What are your favorite coop features?

[LittleRedCoop]

Hello all!!

I currently have a 4x4 coop, which I find to be much too small. With winter fast approaching I decided it will have to do this year....but not next year! In the spring I plan on building a 4x8 coop. Maybe even bigger!

The trouble is, I want this to be the best coop it can be (without spending a ton of money). So I ask you experienced poultry keepers...what are your favorite coop features? What did you add to your coop to make it extra predator proof, fancy, accessable, etc? I love my six hens and they deserve a top-notch coop. Any suggestions?

My hens and I thank you!!

 

[Duramaxgirl]

I love my poo trough my DH made me in my big coops! here is a few photos of my 1st Coop its 8x12. I clean it every week and it helps keep my coop so much cleaner and smells down. The trough is slanted and all the poo pushes out a little door he made me.

 

[Granny Hoffman]

The best thing I like about my coops are the poop boards. Makes life so much easier. I scrape off every other day, sprinkle DE on them and no smell and very little flies. I also put sand in the coop for the floor. During the summer I just scoop the little bit of poop on the floor and during the winter I put straw down which keeps it cleaner when they are penned up more during the cold months. Also with the sand they have access for dust bathing anytime they want.

Best of luck with your new coop in the spring.

 

[gryeyes]

Automatic chicken door. Hands down best investment ever.

 

[simplynewt]

Pardoned my greenly terminology but what is DE?

 

[umanduhbree]

I think having a plastic or water proof floor and walls is a must have! We bought some sheets of pvc wall material that they use in industrial kitchens and put that over the OSB on the floor and half way up the walls. It doesn't leech smells and when it comes to a full coop clean, you can spray it down and get it squeaky clean. The other two must haves are some sort of poop trays under the roosts and a sturdy shelf to keep supplies on. Well, perhaps the shelf isn't so important for a smaller coop, but we put one in a month ago and can store all of our stuff, and it cuts the time it takes to take care of the chickens in half.

 

[wayne hulgan]

Quote:
I vote for this option. pretty much cost as much as the rest of my coop, but the best $200 bucks spent.

 

[stevesoileau]

Quote:
I believe it stands for diatomaceous earth.

 

[fireguy56]

Hi, Definitely poop trays-board-trough, what ever configuration, love the ease of keeping coop floor clean. Also, auto door opener on timer, windows, sheet vinyl on floor, head room to totally stand up in, full sized people door, good lighting, could go on and on. Check out my page to see some of the things I incorporated into ours. Good luck with yours.
Erik

 

[mtnhens4]

My DH just installed poop boards (one in the run for summer and one in the coop for winter) and I really like them, it makes it so much easier to keep clean. For the run, I love my dutch door, I can just open the top half to throw treats to the girls or just watch them without wondering if they are going to escape.

DE: Diatomaceous Earth is a mineral compound that aids in keeping parasites at bay. It's the consistancy of corn starch and can be purchased on line or someplace that specializes in chickens and their stuff