If I could do it differently, next time I would...

[SewingDiva]

Our coop and run has a pitched roof like a house, and I would put the run door on the gable end instaed of the cross gable side because now the rain hits me in bad weather!

Phyllis

 

[Weasleymum]

This is actually something we're fixing now... but it turns out that the back doors to our coop were NOT predator proof, and dogs killed all my chickens. So my DH is designing some kind of complicated, very strong locking system. When it's done I'll post pictures.

Other than that little detail, (rolleyes the coop had been working out quite well.

 

[basicliving]

Much of what has already been mentioned:

- Larger coop
- Area than can be easily divided to separate chickens when needed
- Small closed in area attached to coop to store feed, scratch, coop cleaning supplies, etc.
- Larger run

 

[AtRendeAcres]

Weasleymum
WOW!

I am so sorry to hear about your chickens!

 

[pwand]

Quote:
Love how you did this. Makes it easier to clean I'm sure. Any chances of getting inside pictures. I have been trying to figure out an easier way to clean up after the girls, I like what you did.

 

[mrsengeseth]

I'd have trusted my instincts and built with my needs in mind too. My hubby is easily 2 feet taller than me. He tried to build the locks, nest boxes etc etc user friendly. And he tried to guage where I'd need them to be to clean them. Next time I will be more involved.

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

The cheapo stick-on vinyl tiles were a bad idea. They didn't stick enough. Chickens had them scratched up and removed in no time. A full sheet of vinyl flooring would be great though. Other than that we've been pretty happy with our setup.

 

[papadekaitlyn]

I have an impermeable chicken fortress!! If I would have changed anything, I might would have dug some trenches around it and installed Howitzers and AA guns...

 

[Peepthis541]

Quote:
Wow! I am really impressed with your coop! I took a more thorough look at your page photos. What a pro job! I think if there is any coop design contest to win, you sure are a contender!

 

[lorihadams]

Well, here's mine




I would have convinced my husband to build it where we wanted it when we were done...we needed the entire football team from our neighbor's house to move it....I would have also insulated the coop...it doesn't seem to bother the chickens but it worries me...we also do not have a pop door...so now I have a beach towel doubled up and tucked into the door...good news is that the chickens don't have to deal with the draft and now that they've figured out how to walk "through" the towel I don't have to go out at the crack of dawn and let them out of the coop! I am glad that we built it up high though cause we have a trash can under it and I can just scrap everything out of the coop into it...for spot cleaning I use a cat litter scoop--works really well for light day to day cleaning!

I also would have built it bigger but I have 8 right now and they seem to be happy so I guess I'll just have to dream of more chickies down the road!

This site has been extremely helpful and I thank everyone for posting every day because it helps us newbies tremendously!

Lori