Woods Open Air Coop Design - Amish Built

[Jenny Loves Chickies]

Hi everyone!!

I began researching coops a year ago and after reading JackE’s amazing thread about his open air coop and WthrLady’s thread about her adorable coop...I decided this was the way to go. Afterall aren’t so many thing reverting back to the “good old fashioned” way? This idea has been in existence since the early 1900’s which is all the more reason to make one!

We decided on 8x14 for several reasons and hope to end up closer to 8.5x14 as it seems the closest you get to the magical ratio of 1.6 the better.

After pricing out the supplies we contacted several contractors just to see how much it would cost. We were just about to give this thing a go ourselves when I happened to see a garden shed on Craigslist built by the Amish in New York about 2 hours from us. The craftsmanship of Amish built anything is so obvious for anyone that has seen their work. I called the guy and told him what we were looking for, he quoted me a very reasonable price...they are working on it now and it will he delivered just after Christmas!!! The Amish build everything on a skid as they can pull it around with a horse. They will bring it in on a trailer and drop it into location if accessible or you can drag it with a tractor wherever you’d like.

I will post pictures as we receive them, if anyone would like the specs I provided to them just let me know. And if you are anywhere near Oriskany Falls NY I’m happy to share their contact info with you as they said they will be building lots of these coops!!

 

[JackE]

You have made a great choice for a coop. I may be a bit biased, but the Woods is the best coop you can have. And I'm sure the other people that have them, would agree. I look forward to seeing the finished pictures.

 

[Jenny Loves Chickies]

You have made a great choice for a coop. I may be a bit biased, but the Woods is the best coop you can have. And I'm sure the other people that have them, would agree. I look forward to seeing the finished pictures.

Thank you! We really can’t wait!!

 

[Jenny Loves Chickies]

They are making progress, it’s looking fantastic!

 

[chickencheeper]

@WthrLady

 

[Jenny Loves Chickies]

It’s coming together!!! My chicks will be so happy, we should have it before the New Year! It looks like they put chicken wire on the windows, I specifically asked for hardware cloth but I guess they don’t know what that is...they’re going to have to fix that for sure as we live in the forest....no critters will be reaching our chicks

 

[Howard E]

Looks really good!

If not too late, have them replace the chicken wire with welded wire. I like 1/2" x 1" x 16 gauge. Sold in some places as cage wire.

A whole lot of predators can get through the chicken wire.......will just rip it apart. Not so with the welded wire.

Edit: Sorry, didn't see the last paragraph. I'd still go with the heavy cage wire over even hardware cloth.

 

[Jenny Loves Chickies]

Looks really good!

If not too late, have them replace the chicken wire with welded wire. I like 1/2" x 1" x 16 gauge. Sold in some places as cage wire.

A whole lot of predators can get through the chicken wire.......will just rip it apart. Not so with the welded wire.

Edit: Sorry, didn't see the last paragraph. I'd still go with the heavy cage wire over even hardware cloth.

View attachment 1216188

I 100% agree with you, that’s exactly what I told them but I’m not sure they understand what it is or that chicken wire is just not good enough. I used 19 gauge hardware cloth 1/2 inch on our run. I just spoke with them and he said no problem to switch it out he already did the side windows in vinyl covered hardware cloth....not sure what that is but I asked them to send a picture so we shall see!

 

[aart]

Are they sending you these pics?
Did you give them a plan/drawings?

 

[Jenny Loves Chickies]

Are they sending you these pics?
Did you give them a plan/drawings?

Yes they are and yes I did. It’s tough because they are over 2 hours from me, some of the details have been lost in translation but they have been a pleasure to work with and I have no doubt it will end up exactly as I asked.