We started with a coop that was already on property. An open air style, tin pole shed...
I don't really care for it, but the Chookies Love Love it, my husband says it's 'good enough' for (gasp) "chickens".
Needless to say I've built one window and as soon as there's no burn ban I'll start a second window ( cutting through strengthened tin siding throws too many Sparks!).
The Chookies are so appreciative of the window as it lets a breeze blow through the coop from the run.
I want to put a canopy over part of the run, maybe four or five foot out, so the Chookies have breeze and shade. The Run is wire enclosed, 20X13, but no shadey spots until evening when it's already cool.
Since we're in hurricane region I want to build drop down doors for front of coop to protect from side ways rains and worse, but not sure exactly how to do it yet. Its a 6 foot tall, 13 foot wide opening with center support pole at 6.5 foot.
There's plenty of roost room in back of coop window high. I recently added wire a broody to run so they can sit in or on it when they want to be leftalone, as well as a couple of hoola hoop swings which they adore.
My biggest problem is a patch of Wasatch that over grows the west side. I prun it back, but Wasatch grows like wildfire.
We had it all but killed off this winter, but it's back with a vengeance!
I put hay bales in back of coop in winter for warmth, and it gets pulled out by summer.
I don't care for the floor being dirt, but the Chookies like it...so I'm out numbered there. I've tried pallets on the floor but the Chooks hated it, so now there are two pallets in the run leaning up against posts at different angles and the Chooks play on them all morning and roost for naps in afternoon on them.
I put a solar lantern at the center entrance pole to coop and the go to it as night falls so I no longer have to call them up to the coop every evening.
They're happy happy, but I would love to fix it up and "doll house" it as my husband calls what I do. Lol
Chooks are 4-5 weeks from laying, so I'm building nesting boxes.
I'm currently making curtains for the nesting boxes and hubby just shakes his head.
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