Garden Coop vs Wichita Cabin Chicken Coop

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Could someone explain to me why it is okay to have the entire top part of the coop open? I understand ventilation is good, but I would think that would be quite drafty! This is in regards to the Garden Coop design, sorry.
 
It is a real shame there is not detailed plans for the wichita coop like there is for the garden coop. I went ahead and bought the garden ones and it makes me feel like I have a real road map instead of drawings on the back of a napkin :)

I think also, I like how invisible the roof is. My coop is going up in my backyard in the woods and I think I like the idea of it not being so obvious. The Wichita is very heavy looking and not very discrete at all! I could see that helping to make it not feel so flimsy and having it feel "real" though for people that want a substantial structure.

I still need to get the nod from the husband though. Most important step of all :)

Maybe when the 20,000 posts in the spring start with people buying small coops from TSC after they got chicks, we should give them the garden coop link and say look, suck it up,....this takes a few weekends and won't look larger than your garage, do it!
 
fightingbunny said:
It is a real shame there is not detailed plans for the wichita coop like there is for the garden coop. I went ahead and bought the garden ones and it makes me feel like I have a real road map instead of drawings on the back of a napkin :)

I think also, I like how invisible the roof is. My coop is going up in my backyard in the woods and I think I like the idea of it not being so obvious. The Wichita is very heavy looking and not very discrete at all! I could see that helping to make it not feel so flimsy and having it feel "real" though for people that want a substantial structure.

I still need to get the nod from the husband though. Most important step of all :)

Maybe when the 20,000 posts in the spring start with people buying small coops from TSC after they got chicks, we should give them the garden coop link and say look, suck it up,....this takes a few weekends and won't look larger than your garage, do it!
Click to expand...
so You live by the woods and don't want a heavy well built coop. Have you read up in the predator area? I think the garden coop( not sure why its named that0 looks like a tsc special. The coop section is way too small and once that is addressed then it will look more like a wichita coop. and with all the ones in the build threads around hear how s that plans on a napkin? .

So Maybe I will build the wichitia coop with a step by step directions on the original size. if everyone thought that would help those plans out. I just figured that that be done already hundreads of times.

Either way when you do start nailing or screwing boards together be sure to start a post on here to teach others how to do it . Also if the plans you bought need more this or that the is enough knowledge around here to help you with that.

Scott
 
It isn't like the garden coop is that flimsy. The only thing that seems not heavily built is the roof, but we don't get much snow so I am not that worried by that. The predator threat here is pretty high for lightweight predators like fox, hawk (occasional bald eagle!!!), raccoon, snake, and my dog (le sigh). There are no mountain lions, bears, or hungry humans, so I don't have to worry about 100+ pounds on the roof. The sides/supports/base seem very similar between the two coops and there will be a metal hardware cloth apron extending from the base around it. My dogs function as a predator moat around the coop and take the duty of barking at everything at night very seriously. Actually, the coops styles look the exact same minus how the roof is done. Also Isn't the coop size about the same between the wichita coop and the garden coop? 3' x 5'

I know there are quite a few pictures of coops as they go through the construction phases, but unfortunately I need a little bit more instruction than that :( When I say I have no experience building, I have none!! I need to know which pieces attach to what, what direction the board is angled, what hardware attaches these boards, etc. I am sure I can make these choices from the pictures, but I think I would end up wasting a lot of time looking at multiple build pictures trying to figure out what was used.

For someone that is more handy and has built a shed or something, the pictures on threads on this forum are definitely more than enough.
 
fightingbunny said:
It isn't like the garden coop is that flimsy. The only thing that seems not heavily built is the roof, but we don't get much snow so I am not that worried by that. The predator threat here is pretty high for lightweight predators like fox, hawk (occasional bald eagle!!!), raccoon, snake, and my dog (le sigh). There are no mountain lions, bears, or hungry humans, so I don't have to worry about 100+ pounds on the roof. The sides/supports/base seem very similar between the two coops and there will be a metal hardware cloth apron extending from the base around it. My dogs function as a predator moat around the coop and take the duty of barking at everything at night very seriously. Actually, the coops styles look the exact same minus how the roof is done. Also Isn't the coop size about the same between the wichita coop and the garden coop? 3' x 5'

I know there are quite a few pictures of coops as they go through the construction phases, but unfortunately I need a little bit more instruction than that :( When I say I have no experience building, I have none!! I need to know which pieces attach to what, what direction the board is angled, what hardware attaches these boards, etc. I am sure I can make these choices from the pictures, but I think I would end up wasting a lot of time looking at multiple build pictures trying to figure out what was used.

For someone that is more handy and has built a shed or something, the pictures on threads on this forum are definitely more than enough.
Click to expand...

ok fair enough. all my projects I look for pictures online. then detail out a footprint on a piece of wood or paper then build away.
So what you can do is be sure to get a thread going on here detailing your build to help out others on here with similar building experience or lack of that:)

Ill be looking for that thread.

Scott
 
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I was going to build the garden loft at first but then I decided on the wichita. I think they are both nice coops. Also, I agree being a newbie to building it will help, I think, tremendously to have actual plans. That being said you should be able to vary your plan to your liking. Don't be afraid to change it up if you want. I made tons of mistakes, but I'm not afraid to reach out to my chicken friends on this forum and they have helped me again and again and again. At one point early on I made a huge mistake and I thought I would literally have to take the whole thing down and start over but thankfully someone on BYC came up with a brilliant idea and saved the day. So most mistakes can be fixed or worked around and you will make them, even with a plan
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Ive been keeping my thread going on my build in hopes to help anyone else that may want to follow along and learn from my mistakes. Good luck!
 
Plans can be adapted, that's for sure. When I build I tend to design everything in my head. The only thing I will put to paper is a shopping list. I sometimes need to remind myself that not everyone can do this, and it drove my dad nuts when we worked on projects together.
 

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