We want to raise meat rabbits and layers, and possibly a few meat chickens.
I would like to keep their living area as compact as possible, since we are on a 90' x 110' lot in a subdivision in a small country town.
I have "city" neighbors who really do not like animals (and have non of their own), so I want to keep the entire set up looking exceptionally nice and disguised as something you would normally find in a suburban setting... like the play house coop/run, or like the Glenn Cottage Eggery.
My problem is where to attach the hutches to the run, and still make it look like it belongs. We are allowed to keep chickens in our town, as long as they are contained, clean, quiet and no odors reach the neighbors.
The last time we had rabbits or chickens, the hutches and coop were not pretty - just functional. This time, I want pretty.
Two of our neighbors (the city folk) prefer flat lawns and no plantings and want the entire world to be like them. They also complain about everything. Especially chickens. But other neighbors and I have found the city to be fair and actually take our sides when our coops and runs are clean, tidy and odor free.
So, I need a coop/run/hutch that looks like it belongs in a suburban setting, is pretty, and easy to keep clean, easy to access the interiors, feed, collect eggs, etc, easy to keep cool and dry, and suitable for hens and rabbits. If I can run the hens under the hutches, that would be a plus for space savings. And I would like the entire back side to not give any view as to what is inside, if that is possible.(I'm thinking about lattice and runner beans) I have to locate it 10' from the property lines.
Does anyone have any ideas or plans that they would be willing to share with me? I am trying to build this right, but not spend a lot of money on it.
I did see the hutch/coop made out of a shed that was posted, but we already have a shed for my Husband's workshop and are really not allowed any more sheds. I can argue that this coop is more like a dog house and not a shed if push comes to shove.
Thanks in advance for any ideas anyone can come up with. Meantime, I am working on a design to see if I can come up with anything on my own.
*sigh*I never had to hide my animals before.
I would like to keep their living area as compact as possible, since we are on a 90' x 110' lot in a subdivision in a small country town.
I have "city" neighbors who really do not like animals (and have non of their own), so I want to keep the entire set up looking exceptionally nice and disguised as something you would normally find in a suburban setting... like the play house coop/run, or like the Glenn Cottage Eggery.
My problem is where to attach the hutches to the run, and still make it look like it belongs. We are allowed to keep chickens in our town, as long as they are contained, clean, quiet and no odors reach the neighbors.
The last time we had rabbits or chickens, the hutches and coop were not pretty - just functional. This time, I want pretty.
Two of our neighbors (the city folk) prefer flat lawns and no plantings and want the entire world to be like them. They also complain about everything. Especially chickens. But other neighbors and I have found the city to be fair and actually take our sides when our coops and runs are clean, tidy and odor free.
So, I need a coop/run/hutch that looks like it belongs in a suburban setting, is pretty, and easy to keep clean, easy to access the interiors, feed, collect eggs, etc, easy to keep cool and dry, and suitable for hens and rabbits. If I can run the hens under the hutches, that would be a plus for space savings. And I would like the entire back side to not give any view as to what is inside, if that is possible.(I'm thinking about lattice and runner beans) I have to locate it 10' from the property lines.
Does anyone have any ideas or plans that they would be willing to share with me? I am trying to build this right, but not spend a lot of money on it.
I did see the hutch/coop made out of a shed that was posted, but we already have a shed for my Husband's workshop and are really not allowed any more sheds. I can argue that this coop is more like a dog house and not a shed if push comes to shove.
Thanks in advance for any ideas anyone can come up with. Meantime, I am working on a design to see if I can come up with anything on my own.
*sigh*I never had to hide my animals before.
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