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

[aart]

My box? Or cute nesting boxes in general?

Yours.
I think it's the only really cute one I've seen, certainly the most creative.

 

[K0k0shka]

Yours.
I think it's the only really cute one I've seen, certainly the most creative.

Aww thanks! I'm flattered It's functional, too. I didn't think I'd really need it, but I'm glad I made the top open. Easier to collect eggs, or to take a chicken out if I had to (like when they were sleeping in there at night).

 

[MIgardengal]

I painted the inside of my coop a warm yellowish color that hides dust really well. It's pretty much about the same color as pine shavings generated chicken dust! Also, I have the roosts far enough out from the wall that the chickens don't poop on the wall. I've never cleaned the walls and they don't get dirty. The dust only settles on horizontal surfaces, of which there aren't many. So I don't really clean the coop beyond the twice annual deep clean, when I also do some dusting.

This is what it looks like:
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My kids drew pictures of the chickens and we hung them on the wall, that also adds to the cuteness. I also put curtains on the windows. I like them on the windows better than on the nesting boxes. That way they make the coop look more like a little house.

View attachment 2560646

You can also do something cute with the nesting boxes, paint them a different color so they pop or make them look like something else. I made mine to look like a chicken face, though some people say it looks more like an owl

View attachment 2560643

Another thing that adds cuteness but is also practical, is child-size gardening tools. They are convenient for a small space, because they don't have long handles that bang around the walls when you turn, and their narrow width fits between and around things. I use the push broom for my twice annual cleanings, to sweep the pine shavings up and out; I use the leaf rake to fluff up new and new-ish pine shavings; and I use the garden rake to stir the bedding around when it starts to get too heavy for the leaf rake further into the year (between deep cleans).

View attachment 2560943


One thing I would suggest for the outside of your coop is to paint the door and window frames as well. A bright white would really pop with that nice lavender. Otherwise the facade looks unfinished with that bare wood.

Good luck, and post pictures when you're done cutening up your coop!

I really do like that color! I see a lot of white and I’m thinking that it would really show dirt! Where the color you painted would hide it.

 

[MIgardengal]

I should mention I have a little extra motivation to make it cute, because our yard might be on a garden walk this year.

We will see what happens w Covid, but I know one city council member is coming to scope out my yard for sure.

I kinda am feeling like how you feel when your house is just finished construction and you find out the in-laws are coming with friends to stay for the weekend .

I won’t be surprised if people want to see inside my coop if they tour my yard.

 

[MIgardengal]

Just know that while they may work great in TX, they are likely to break in MI in the winter if left outside.

Yup I have to haul in all my pots terra cotta and plastic. And any yard decor. Except for some really rugged pieces. Because of winter. We avg 200+ inches of snow and temps between-15 and 15...that totally wrecks havoc on outdoor items!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Some of us install vinyl floor covering on the wall behind the perches for easy maintenance.

Great idea!

 

[Cecisflock]

@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

We have 2 collies and my female likes to also "clean" her chickens gotta love those herders!

 

[Artichoke Lover]

We have 2 collies and my female likes to also "clean" her chickens gotta love those herders!

Our Australian Shepard is like that . She washes us. She pins the cats down and bathes them. She tried to bathe the chickens once but the rooster attacked her and now she’s terrified of them

 

[Cecisflock]

Our Australian Shepard is like that . She washes us. She pins the cats down and bathes them. She tried to bathe the chickens once but the rooster attacked her and now she’s terrified of them

Ugh yes! the excessive licking of me ! I just hate to tell her i don't like it...

 

[MIgardengal]

HEY!!! It’s done! I’m in love with it check out the “chick-inn” interior! As you all remember it was ugly particle board and just sad looking. I bought the signs for $5 area on Amazon, one from the $ store for a $, the wooden nesting boxes $8 ea at TJ Maxx, a gallon $18 of dark grey paint, the red color for the boxes was left over from my dining room so “free”, and free pallet wood for window trim. So all in all about $50 in materials. And two afternoons one mucking out the coop and run and washing walls and windows, + one painting. I still might add some curtains to the nest boxes.