So tell me, what would you do differently with your coop???

[turtlebird]

Bigger coop.
Also, a smaller area for birds that need to be separated, for example - the naughty ones

, or perhaps broodies with new hatchlings, injured birds, etc.

 

[Illia]

Well. . . Didn't get pics as I promised. . . . Rainin' cats and dogs here, windy as a mountain-top, and quite dark. . .

 

[surfchicken72]

Plan, plan, plan, and then plan again...... the little details are what will annoy you the most when you're done.

Plan locations of everything from where feeder will be, where water will be, how you'll get power in there if you'll be using some kind of
water heater... roost heights and locations... poop boards, or no... will you smash your head on the roost every time you go in to clean it.

plan plan plan.

Make it easy for you to get in and clean... big "people" door, high ceilings... lots of floor space for them...

MOst important.. plan everything around the ventilation. START with that. Decide how much ventilation you'll need, and where it will go,
and adjust your PLAN to work with THAT. Remember you don't want any direct drafts blowing on your chickens in the colder months,
so make sure your venting isn't blowing directly on them at night... or that you can close off the vents that DO blow on them
for the winter, and still have proper ventilation. see this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION

I went a little crazy with the framing, and blocking in between studs, and when it came time to paint inside, I wish I had not been so
intense. but it sure is STURDY.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=59508-the-building-of-the-coop

Use a nice gloss or high gloss paint for ease of cleaning....2 coats, and keep chickens OUT until all smell of paint is gone. I used exterior grade latex.

Am I rambling yet?

 

[7L Farm]

I didn't read the whole post but try & do it right the first time. I ended up doing alot of things twice & it actually ended up costing me more. Don't cut corners for your own peace sp.of mind & the well being of your chicks. Build it to last & as mentioned big. One of the biggest mistakes I did was used chicken wire. Bummer had to go back & replace.

 

[catdaddy66]

I would definitely build a better roof w/ overhang to keep the nests drier. I would put it up on supports to get it off of the ground and make it easier on our backs! Finally I would design an outdoor brooder to please my wife by not raising chicks indoors. But until then...

 

[FarmerJamie]

Done differently?
1. Plan better. Made it 4'x8' to limit recuts, but didn't have the corners quite right.
2. More help in building it. Hard to square up the frame by yourself.
3. Better roof - using the plastic/vinyl roofing material, didn't build the roof layer under it strong enough. Opened like a box lid in a 65mph wind.
4. Fewer nesting boxes. For a dozen birds, 3 would have been enough.
5. more robust chicken door (right now we have to block it with a peice of wood at night.

Done right.
1. Small enough to move around with the garden tractor and level up with paving bricks
2. Not a whole lot of money invested in it.
3. Human door on one end
4. Large screened window for summer, cutout piece fits back in to cover the opening nicely for winter.
5. Left over wood used to make a handy feed bin (holds one bag) sitting next to the human door.