Need coop to fit town laws

[Alyx01]

I've been looking at a lot of the coops on here and I keep running into the same problem: all of the coops are too tall. My town has the following limitations for chickens: Coop can be up to 20sq ft, run can be up to 20sq ft, and coops/runs can't be taller than 48". I need a coop that looks visually appealing (so neighbors don't complain) but it still has to fit into the town laws. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[Ohmyheart]

Those are terrible laws to have.

Maybe something like this would work?

https://www.motherearthnews.com/-/m...Your-Backyard/Predator-Proof-Chicken-Coop.jpg

 

[X_and_Z]

I agree that those are really terrible laws -

There are coops that meet these restrictions but they will only be able to keep a couple of chickens in them.

The most likely to work are the chicken tractor designs:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/tractor-coops.17/

Here is a particularly attractive design:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/birdsinbethels-chicken-coop-tractor.48429/

There are also a few designs in the small coops area that would meet that description. Most are taller than that because it is much easier to clean a taller coop/walk in run:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/small-coops.18/

Here are a few that caught my eye in the first few pages (there are a lot of pages to sift through!) that are close enough to your restrictions that you could do something similar:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/monicas-chicken-house.47787/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hennsington-palace.63519/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-coop.47986/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/kippenhouses-chicken-coop.49294/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-mini-coop.47775/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/country-barn-chicken-coop.67082/

 

[Flowerbh]

I've been looking at a lot of the coops on here and I keep running into the same problem: all of the coops are too tall. My town has the following limitations for chickens: Coop can be up to 20sq ft, run can be up to 20sq ft, and coops/runs can't be taller than 48". I need a coop that looks visually appealing (so neighbors don't complain) but it still has to fit into the town laws. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

A lot of places sell those smaller coops .. Try tractor supply.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I've been looking at a lot of the coops on here and I keep running into the same problem: all of the coops are too tall. My town has the following limitations for chickens: Coop can be up to 20sq ft, run can be up to 20sq ft, and coops/runs can't be taller than 48". I need a coop that looks visually appealing (so neighbors don't complain) but it still has to fit into the town laws. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

A 20sq ft run is TINY. Only really big enough for 2 full size hens.

Crazy rules!

You have been given some great links above.
I will say

You will find we are a friendly flock of bird crazy folks.

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

I definitely don’t recommend buying a coop if keeping chickens is a long-team thing for y’all. Store-bought coops aren’t sturdy and are often times are too small. Don’t let there cute colors and designs fool you, these coops aren’t made to last. I have a store-bought coop, which was given to me, and it is falling apart at the seams! The wood is peeling off, the chicken wire is coming undone, and the ladder keeps breaking! Also, the cleaning design stinks! It makes cleaning so much harder! I really recommend building a coop. It will take a few dedicated weekends, but it will all be worth it in the end!
Good luck!

 

[lazy gardener]

Can you talk some sense into your city regarding such foolishness? Can you convince them that chickens as flock animals should be kept in groups of more than 2, and their laws only allow for ethical housing for 2 birds? Many feed stores will not even sell less than 6 birds b/c of their flock needs.

Are you allowed to have a garden shed? If so, is there any way you can get around the crazy by having a garden shed that is divided for chicken use and tool use? You could then put a pop door on the side or back, and attach your run to that. But a 20 s.f. run will only allow 2 chickens. Could you then, combine the 20' coop allowance with the 20' run allowance and have a "mock coop" and run, which would allow you to essentially have 4 birds.

Your other option would be to live with the foolish laws and get 3 bantams to live in your total 40 s.f. allotment.

 

[PirateGirl]

Think low to the ground like a modified dog house. Cleaning can be challenging in smaller coops. Consider hinging one whole wall to open. That way you can open the wall, pop out the perches, and just reach a broom/rake/shovel all the way in the coop and sweep it out thoroughly without crawling in on your hands and knees.

 

[lazy gardener]

Pre fab coops = poor design by designer who is clueless about needs of chicken or chicken keeper, poor construction with poor materials, and false advertising re: stocking density.

 

[Alyx01]

Do you know who I would contact in my town about the chicken laws? Also I guess I’m kind of confused about the square footage per chicken. If I open the coop door every morning to let them in the run, do they still need a large amount of space per bird? I thought it was 2sq/ft per bird