- Apr 2, 2009
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Hello all! I love this site so far.....in fact the first google search I did after getting the idea for keeping chickens was this site.
Anyways, a week or so ago as I was getting our tiny little garden in Long Beach, CA ready for some new crops I thought..."hmmm, it would be awfully nice to have a couple hens out here as pets as well as giving us some eggs."
So after researching the local codes, searching various coop designs and looking at the scrap lumber I had, this is what I came up with. We originally wanted to have two bantams, but after visiting our local feed store, we realized we would probably have to raise them from chicks, and we just don't have the time for that right now...and we really wanted some already laying hens. So after building the first coop (which was the entire red wood structure, but the right side was their run) and realizing it was too small, I started stressing over how to utilize the one I already built. The next day it was prety much dropped in my lap when at the local dog park, somebody had dumped a dis-assembled dog kennel. I brought it home and put it together and wow.....it was perfect. I turned it on its side to get more floor space, and netted in what was originally the floor. I used a hundred or so zipties to add some extra security to all the joints.
In total we spent about $40 on the plywood roof panels, hardware, waterer, and feeders. Even the paint I used was a leftover.
We're heading out on saturday to pick up our two girls, so I'm sure I'll post some more pictures.
Anyways, here's the pictures
The coop floor is roughly 3.5x4.5 feet. The outside run area is about the same.
Here you can see the overall setup. The wire kennel is joined to the coop with large gauge u-nails. I also cut out the opening into the coop and then re-attached the panel with ziptie hinges so they can be closed in if need be.
Access doors open. You can kind of see where I have the roost poles in place, but I may remove those and put them in the main area so they can use the left side as an egg box since I think the one I originally made (you can see it sticking off to the left) is too small. What do you think?
The floor of the right side is 1/2" hardware cloth, over which we'll lay pine shavings.
Anyways, a week or so ago as I was getting our tiny little garden in Long Beach, CA ready for some new crops I thought..."hmmm, it would be awfully nice to have a couple hens out here as pets as well as giving us some eggs."
So after researching the local codes, searching various coop designs and looking at the scrap lumber I had, this is what I came up with. We originally wanted to have two bantams, but after visiting our local feed store, we realized we would probably have to raise them from chicks, and we just don't have the time for that right now...and we really wanted some already laying hens. So after building the first coop (which was the entire red wood structure, but the right side was their run) and realizing it was too small, I started stressing over how to utilize the one I already built. The next day it was prety much dropped in my lap when at the local dog park, somebody had dumped a dis-assembled dog kennel. I brought it home and put it together and wow.....it was perfect. I turned it on its side to get more floor space, and netted in what was originally the floor. I used a hundred or so zipties to add some extra security to all the joints.
In total we spent about $40 on the plywood roof panels, hardware, waterer, and feeders. Even the paint I used was a leftover.
Anyways, here's the pictures
The coop floor is roughly 3.5x4.5 feet. The outside run area is about the same.
Here you can see the overall setup. The wire kennel is joined to the coop with large gauge u-nails. I also cut out the opening into the coop and then re-attached the panel with ziptie hinges so they can be closed in if need be.
Access doors open. You can kind of see where I have the roost poles in place, but I may remove those and put them in the main area so they can use the left side as an egg box since I think the one I originally made (you can see it sticking off to the left) is too small. What do you think?
The floor of the right side is 1/2" hardware cloth, over which we'll lay pine shavings.
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