Design help- old high up playhouse to coop

[sunnie7]

We just bought some property and this old play house is on it. It's about 6'x8' and I want to convert it into a chicken coop. We have never built a coop before so any and all advice is welcomed! There is only one window, should we put in 1 more, 2 more? Also my biggest issue is it's too tall. I don't want to climb a ladder everyday to collect eggs. Is the only option to take the legs completely off and place it on the ground, is that best or should we somehow try to just "trim" the legs down so there will be space under the coop too? I'm assuming we are going to need to line the inside of the walls with plywood or something since there are gaps. We live in southern Indiana so I'm not planning on insulating it. What about nest boxes, roosts, a door and how to make it easy to clean out? Any pictures of ideas will be great! We currently have 4 bantams and a silkie but next spring we will be expanding our flock!

 

[Spartan22]

That’s an awesome size coop for 6-8 hens. Adding more windows will be ideal, that’s more lighting for inside of the coop and more ventilations. As for trimming the playhouse legs, do what is more easy access for you to tend to your hens and gathering eggs daily. I suggest outside accessibility for nesting boxes without stepping in the coop. Are you free ranging? A nice pen/run can also be built under that playhouse and expand out, though you have silkie that cannot fly, doesn’t roost normally on high.

 

[sunnie7]

That’s an awesome size coop for 6-8 hens. Adding more windows will be ideal, that’s more lighting for inside of the coop and more ventilations. As for trimming the playhouse legs, do what is more easy access for you to tend to your hens and gathering eggs daily. I suggest outside accessibility for nesting boxes without stepping in the coop. Are you free ranging? A nice pen/run can also be built under that playhouse and expand out, though you have silkie that cannot fly, doesn’t roost normally on high.

I'd really like to free range them and property a bit down the road from ours has free range chickens but we are very close to a state forestry so I worry quite a bit about hawks, racoons, foxes and coyotes. We also have tons of tiny deer ticks which is another reason I'd really like to free range.

 

[tigger19687]

That is one awesome tree house !
Keep posting pics of your progress !!!

 

[CapricornFarm]

I love it! At least one more window, two if it is in the budget. If you like the look of the rustic boards, put plywood on the inside. If you want a new look, you can put it on the outside. To cut down the height, i would mark all the legs every 6 inches and cut down one leg at a time until you are satisfied with the height. Keep us up to date on the progress!

 

[EggyErin]

I would cut it down to make it easier for the chickens to exit and enter. My coop is above-ground with a ramp from the chicken door to the ground - maybe a 3' or so drop. My ramp has a long slant to it. I like that the chickens can go under the coop in the rain or to dust bathe. I have to say, though, that I have free-ranged for several years and never thought I'd do differently. I've taken the losses as part of having chickens. However, I've reached my breaking point and am now making a very large chicken yard . Do the coop so that it's versatile.