First coop

[paintedChix]

There are so many options out there. I totally recommend you go to your states' thread and see if there are any chicken owners near you that will let you take a look at their set ups and allow you to see if that would work for you. May be hard to do that right now, of course.

I am a big fan of the CP hoop coop. Partially, because I can do the builds almost completely single handed, they are least expensive for us while building walk-in coops. Ours are not really pretty or fancy, but they do the job and are functional. I've now made them in a variety of styles and sizes. They are easily expandable. You can choose many different styles of roofing & nest box arrangements. They can be tractors and they can be permanently positioned. They can be very open air in a hot or humid climate and they can be closed up in cold/snow environments. They can be used for temporary quarters while building a "proper" coop, then disassembled for the parts to be used in other ways.

I still have one coop/pen that is right around waist level. I'm 50+ yrs old and not as fit as I once was. It's a major PITA to deal with, but I haven't taken the time to remove the roof and do a hoop over it yet... Even our grand daughters hate it. It was here when we moved in and it's still usable, so...

All of ours (several) are built so birds are on the ground and we use DLM in both the hooped coop sections and in runs.

I've used the CP to make A-frame style chicken tractors and a much shorter hooped tractor as well (still working on those, actually).

 

[Folly's place]

I'd forgotten, but hoop coops can be an excellent choice too, I agree.
Mary

 

[Jenthehen127]

Maybe not, unless you're old and/or creaky and far from limber anymore or live in a place where feet of snow fall and frigid winds blow make tending the birds much more pleasant if you can walk into the coop.

But we don't know where @Jenthehen127 lives.
Hey Jen (I'dname a hen Jen if it wasn't my daughters name)....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2056711

Will do! I live in Western Pa. So anything goes! Lol! And we can thank my husband for the name! Cluck cluck!

 

[Jenthehen127]

I think that the best coop in many climates is the Woods coop, And I don't have one either.
If you can build one, or have it built, it's wonderful!
Next best is a shed type design, with lots of ventilation, and a roofed run, especially in snow country. For non-builders like myself, look at the sheds at the big box stores, or have someone build one for you.
We had an old one here, fixed it up, and over years, added to it, so now it's about 14' x 24', roofed, on an old building foundation, and works great.
Also, if you do decide to not have chickens, a garden shed is an asset anyway.
Mary

Thank you! I'm not sure what a woods coop is, but I will investigate! I'd very much like a shed type coop. We'll see if that will fit in the budget this summer. With everything going on, a little nervous about spending too much. But, girls need a safe comfy place to live, so that's what they will get! Whatever that may be!

 

[aart]

I'm not sure what a woods coop is, but I will investigate!

Here's a good place to start:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/woods-style-house-in-the-winter.445004/

 

[imnukensc]

Maybe not, unless you're old and/or creaky and far from limber anymore or live in a place where feet of snow fall and frigid winds blow make tending the birds much more pleasant if you can walk into the coop.

Totally agree, @aart. I am old and creaky, but with my few birds, small coop, and weather, I really don't need a walk in. I can clean it quite easily. Course, I'm not one of those that does any kind of "deep" cleaning. Push the poop that didn't fall through the wire to the ground every few weeks or so with a deck brush and rake out pine shavings and replace once a year is about it.