My all most maintainence free coop.

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

great coop. build a run to keep them out of that landscaping. I have two who get out and dig mine up.

 

[MrRushed]

Quote:
This is my first coop but when I was growing up my family had chickens, eggs in the summer and roasters in the winter.
I didn't like it that much my dad used to make me pluck em.

And thanks everybody for all the nice responces.

 

[ChixMama]

You have made a beautiful coop that has so many smart features. You get an A+ on doing all your homework!!

 

[kcsunshine]

How high off the floor are the chick's water nipples? I couldn't figure out where the water barrel was, but it's up in the rafters isn't it?

I think you should submit your coop ideas for the coop contest. Those are some amazing ideas.

 

[KristaBeth]

Beautiful!

Do you live anywhere near RI - I'll pay you to make me a coop like that!!

 

[redbug]

wow I am so impressed, you could go into business with this one.

 

[rancher hicks]

Weeeelllllllllll OK. I'm a very critical person all right. If there's a flaw I will spot it and well I have. I think the feeder is to big but I could be wrong, but the idea is nice and I may steal it and modify it. Or maybe the pics make it look big enough for a chicken to get in. The other thing is the location. IT'S NOT IN MY BACK YARD!

On the postive side. I like the doors for cleaning, the nipples, I have a friend who uses them and they keep the floor dry. I don't know where you live but she puts a heating element in her 5 gallon bucket to keep the nipples from freezing.

Unlike my wet floors. I just moved all the waterers outside. None inside so the floors could dry out. The dumb doras keep knocking them over and it's a mess.

OTHER THAN THAT IT'S THE MOST SMARTEST COOP DESIGN I HAVE SEEN. I'M NOT LAZY BUT I LIKE DON'T LIKE WORKING HARDER THAN I HAVE TO AND THAT IS A REEEEEAAAAALLLLLYYYYY NICE DESIGN. BUT CAN YOU MAKE ONE FOR 50 CHICKENS?
Very nice even Martha Stewart would like it. Course she'd probably take credit.

Oh did I mention that it's not in my back yard and it's a really nice design? Veeeerrrrrryyyyy nice. Simon would probably give it a thumps up.

 

[Prospector]

Before I revamp the half-built coop in our backyard to essentially steal your design, I have a couple Q's.

How big did you make the laying boxes? They look undersized in the pics, but pics are deceptive.

I like that the windows and back doors open, and see that as a possibility to open the coop up in the summer to allow ventilation. Have you considered a wire mesh insert for the back doors so you can leave it open on really hot days? I am thinking that rather than having the doors open left/right, maybe have the back open up/down like a tailgate on truck with a cap. Then you could replace the lower half with the screen insert to get a through-breeze. between the windows and back of the coop. I know I can get gas struts at Princess auto, but I don't know what their lift-load is and that door coming down hard while I cleaned out the coop could hurt! Maybe have the struts to help with lifting, and a latch to hold it up.

Another idea is to build a clip-on trough so that when you rake out the bottom of the coop everything goes in the trough which can be dumped into the trash quick and easy. I am thinking maybe a piece of raingutter attached to shelf brackets or something similar so it could slip in under the plywood floor.

I really like this design though, Very clever.

 

[beachchickie]

Great coop, one thing that might make it even more maintenance free is a wire floor. Have to use pretty strong hardwire but it will stand up to critters. We put a removable wire around the bottom also so the free ranging gals don't get under and eat the food that falls through. Poo falls through onto grass clippings. You scoop the poo/clippings straight into the garden. That is what we do and we have pretty low maintenance.

 

[MrRushed]

Quote:
OH YA.
tHANKS