Opinion on coop design from those with more experience than I

[jthornton]

Inward makes more sense to me bc of snow accumulation but that's just me theorizing.

If you live in an area with lots of snow the opening to the inside is the only choice, well you could dig it out each time you want to go inside. The chicken won't care because they won't come outside in the snow.

JT

 

[jreardon1918]

I like the door opening out. I shovel to the coop when it snows. If the snow gets inside the run i leave it. So for me, opening out works.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I prefer outward because it forces me to shovel more completely.

 

[Sea Wolf]

Make your own. It isn't hard and you don't need any real skills. Proper tools do help. I looked over a lot of the plans and information on here. Compared them and made notes. Went and looked at some that could be delivered to your home and took pictures. The coop below I constructed with mostly found materials. Short pieces from job sites and wood scavenged from demolition. The windows were free. I bought the hardware, the roof shingles, tar paper ... maybe a few boards .. and the screws. I just started at the bottom and went up. No real plans. Just constructed as I went along. I made this alone, with no help other than having someone put the shingles on the roof because I wasn't going to climb up there.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

G

Make your own. It isn't hard and you don't need any real skills. Proper tools do help. I looked over a lot of the plans and information on here. Compared them and made notes. Went and looked at some that could be delivered to your home and took pictures. The coop below I constructed with mostly found materials. Short pieces from job sites and wood scavenged from demolition. The windows were free. I bought the hardware, the roof shingles, tar paper ... maybe a few boards .. and the screws. I just started at the bottom and went up. No real plans. Just constructed as I went along. I made this alone, with no help other than having someone put the shingles on the roof because I wasn't going to climb up there.
View attachment 1798092
View attachment 1798095

Good job! This is pretty.

 

[Sea Wolf]

G

Good job! This is pretty.

Thanks. I made the door to open outward. Has to or it would be hitting the roosts inside. There is a tray on the bottom that pulls out the back that is the size of the whole floor. I use the deep litter method and cleaning is very easy and fast. I added one more roost high up in the middle but made it removable so I can walk in there. It took me several months to build it. There were mistakes made. I had to cut the angles on the roof rafters twice and one of the windows I put in sideways but it would have worked a lot better if it was vertical. I'm 61 now and made this maybe 6 or 7 years ago. Started with 4 chickens but now have 20 ... so always build a bigger coop than you need.