Modern Rustic Chicken Coop Design

[aart]

It helped tremendously to build the coop in 3d and make numerous changes to the design without costing anything but time. It's really gratifying to see it go from a computer to real life.

The screws are much more forgiving then the nails as you can fix several mistakes.

Hear Hear on both counts!!

Nice build...not sure we need to name the 'style'.
Just call it a 'good coop'.

 

[swatson7122]

Here are a few shots of the construction of the Chicken Run. 85% of the lumber is not treated so it takes a lot more time to build, prime, and paint. The chickens also arrived early so Im expediting the construction. I may decide to put a shed roof on the run instead of a standard roof.

The chicken run was painted a darker colored called Swiss Chocolate to help accent the coop as well hide dirt. And here is a shot of the interior of the coop just before the chickens were placed inside.

The light was added in case we wanted to extend the "daylight" hours slightly which would be connected to a timer. So far the poop board works great.

 

[swatson7122]

In addition to interior lighting I'm experimenting with some external lighting for the Chicken run. Both the external lights and interior lights would be on a timer so they wouldn't be on all night. I found an L.E.D. style light String to place around the perimeter of the run. I just draped them over the run to see if they would work or not. If I decide to keep them I will permanently mount them so they are hung consistently. Its not super bright but is enough to illuminate the run to see if any predators are around at least until the timer turns off the lights. I'm not sure If I will keep them or not as this is just a test. Also pay no attention to the Galvanized poles in front of the run. The chicken coop is sitting on a former Dog house Slab which had chain link fence around it from the previous owner. I left the poles in case I would need them one day.

 

[aart]

Nice Run Framing!

Shed style roof for run would be an easier build and easier to manage run off.

I see something concerning here, it may be an optical illusion but...
....your coop roof slants to the left,
but it looks like your ground slants to the right?
Roof run off could 'flood' your run.
Maybe slant the run roof to the right and gutter the coop roof?

 

[Akrnaf2]

Very nice coop!
One suggestion if I may, I don't like that the wooden base fram is in a direct contact with the floor, with water, and mud it will rot fast.
I would raise it on bricks and cover the flank with a replaceable board or cover it with cold tar.

 

[aart]

Very nice coop!
One suggestion if I may, I don't like that the wooden base fram is in a direct contact with the floor, with water, and mud it will rot fast.
I would raise it on bricks and cover the flank with a replaceable board or cover it with cold tar.

Yes....or cover the gap with an anti-dig apron:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[swatson7122]

All good observations. The roof is slanted to the opposite direction of the ground which is not ideal. The roof was slanted this way because the entrance to the run is on the tallest side of the coop. I couldn't place the run door on the other side as there are to many bushes and not enough height for the door to the run given the slope the coop may have need to be even taller. The other reason being Most of the wind comes from the North so it helps deflect a lot of the wind in the winter. Gutters are a must for water runoff (I have yet to install them but plan on doing so to help mitigate water runoff). A traditional style roof would need gutters on both sides VS the shed roof which would only need it on one side. The coop is resting on treated 4x4 posts. I initially planned for patio blocks to be under the coop however I had to rush the construction of the coop and didn't have time to get the patio blocks and set them. I decide I would will simply lift / Jack up the coop a few inches and slide the patio blocks under it or simply hold the coop in place and replace the 4x4 with the 4 inch patio blocks. Replacing the patio blocks now is not ideal and I may learn a hard lesson about not omitting items for the sake of time management. I will certainly let you know how it goes.

 

[swatson7122]

I'm currently working out the details on a couple of ideas I would like to implement. One of them is a Pop Door indicator. My Pop Door is on the opposite side of the house and obscured from view. My fear is remembering or not if I closed it and not have to go out check each time. I could by a timer and motor to open and close the door or some kind of electronic sensor but for right now I think this will work out nicely. The pop door indicator I'm working on consists of a metal chicken that when out means the pop door is open, and when down or not visible the pop door is closed. Ideally I should be able to glance out the window and see if the chicken is out. The indicator is activated when the Pop Door gets opened or closed by the pulley system.

 

[aart]

That would be cool....watch the weight and pressure, keep it light.
Looking forward to seeing the actual mechanism.

 

[swatson7122]

I thought about that as well. Something light out of wood or aluminum may be a better option. If I use steel I may need some kind of counter weight on the opposite side. The larger issue I'm going to have is accounting for the chicken run the is now attached...