I've Had It With The "Triangle" Coop!

[Chickie Mamma]

Hello, Last spring DH and I built a coop... We took the design from some plans we found online. It was one of those "triangle" shaped coops. I thought "wow" what a nice looking coop and it gives the chickens more floor space. Although it looks nice, it is NOT easy to clean, and the run gets wet everytime it rains. The coop part itself is nice, we made removable floor boards and nest boxes for easy cleaning, has heat etc. I can't get in the run (bang my head) even in a crouched position, and once in, I can't get out. I brought up a new coop idea to DH

and he was not happy. I want to build something that is super easy to clean, and will last more than a year. This will be our 3rd coop built. I may keep the coop part and just make a new outside run (not triangle shaped). If anyone has any good suggestions, I would really appreciate it!

 

[mrsengeseth]

Could you maybe raise it? Like maybe, make a square run that you could set your coop/run on top of? then make a little ramp for the hens to get from coop to ground? then it wouldnt' be so hard to get into to clean?

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Thanks for the reply!! See, the problem is that we had to put chicken wire on the bottom of the run. We had a fox incident 1 week after we put our babies in March. Fox dug under and took 4 chicks and 4 ducklings that I hatched. (Devastated!) So we stapled all the chicken wire under it and put electric fence (wire) around the base along with spike strips 2 inches under the dirt around the perimeter. It worked well all summer, but now in the winter, its all frozen. I put bedding on top of the ice etc, but the food and water needs to be outside. I can't rake it out now. I think something rectangular with a roof would be better against the elements. The coop itself is off the ground about 6 inches and the girls walk down the ramp onto ice. Its hard to rake out under the coop also unless I climb in there to do it. We have tried tarps etc.. Its just so frustrating!!

 

[Reinbeau]

Build a real coop and be done with it. You have several birds, why not just build an 8x8' coop, or even 10x10', they're easy to build.

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Quote:
I think thats the answer!! Now if I could only talk DH into it

 

[EweSheep]

Yep, a square coop as tall as you are is the best route.

 

[Ukukwi]

I looked at the chicken tractor style like you're describing, but I just couldn't get around the fact that they would be hard to clean in the run area.

I searched and searched, and finally found a design I really like. We have 6 chicks that will be ready to head outside by the end of February and this will be there new home: (I have yet to build mine, but I'll use this design) - The Garden Coop

 

[Greenchickencoop]

The way i clean the run with my coop is to move the coop to a different spot a few feet away. And then do a little racking.

Garrett Falls

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Quote:
Thank you sooo much for the idea. We made the mistake by not making one side of the triangle open on a hinge. It is WAAAYY too heavy to move anywhere. I usually rake it out in the summer with no problem, but it still gets very wet when it rains. I have to clean it constantly. We are going to make one like the one you are showing me.. "Human size door" very important. No more crouching etc.. Thanks again..

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
I have an A-frame tractor too. I feel the same way you do. A year ago it looked so cute, my DH built it. After a year, I can't take it. It rains in, hard to clean, just like you said. So, lucky we use screws for everything, I am going to take it apart, and reuse everything to build something else. And this time it will be a great design. Here's the pic, it's under coops on this website. This pic was taken and posted by Sassafrassprings.