What practical extras can I add to make a coop cute?

[chickentrains]

I like your sheltie/collie

add shutters! I love shutters

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Did you make or buy the nesting boxes?

Ours came with our coop. We were given an old coop by a friend who was cleaning up their parents property. I think you should be able to buy some.

 

[melleo]

@Sally PB was white hard to keep clean?

here is a photo of my coop exterior

And part of our house, the third pic shows our front perennial gardens. I landscaped with perennials around the coop last fall. So hopefully it looks lush out there this summer.

So the last photo is the current interior...ugh...it just looks homely! Like it needs some help

Love your pup!

 

[Sally PB]

You got me thinking about decorating now...

If you're into painting, you could do a mural on the coop walls. Or sponge paint. I would suggest some kind of waterproof sealer over it. I don't know if chickens would peck at the design...? Just make the surface washable.

My MIL has one of those solar powered rainbow makers on her window. It would have to be securely attached and way out of reach... It might scare them... Maybe not a good idea.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Something simple may be: a couple chairs and pots of flowers.

 

[MIgardengal]

@melleo and @DLHOCNT

Thanks! Last spring we got COVID chicks and a collie pup it’s actually quite funny “Nova” tries to lick and groom her chickens. I think she thinks she’s their mama or something

 

[MIgardengal]

Yes yes these are all great ideas, def need to get some pots and window boxes of flowers. And I will ask hubs if he can make some shutters.

Idk that I’m a great free hand artist. But I could probably paint the coop walls and then do a paint over stencil.

I just want to to have a cottage-y antique vibe, I know the chickens could care less, but since I’m in the coop myself 4 or 5 times a day, I want it to be pretty for me to look at

 

[Isellsilkies]

This is sort of practical a window box and window lets light in and you can grow food for the chooks in it

 

[NatJ]

I love my coop exterior, its super cute... The interior of my coop is NOT! Its ugly particle board everything!

I would start by cleaning it, then putting a coat of white paint on the inside walls and ceiling. And maybe a second coat over that.

I would use some paint that is washable, and maybe also glossy.
Of course dust will stick to it, but you can just brush it down with a broom if the dust bothers you, if you did a good job painting it.

I have had one coop with unpainted plywood inside, and another with painted particle board (white paint, glossy, I think it was washable.) I liked the painted one much better. After a few years, I added another coat of paint during a big summer cleaning, because it appeared to need it.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Personally I wouldn't do window boxes. IMO it will look wonky because the windows aren't at the same level. And window boxes will draw attention to that fact. I would either make little "flower beds" on either side of the door (under the windows) OR use pots.