Sadly, I believe all three of my coops should be in this contest. (I just hope they don't win!) So...
Coop # 1: The Aviary. It was built a LONG time ago by someone else. It looks like it originally held two brood mare stalls. By the time we bought the property (12 yrs ago) it had been converted into an aviary for parrots. Last May, when I decided to get chickens, I cleared it out and scrounged together what I thought chickens needed. I have been making "improvements" ever since.
Fun Facts:
It is constructed from a metal Quonset hut and is sandwiched between a barn and an outbuilding. It used to have 'air-lock' style doors...many years ago. The plywood on the ground is part of the run roof shade that blew off during high winds over the weekend.
The board leaning against the wall is used to cover the window when it gets cold. The totes hold feed, etc.
Everything inside was constructed (to use the term loosely) with "found" materials. The metal buckets on the far left feeding trough are the current favorite nesting "boxes."
The wet/dry shop vac was my birthday present to myself. It makes cleaning up fast and easy!
This is the side that faces the street. There is no access, the door is wired over, but the light switch is on the outside of the window wiring.
Entry # 2: The Isolation Annex. Constructed in December 2010.
Fun Facts: It is located inside the Aviary. I had to put it together when a couple of new chickens started to show signs of illness and I didn't have anywhere else to put them. (Wish I had known then to quarantine new arrivals!) The metal plates on top are to prevent the outside chickens from pecking the inside chickens when they are on their roost.
Entry # 3: The Hospital Ward. Constructed in January 2011.
Fun Facts: When the number of sick new arrival exceeded the capacity of the Isolation Annex, I had to get inventive. I cleared out a stall in the barn. The gap at the ceiling and the spacing of the bars makes the stall not predator proof, but OK for a hidden daytime run.
With a nice built is nesting box! Which, after a month, someone is finally using.
To solve the night time predator problem I brought in an old wire rabbit cage and built a roost in it. The stick is to help me reach the ladies who want to roost on top in the far back corner instead of inside.
The door only has two small hooks to keep it closed, so I wire it shut each night to make sure nothing can get to them. Hopefully, they will get better soon!
When it gets to cold for my sick ladies I pull the tarp down and turn on the heater. They LOVE it!