Outta Here
Songster
- May 17, 2021
- 462
- 1,669
- 186
I've raised chickens for 40 years but have never built a chicken house I like as much as the one I just finished, so I wanted to share it. It's an indoor-outdoor coop built on either side of the shop wall, taking up little space on either side, built completely of salvage (except the 1/4 inch wire). I wanted the chicks close, but I didn't want the coop to detract from the looks of the shop. This houses 14 chickens who free range all day.
The outdoor coop is 4'x18' with an 8' roost.
The inside and outside coops, connected by a chicken door.
The indoor and outdoor coops both have feeders and waterers and roosts.
The indoor coop is long and narrow, 2.5'x12' with an 8' roost. I can lean over the wall to pet my very tame chicks on their roost, gather eggs, change water and feed--and even wipe down the roost every morning!
The wall is hinged, so the entire thing opens wide for me to rake the sand, which takes me less than 5 minutes. I can also rake while the chickens are in by leaning over the wall.
The egg boxes are elevated with a short roost in front, but I built a wire door that is closed at night so the chickens won't sleep in (and dirty) the nest boxes. The nest box door is open and the overhead light is off during the day. Not shown is a removable wire door separating the nest box area to raise chicks safe from the flock.
The outside coop is accessed by the chickens though a door I can close or open with a pulley. It usually stays open all the time, so the chicks can choose whether to roost in the cool night air or inside in the warmer shop.
I can quickly and easily remove one roof panel to change water and feed or climb in. Because our barn has antique wood, I wanted to make minimal nail holes, so I didn't hinge the roof panels for easier cleaning, but under normal situations, it surely could be done. I do have to don knee pads and use a short rake to clean the outside, but it only takes me about 10 minutes every week or so.
Both coops are completely predator-proofed, with 1/4 wire mesh buried in a 3' skirt around the outside. Not even a skinny snake can get in when the door to the yard is closed every night. The chicks free range all day on my lawn (and nap on the porch chairs!), and though we have coyotes, they won't come in that close with my 120 lb German Shepherd guarding the chicks!
There's just nothing better for stress relief than having an innocent chicken, clueless to the problems of the world, hop up for a cuddle or a snooze in your lap!
The outdoor coop is 4'x18' with an 8' roost.
The inside and outside coops, connected by a chicken door.
The indoor and outdoor coops both have feeders and waterers and roosts.
The indoor coop is long and narrow, 2.5'x12' with an 8' roost. I can lean over the wall to pet my very tame chicks on their roost, gather eggs, change water and feed--and even wipe down the roost every morning!
The wall is hinged, so the entire thing opens wide for me to rake the sand, which takes me less than 5 minutes. I can also rake while the chickens are in by leaning over the wall.
The egg boxes are elevated with a short roost in front, but I built a wire door that is closed at night so the chickens won't sleep in (and dirty) the nest boxes. The nest box door is open and the overhead light is off during the day. Not shown is a removable wire door separating the nest box area to raise chicks safe from the flock.
The outside coop is accessed by the chickens though a door I can close or open with a pulley. It usually stays open all the time, so the chicks can choose whether to roost in the cool night air or inside in the warmer shop.
I can quickly and easily remove one roof panel to change water and feed or climb in. Because our barn has antique wood, I wanted to make minimal nail holes, so I didn't hinge the roof panels for easier cleaning, but under normal situations, it surely could be done. I do have to don knee pads and use a short rake to clean the outside, but it only takes me about 10 minutes every week or so.
Both coops are completely predator-proofed, with 1/4 wire mesh buried in a 3' skirt around the outside. Not even a skinny snake can get in when the door to the yard is closed every night. The chicks free range all day on my lawn (and nap on the porch chairs!), and though we have coyotes, they won't come in that close with my 120 lb German Shepherd guarding the chicks!
There's just nothing better for stress relief than having an innocent chicken, clueless to the problems of the world, hop up for a cuddle or a snooze in your lap!
Glad you joined.
Glad you joined. Everyone here is very kind and helpful 
