Dennis' Playhouse coop (from MyPetChicken.com)

[moodusnewchick]

In the last picture, that back piece is actually a door (modification from Dennis'). I chose to clean from the back of the coop instead of into the covered run area. There are two nesting boxes mounted on that door with a support "beam" since the door is only plywood.

 

[moodusnewchick]

I'm standing where the door opens...if that makes any sense. (when taking the back pics)

 

[NRacine]

Thanks moodusnewchick!

My roost box is smaller than yours I think (mine is 2x4) but I am also keeping the part under the roof available.

I ordered 6 chicks so they could snuggle for warmth during shipping. I'm thinking I will give 2 away and see how 4 do.

 

[silkiechicken]

You could keep 5 in there if you let them free range all day.

 

[SewingDiva]

Great work on your coop!

We built this coop and we love it! It's perfect for our three heavy breed hens (we have 1 BO, 1, Australorp and 1 EE.) If I had more than three birds I’d definitely make the run larger even if I kept the coop itself the same size.

Also, I think the coop box itself can work for no more than 4 heavy breeds because the internal nest box takes up about 1/4 of the space. Plus the feed & water need to hang outside, so that brings the run square footage down from 32 square fee to only 30 - again, this is okay for three birds, but if I had more than three I think we'd have picking problems.


~Phyllis

 

[NRacine]

Oh, how funny! We are filling in the space with a hinged triangle piece so we can put it up or down with the weather, and it will have hardware cloth to keep the ladies in and predators out. We are getting 2 each Red Cochins, Gold Laced Wyandottes, and Easter Eggers. I think once we get them I will decide who gets along best and keep 4 to see how it goes.

I'm guessing I will want more and have to put in an addition next spring!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I always thought it would be a nice idea to make it just a little bigger, by extending the house end. If you double the size of the house, you also add a little more run area under the house. Otherwise, it just seems a little small, for more than a couple of chickens. It seems kind of cramped and a little poopy inside, when I've seen a video of the interior. The chickens roost right over the nest box, so the top of it gets pooped on. I could see adding an exterior nest box helping with that problem, too. Other than that, I really love the basic design of that coop. I love the look of it and the covered run. Everyone that's posted pictures of it has done such a great job on their coops, too. They really look good.

 

[arlee453]

Just as an FYI, Dennis has an 8x8 version of the playhouse coop if you want something a bit bigger. This is his blog. If you tell him you've already ordered the 8x4 version he might go ahead and give you the discount on the 8x8.

http://playhousecoop.blogspot.com/

I'd put no more than 3 in the 4x8 if they are cooped up most of the time. If they free ranged a lot of the day then up to 5.

I built a modified version of the 4x8 to house my parakeets and button quail and it's cute and functional!

 

[AtRendeAcres]

You do have a covered run & it looks like they would have enough roosting space so, I would think 4/5 would be o.k. if...

they are lighter breeds EE, Dominique, Leghorn, CA ((4 or 5lb))
open up the run for a couple hours during the day or just before they go to bed!

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

this site can give you an idea on lighter breeds & how much they lay - you can figure out how many eggs you are looking for a week

another important thing is to brood chicken together you are getting (don't start with 3 & get one more)

they will pick each other less if they grown up together!

Joanne

 

[NRacine]

Well I already ordered 6 chicks, they should be here next week. As I said before, I will probably keep 4 and give away 2. I built this coop thinking I could have 5 since that's what it says on the plans. This is my first time with chickens and it seems like no matter how much research I try to do there's always something else to learn, and something I wish I'd done differently. I just have to work with what I have now (since it's pretty much done) and learn as I go.