Ideas for disguising a coop for Hens on the Sly?

[Coopa Cabana]

Are you planning on letting them run around in your yard? Most can get over a 4 foot fence easily. Not to mention dogs coming in to your yard when they smell the birds. And as others have said - even hens make A LOT of noise. Not just when laying, but if anything spooks them, the squawking is horrific - your neighbors will think you're butchering them!

But back to coop ideas for 2 hens - many people have made very nice coops from those elevated rabbit hutches. Many have trap doors with ramps to the ground, so the birds can get down to the ground (put fencing around the legs) and back up to the coop to roost at night.

Go the the Coop Designs link at the top of the page, and then go to the Small Coops section.

 

[awesomefowl]

Well, it was just an idea!
Seriously, I am thinking of designing a stealth coop kiit myself. It would have to be functional, and much less expensive than an Eglu. PM me if you have a ideas about this or think it is a good idea.

 

[Davaroo]

Might be better off with an aquarium or some pigeons.

 

[jason_mazzy]

privacy fence, and a 10x10 dog kennel with privacy stripping put in it. It will look normal and Then they can't check it without trespassing!

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Until the girls start hencrowing. The nice neighbors will change sides, then.

 

[8ROYALS]

You could use thick metal trellis to make the run. then plant a vine to cover it and lessen the noise.

 

[Fool]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/swine-flu-stealth-chicken-coops-future.php?dcitc=th_rss

Supposed to look like a garbage can. I think it looks more like a compost bin. It would be easy to build.

 

[dianaross77]

I will be working on a coop made of a little tikes playhouse this spring. That would look totally normal in your yard.

 

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

keep house chickens in diapers. I am serious, have friends that do it, and I have a house duck. It's easy and they make great pets. If you don't like the diaper idea you can get seramas and keep them happily inside a small parrot-size cage, guinea pig cage or whatever and let them out on your watch in the yard. They are pretty quiet, plus can they really tell you what you can have inside your house? A parrot is much louder than a serama. It will just take a few more eggs for that omelet.

 

[dianaross77]

Quote:
Yes, you totally can. That's what I have. My dh isn't crazy about the crowing in the morning but I think it's cute.