Here is our coop. It was built between July and December of 2016. We have our first chickens enjoying it now!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-muñoz-coop.72595/
Thanks to all of the great designs already on this website, I was able to avoid a lot of regrets I might of had if I built the coop with no references. However, here are a few things I've learned since having chickens occupy.
- I should've built in drainage for bad rain before putting the gravel in. Since it would be a monstrous task to do so now, instead I added French drainage on all 4 sides of the coop and this has solved the saturation problem with the sand after a big rain.
- Also due to strong rain, I was getting water into the nesting boxes at the hinge joint and where the lid sealed. To fix this, I purchased some self-stick door sweep for cheap at the hardware store and cut it to overlap the hinge area. I then used some 1/2 inch wood strips underneath the lid to overlap the box and this has prevented water from seeping in the sides.
- The water container I use for the chickens was a gift. While it serves its purpose, a lot of water gets knocked out and saturates the ground. I plan to get a 5 gallon food grade bucket and install nipples for them next month.
- Inside the coop, I was having issues with bedding falling out the doors when I opened them, so I took some extra 1x4's and cut them to create a barrier that keeps that from happening, but can also easily be removed when I want to change the bedding.
- Also inside the coop, the nesting boxes I built are pretty large. To create some more privacy, I used some extra fabric and put in curtains.
- Lastly, I did not realize how much the chickens would dig in the sand. I only have about 2-3 inches of sand on top of the gravel. They constantly dig through the sand, the fabric barrier, and into the rocks to pull them up. I simply need to get some more sand to fill the coop more.
- Otherwise, I have been extremely satisfied with the coop and hope I do not notice and major changes I want in the near future. Most of the materials I used in my build were purchased new at the hardware store. However, I was able to find a lot of scrap lumber for free that was extremely useful. Additionally, I did not realize how many staples and screws I would go through for this project. If you are on a budget, make sure you really plan out every single item. I wanted our coop and run to have a very specific look and was willing to spend the extra money to do so. However, I have seen a lot of amazing coops made out of used furniture, wood pallets, and more. Have fun with it and make it your own!
We converted an old metal storage shed into a coop for our 10 ladies. These are our first chickens and we are so happy with how our coop turned out!! Thanks for your consideration! https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/happy-dog-hills-happy-hen-hotel.72968/ 
