Hoping to build a new coop! What do y'all think my design should include?

[nessa.morg]

Hey! I want to start thinking of a design for a new coop. I probably won't build it till sometime next year but I would like to figure out a design for a coop and a run ahead of time. I would appreciate it if y'all tell me y'alls ideas for an ideal coop or any recommendations. What is your favorite part of y'alls coop? I can't wait for y'all to give me some ideas.

I currently have three chickens but by the time I build the coop Ill probably have a few more so it would have to be big enough for that.

 

[nessa.morg]

Also maybe y'all can tell me some ways to cut down on cost!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I love how my coop is elevated and I made large doors for easy cleaning.

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

OP - you're in LA?

What is your current set up, and what troubles are you having with it?

Look into something "open air" "fresh air" – Basic idea is at the south side of the coop is "open" – which means hardware cloth so things don't eat our chickens!

My husband built me a wood's style fresh air coop – I'm on my phone and it's really hard to use but if you search on here there's a lot of members who have built that style.

 

[nessa.morg]

OP - you're in LA?

What is your current set up, and what troubles are you having with it?

Look into something "open air" "fresh air" – Basic idea is at the south side of the coop is "open" – which means hardware cloth so things don't eat our chickens!

My husband built me a wood's style fresh air coop – I'm on my phone and it's really hard to use but if you search on here there's a lot of members who have built that style.

yeah I live in Louisiana. Ill try to get a picture of my current setup so y'all can see. I wish it was slightly bigger. Its big enough for three chickens but its sort of hard to clean. You would think its easy to clean because it has a lot of access points but not really. I also think my coop isn't that sturdy. I would like it to be better built because the one we have we bought it from a feed store. But this time I would like to build my own. I also think it needs to be better protected from predators. So far we have been lucky I think to not have any animal get interested in my chickens

 

[nessa.morg]

Also Is there any recommendations on what not to do?

 

[nessa.morg]

I love how my coop is elevated and I made large doors for easy cleaning. View attachment 1471705View attachment 1471706

A raised coop might actually be helpful to make it easier to clean because mine is sitting on the ground

 

[nessa.morg]

This is my current coop setup. Its a very flimsy coop.

 

[nessa.morg]

OP - you're in LA?

What is your current set up, and what troubles are you having with it?

Look into something "open air" "fresh air" – Basic idea is at the south side of the coop is "open" – which means hardware cloth so things don't eat our chickens!

My husband built me a wood's style fresh air coop – I'm on my phone and it's really hard to use but if you search on here there's a lot of members who have built that style.

How much is hardware cloth? Is it relatively cheap?

 

[nessa.morg]

There was three nesting boxes but as you can see in this picture one part broke off so there is only one nesting box left. Other parts of the coop have broke too. This is why I want to build my own because I know it will be sturdy. I have only had this coop for 6 months sadly and its already falling apart.