Does anyone have a "playhouse coop" or look alike?

[Zahboo]

I was looking through the coop pages and enjoy that look of these coops. You know the ones that are walk in runs with a coop on stilts? I have 5 hens, all standard and was considering this for their coop. Right now they are in a boring ole tractor that places them on the ground.

So pretty much I am looking for:
-detailed pictures, inside, out, in the making of too!
-your hens inside and how you utilized the space
-dimensions
-anything you'd change or wish you could do
-how much it cost you
-materials list

Of course you don't have to list all that, anything is helpful. I was thinking of a 4x6 coop with a 12x6 run, but wasn't sure if it would work. I was leaning towards a 2x4 frame and T-111 siding with a shingle a-frame roof that covers the coop and run. Sorry if this is wordy/lengthly or makes no sense. It's my first post!


(PS if there is a design that you like that isn't playhouse, feel free to post it also, it won't be built until spring)

 

[Cheryl]

That is the size of my coop! Last time I looked the pictures were still there. All 9 of my girls are in there and quite comfortable...I moved them all into it when I decided one of my younger ones froze to death in the uninsulated/heated coop! We spent a fortune...bought almost everything new.

 

[orcasislandchickens]

I have one.

I heard someone refer to "aviary style coops" and that is what the playhouse coop is. It is upscale and functional and can be made into a very pretty addition to the garden. If you tweak it, the coop is hard to beat. It is pricy for it's size though and is not the thing for out on the farm.

I like:

The covered run- I put wire down filled mine with playground sand and it stays quite clean.

The appearance- it looks great in the garden. I roofed and painted to match the house.

The window box is cheerful, lots of sun in the coop and run.

I would change:

The dimensions- in a heartbeat, they are just too small and although they work well for saving on materials I have spent way more than the cost of a couple of sheets of plywood on work-arounds to get it to be realy functional for more than a couple of hens. I would strongly suggest you make the house area like 3'X5' or even 3.5' x5'. add a couple of feet to the length of the run while you are at it. That would make it like 5'x10'

This is a wonderful setup from a security standpoint. You may not think you'll need it but I have. So beef up the easy stuff while you're building and no one will even notice it is there. Pay the extra and enclose it all in hardware cloth. Add hasps that can hold a padlock on the run door and egg door, and make sure the window is secure. With the covered run, and attention to the foundation area so nothing can dig in, you have a place your flock will be secure and happy if you have to be away a couple of days.

I added vinyl flooring and painted the inside with a realy washable semigloss paint. I also changed the way the door opens and made it larger for cleaning purposes.

My roosts drop into brackets made of scrap, rather than being permanently attached, and lift out to carry over and scrub off. A realy good change that cost almost nothing.

I made a little removable divider with a door so I can box off the area under the house for newbie introductions, or a broody with chicks.

This winter we had a lot of snow and I wound up making storm windows for the run and adding a 150w light to the run and a 100w light to the house. So they wound up with an enclosed heated greenhouse setup for the coldest weather which they loved.

Oh run electricity out there if you can.

Edited to add I didn't read your idea on dimensions, that sounds good . I used playhouse coop plans and used dennis' dimensions and mine seems a little small.

 

[#1California Chick]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Lots of great information here and lots of great (and funny

) people too!!
If you have already looked at all the coops in the Chicken Coop Section, then you want check out past threads under Coop & Run Design & Construction. You might want to also click on SEARCH in the blue section above and then type in "Playhouse Coop" for all the threads on this topic.

Good Luck!!

Cindy

 

[chookchick]

I built the playhouse style coop, back when I thought I was going to have just 3 chickens (haha). I built it as a 4 by 8, with the roosting area on top as a 4 by 4. I did not make the full size door, as I was in a hurry (growing chicks) and I am not a carpenter (looked hard to do). I think that size would work for 2 to 3 chickens. I ended up building a separate "day run", as I felt they needed more room to run around.

Things I like about it:
Chickens have access to a very secure area that is open if no-one is up early to let them out. They seem to like it.
The raised upper area is easy to reach and clean out (though I wish I had made the door the full length of the roosting area.
I built in on top of cement boards, and I was able to move it fairly easily.
I think the small size of the roosting area helps them keep warm and cozy when it is cold out.

Cons:
It is difficult to reach back to 4 feet to clean.
The run area is too small.
I am really jealous of everyone that has these cute little "houses", where they can go in and hang out with the chickies. I am trying to rationalize building a whole new coop, which will have to happen eventually.
Mine is not very attractive, as I never got it painted, and--I am not a carpenter!

 

[CoyoteMagic]

This is mine after it has been modified to use with my quail. It was way to small for 5 large birds (3 BSL & 2RIR) It is made entirely off scrap except for the screw and tin roof. It's heavy as heck and nearly impossible to move. I think this would work best for 2-3 birds, as a breeder pen or maybe for bantams.

 

[NRacine]

We built a 4X8 playhouse coop. You can see pics of the build here Although the entire build is not posted.

The roof is now shingled and obviously there's a wall with a door and ladder (and a flower box!). We altered the plans a lot. If you want I can upload the rest of the pics for more ideas.

 

[Farmer Brown]

We built the 8x8 size. We have 10 standard hens and 4 OEG bantams. Our flock free ranges all day

so the run size is ok for us. We used 2x4s and the t-111 siding. We used a corrugated metal roof that has a good look and saved big time on labor weight and materials. Def. build a clean-out door ! Right now we use the egg door to clean out along with the fold down front panel

, I will be adding a clean out door this spring. I would always build with room to grow, as you look around BYC you will see a lot of us started only wanting a few hens, we started with 6. We just added a 4 box nesting center so our girls could have more choices and less waiting.

Hope this helps sorry for the rambling.

 

[redhen]

i just bought one from Walmart..it looks like a little log cabin(its made of cedar)..cute!...when hubby gets it all put together i'll post a pic..i think i am going to use it for my ducks this spring...

 

[Farmer Brown]

Quote:
Lucky ducks!!!

I want to live in a log cabin!