My favorite coop has plans for sale (Country Living Magazine coop)

[AMA Chick]

oh wow that is something else! it's gorgeous

It's more than gorgeous! It is stupendously gorgeous!

 

[SunnyAlberta]

...make the numbers and you will be paying more for your eggs if you decide to go fancy coop.

There are a few different motivations for backyard coops. Some people want cheap, healthy food and will build a coop using only free and repurposed materials. Others see their birds as pets to be spoiled and accessories to be enjoyed esthetically and will go to great lengths and expense to buy fancy things for them. Of course there are all sorts of people on the spectrum in between. Me, I love these fancy coops. I wish I could afford to spoil my chickens and spoil myself, however I must be thrifty. My used rabbit hutch, building materials (some new, some I had), three birds, feed and feeders have cost me $200 so far, plus over six hours of Hubby's labour. At Walmart egg prices the chickens will pay for themselves in two years. At the price I pay for free-range, almost organic, local farmers market eggs, they will pay for themselves in less than a year. What is the price for knowing where our food comes from, a healthy hobby that takes us city folks outside, and gaining a respect for family farmers?

 

[canesisters]

I think it's lovely. However, when I think of the expense that went into it, I have to admit that I'm just a bit jealous.
I've got a friend's old unused chicken shed being delivered next week, I'm going to try and pretty much over haul it using salvaged bits out of it and some spare wood laying around the barn. I have another friend that tore down a dog pen and gave me the posts and wire. I'm grateful that I'm starting with a good roof that doesn't leak and that most of the wire is intact and not torn up too bad. I'm certain that I will end up with a home for my chickens that is safe and functional. And if at all possible, it will also be something that I'm pleased to see every time I drive up to the yard.
I can't help but think what I could do with $1600.00. I'm sure it would include more run footage and less cupolas.
None the less - that is a darling little building and I'm sure it gives it's owners much pleasure.

 

[AlabamaSweetpea]

The coop is finally finished and home to our 6 gals! We love it!

I love it .. not only is it pretty, it is a safe haven

 

[Sprinkles212]

Gorgeous coop, but goodness that thing is expensive!!!!!!

 

[TXHen]

Thanks for all of your comments. Yes, It's a silly splurge, but hey, what the heck! I will admit we went to the great lengths and expense because I have a nice house, horse barn and garden and wanted it all to look pleasing. I tell my friends who give me a hard time about it, that it's really just a "yard ornament" with birds! Sort of like a nice garden shed, but a chicken coop instead. So for us, the term "hobby farmer" truly applies!

Also, I wanted to mention to another poster that there are 2 4' roosts at different levels in the roost house, plenty for 6 hens. They like the top roost best and all fit on it nicely. Also, it is level with the round ventilation holes on either side of the coop near the opening for the working cuploa on the roof. They get a good convection breeze. The screened pen is 4X8 plus another 4' under roost house where feed and water is located. We let the hens out to roam around the farm from noon until dusk. They seem pretty happy to peck around the yard all day.

BTW, does it count if the hens were free

 

[TXHen]

BTW, if you don't like my coop, you might just like this one! I love it!!!! I found this picture cruising the internet in search of cool coops!

 

[Wabash Wheels]

I love your coop....we too are adding a garden ornament w/ birds!! We are still in the planning stages & like you, I found Heather's coop and downloaded pictures 4/2010...yes it's taken me 2 years to convince the Big Guy that this is necessary We should start building in the next few weeks....thanks for sharing

 

[TXHen]

Good luck with your coop. It is a great design for keeping predators out. It has some very substantial contrete! I would definitely change the coupla design and pen size. The functioning coupla works well in the roost. Last night I went to check on them and only counted 5. Then, I saw that one hen had found a way to roost in the coupla. The 2x4 running the length of the roof is runs under the hole for the coupla. It makes a great penthouse roost! I guess she's really the TOP HEN!

Oh yeah, and one more thing I would change...We let our hens out each day at noon to roam around. I would've have put the automatic coop door so that it let them outside of the pen into the yard instead of on the roost house where we put it. I guess when it gets cold this winter it will be nice for the roost door to close and open on it's own, however it rarely gets below 40 degrees here. I think it would've been better used if it were on the outside of the pen instead.

Happy "yard ornament" building!