How much do you care about aesthetics?

[Weasleymum]

When it comes to your coop and run, how much does 'how it looks' play into what you build (or want to build!)?

Are you willing to shell out extra $$$ to make things look just right, or do you get more pleasure from using something really cheap/free and ugly, but it still works?

I am personally very driven by the appearance. I'm not into the cutesy stuff, like flower-boxes, clever signs, little shutters, and gingerbread trim (not that there's anything wrong with that, just not to my taste!) but I love certain elements that say 'well-built' (or even "over-built"). I like heavy-looking roofs with good-sized overhangs, for example. I like clever, well-thought-out details, like the circular holes I saw in one coop here that the hens go through to get to their nestboxes. I hate chain-link fences and plastic stuff-- I'd rather spend more on the hardware cloth and wood for pretty nestboxes than using 5-gallon buckets, even though they'd work too. Still not sure exactly why it matters so much, especially since it's not like we've got money to spare... Maybe the chicken coop is just a good microcosm-- I can't build the people-house I'd like, but I can build the chicken-house...

How about you?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

If I was in the country it wouldn't matter one ioda to me what it looked like as long as it was functional and the more inexpensive the better. As I live in close quarters in town I try not to lower the appeal of neighborhood. I certainly don't go all out but something not ugly.

 

[groundpecker]

My pens and coops are built for function. How they look is last on my list. If they prevent bird escapes, keeps predators out, and keeps my birds happy, i am pleased with them. Of course i have anywhere from 70-150 birds and 7 breeds.

 

[Weasleymum]

Yeah, I think if I were out in the country, it would be different... I am right in a city, and my backyard is on full view, both to our neighbors on two sides (our house is kinda turned sideways, hard to explain), and to a busy street. I'm trying to balance my subversive poultry-keeping yearnings, with keeping things neat, tidy, and attractive enough to not bother anybody... But I do like well-made things, for themselves. Hmmm. Also, with just a few birds, this is just a hobby, not a business...

 

[3KillerBs]

Option C -- There's a happy medium to be found.

I'm right in town on a corner lot so that every portion of my yard is in view of the street. So while our coop will not require ornamental elements it will need to be neatly-made and presentable.

In the country where no eyes but our own would see I'd be fine with a mix of pallet boards and scrap plywood as sheathing (though no absolute junk). I'd paint it regardless because paint preserves the wood. Simple barn paint in one of the 3 standard colors would be fine.

 

[res]

I try to conserve as much money as possible, BUT!!!! Looks are extremely important to us.

My husband's job moves him on average every 2 years (or sooner: we've lived in 3 different states since 2010). Because of the frequent moves, we HAVE to build a coop that looks good, otherwise, it could be detrimental to the sale of the house. The coops and runs add absolutely NOTHING to the value of the house, as they are considered temporary structures, so it makes complete sense to build as economically as possible. But, the coops are a major selling point for the house - their appearance can make or break a sale - so we only erect things that look good. We also stay away from coops that are only coops. We've had better luck with storage sheds converted to coops, they appeal to buyers who DON'T want chickens, as they can easily be changed back to a garden shed/storage.

 

[MoonShadows]

I am definitely spending more not only to get the look I want, but strength, durability and functionality. Eventually, our coop will be one of 3 outbuildings (along with an old two story shed built in the 1940s and a green house we hope to build later in the summer) surrounding our kitchen gardens, flower gardens and chicken gardens. We are taking a lot of our inspiration from the book, "Free Range Chicken Gardens"...it will be an oasis for us.

 

[Weasleymum]

I am definitely spending more not only to get the look I want, but strength, durability and functionality. Eventually, our coop will be one of 3 outbuildings (along with an old two story shed built in the 1940s and a green house we hope to build later in the summer) surrounding our kitchen gardens, flower gardens and chicken gardens. We are taking a lot of our inspiration from the book, "Free Range Chicken Gardens"...it will be an oasis for us.

I just heard about that book yesterday, and really want to read it!

 

[SarahInAlaska]

Since mine was already incorporated into the greenhouse there's not much aesthetically for me to do. Since it can't be seen by neighbors I wouldn't care too much about aesthetics if I couldn't afford it. I was lucky and had lots of leftover paint from other projects and got supplies on clearance to enable me to cutesy it up a bit.