RedneckUrbanFarmer
Chirping
Just thought I'd share our setup...it wasn't inexpensive, but it ended up being easier in the long run for us than trying to build from scratch. For my mom and me, it was worth the extra cost, and that was stretched out over a few years. Patience is a virtue, because other things kept getting in the way of getting our chickens, even after they were legalized in our city. It took about three years between planning and actually getting chickens this year.
First up, I purchased a pre-fab wooden coop from Tractor Supply. It was advertised as suitable for 20 full-size chickens, I kid you not. 20 chickens is BS, but it comfortably houses our allowed max of 5. A contractor friend poured a concrete base for it in the back yard, tucked in beside the detached garage (which is actually my art studio).
What I like about this coop is the ability to stand straight once I duck through the doors, and the open area that I can leave the feed and water in that is still covered by a solid roof. No feed and water in the actual coop. The solid roof keeps a nice area of dirt dry for dust bathing in winter. The coop itself has a bedding tray that slides out and makes for pretty easy cleaning. Drawbacks are the flimsy roosts, and somewhat tight access to the nesting boxes from behind the coop, due to our placement. Ventilation is very good with gaps under the eaves, and two sliding windows screened with hardware cloth. We get quite cold in the high desert of Northern Nevada, but the hens have been fine with NO supplemental heating and the roof is solid. Coop stays nice and dry.
Another drawback is the flimsy door hardware. It definitely needed improvement, especially since I know there are raccoons in the neighborhood. There was only one little latch in the center of the nesting box door, I added the hardware on both ends, with raccoon-proof carabiners. The side doors of the coop and attached run are side by side and I open both during the day, so doubled them up with one carabiner in the center.
Their main run is constructed of dog kennel panels, anchored by slipping the ends down over rebar pounded into the ground. Next spring, we are going to extend the run to the left by two additional panels, but I have to transplant some plants out of the area first, and I'm still working on laying the walkway to the run out of odds and ends paving stones.
I can access the nests either by the coop side door inside the run, or by walking around the back of the garage to the back of the coop (outside the run).
First up, I purchased a pre-fab wooden coop from Tractor Supply. It was advertised as suitable for 20 full-size chickens, I kid you not. 20 chickens is BS, but it comfortably houses our allowed max of 5. A contractor friend poured a concrete base for it in the back yard, tucked in beside the detached garage (which is actually my art studio).
What I like about this coop is the ability to stand straight once I duck through the doors, and the open area that I can leave the feed and water in that is still covered by a solid roof. No feed and water in the actual coop. The solid roof keeps a nice area of dirt dry for dust bathing in winter. The coop itself has a bedding tray that slides out and makes for pretty easy cleaning. Drawbacks are the flimsy roosts, and somewhat tight access to the nesting boxes from behind the coop, due to our placement. Ventilation is very good with gaps under the eaves, and two sliding windows screened with hardware cloth. We get quite cold in the high desert of Northern Nevada, but the hens have been fine with NO supplemental heating and the roof is solid. Coop stays nice and dry.
Another drawback is the flimsy door hardware. It definitely needed improvement, especially since I know there are raccoons in the neighborhood. There was only one little latch in the center of the nesting box door, I added the hardware on both ends, with raccoon-proof carabiners. The side doors of the coop and attached run are side by side and I open both during the day, so doubled them up with one carabiner in the center.
Their main run is constructed of dog kennel panels, anchored by slipping the ends down over rebar pounded into the ground. Next spring, we are going to extend the run to the left by two additional panels, but I have to transplant some plants out of the area first, and I'm still working on laying the walkway to the run out of odds and ends paving stones.
I can access the nests either by the coop side door inside the run, or by walking around the back of the garage to the back of the coop (outside the run).
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