ducks) are seen as a noise problem, but dogs barking all darn day aren't. I have called animal control and unless you are willing to drive down there to file a complaint, give your name, address and phone number so the person you are complaining against knows EXACTLY who you are and where live, they wont do a darn thing.

 

[PortageGirl]

Quote:
And bribing the neighbors with nice fresh eggs!!!

 

[Wifezilla]

I think if you took a bunch of regular plastic garbage cans and bolted them together in a circle and left an open spot in the middle...then cut away the sides facing the circle (maybe leaving one or two with just holes for nest boxes, you could build a bigger, better set up for a lot less money. (You may have to use a couple of fence slats between each garbage can depending on the gap between the cans) It it would just look like a circle a garbage cans instead of something just different enough to draw people's attention.

 

[Picky Chicky]

I find that it's better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission first.

 

[digitS']

I have a garbage can and a compost bin. Neither is very attractive. One is tucked away in the corner of a large garden; the other is tucked away in the garage.

What would be an attractive addition in most backyards would be a raised bed garden. Often these beds are built with the idea that the gardener can stand and reach to the center of the bed, no bending is necessary.

An idea that kind of incorporates the raised bed and chicken coop concepts is a coop with a "green" roof. Some folks have gotten by with just heavy black plastic but a "pool liner" would be a guarantee of a water-tight roofing material. A good, light-weight planting mix over this could be planted to perennial herbs or ornamentals.

To further combine these ideas, 2 actual raised beds placed on either side of a run and coop with a green roof would shield a chicken enterprise from prying eyes. The raised beds would also buffer noise. The result is, "A Coop (literally) within the Garden."

. . . just an idea . . .

Steve

 

[seedcorn]

My first coop looked like a homeless person lived in it.....is that a disguise?????? I look back and it was BADDDDDDDDDDDDD.

 

[garnet]

There was a former neighbor of mine who "had" ducks. But when animal control came out he claimed they were wild and chose to live there because of his garden pool. (except they slept caged in the enclosed back porch at night.) anyway, I just wish I could convince animal control a chicken "chose" to live in my yard......

 

[sewchick]

I like the idea. I also think making a dumpster would work too. Or even using a real one.

. One could get real creative here. Would give a person more room to work in.
Priscilla

 

[snowydiamonds]

I like Steve's idea and the henspa stealth idea and am going to do something w/those two ideas this summer for Silkies cause they are not like my regular chickens. I'm keeping them separated from the banty and LF flocks, it wasn't working out to have them together (although it WAS two young cockerels...yeah, I know...) They stole my heart and won't give it back!

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

I drove past a subdivision the other day where every yard had one of those storage "barns". Of course at the time I was thinking to myself "I wonder how many chickens i could fit in there?" I think one of those or a playhouse would be ideal for keeping stealth chickens. If you insulate it and only keep hens you could even cut down on the noise.