Your birthday coop is here! WINNING!!!

[Bek]

It's your birthday and you get a coop!

What would your MUST-HAVEs be?

My husband told me my mother-in-law would like to buy a pre-fab coop for my upcoming birthday. She knows how I've been working to modify the coop I was gifted to accommodate our 1st small flock of 5 Production Red hens... the coop is way too small - https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...l-in-progress-thoughts.1194824/#post-18902344

It's a very kind offer; however, I've spent a fair amount of time sifting through the awesome world of BYC and know that it can be fairly easy/cost-effective to build, rather than buy pre-fab.

Obviously there are infinite interior & exterior design options and variables of ALL sorts to consider, which is why I wanted to streamline things into a sort of "best-of-the-best vs. worst-of-the-worst" thought process. vs.

Would love to hear what's worked well for you, what you'd do differently, and what your must-haves (or have-NOTS) would be if you were able to design yourself a birthday coop!

Share the things you absolutely love about your setup - maybe a TOP 3 list (or TOP 10, the more the merrier)? You could even share a picture so we can bask with you in the glory of your accomplishments!!

And don't forget to share what made it on your "I'll never do that again" list - you know...the things that sometimes keep you up at night?! If you have yet to burn the evidence of these, feel free to share to better illustrate. They are great teaching/learning tools!

Let the lists begin!

 

[CapricornFarm]

I love my coop i built mostly by myself. My favorite feature is the skylight made from 2 shower doors. Also i divided the coop in half to accomodate two breeds of chickens. Getting close to the finish line!

 

[Bek]

View attachment 1122347 View attachment 1122348 I love my coop i built mostly by myself. My favorite feature is the skylight made from 2 shower doors. Also i divided the coop in half to accomodate two breeds of chickens. Getting close to the finish line!

It's really coming together well! And I've enjoyed seeing the pics along the way (including your beautiful shepherd). Look forward to final pics!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

My must haves are a walk in coop......lots of light and ventilation (so windows and door designed with that in mind) maximized interior space (ie poop board to preserve floor space under the roost, extetior nest boxes)...pop door operable from outside....at least partially covered run

 

[Bek]

My must haves are a walk in coop......lots of light and ventilation (so windows and door designed with that in mind) maximized interior space (ie poop board to preserve floor space under the roost, extetior nest boxes)...pop door operable from outside....at least partially covered run

Great must-haves! ((And....LOVE your coop and run! Especially that awesome false Dutch door!!!))

 

[CapricornFarm]

It's really coming together well! And I've enjoyed seeing the pics along the way (including your beautiful shepherd). Look forward to final pics!

My shepherd, Mini, lurks around waiting for me to throw her stick. I would probably get twice as much done if i wasn't throwing it. But a tired dog is well behaved, so i humor her.
Thanks, i can hardly wait to finish. Husband just ordered hardware to attach run panels to the coop. They should arrive about the 1st. I am hoping to have everything else done by then. Today i put the panels all together and am halfway done wiring hardware cloth to the bottoms. My feeder is done and got another coat of paint. One more feeder to build. Just a lot of little things to do. The birds will be thrilled!

 

[aart]

My must haves are a walk in coop......lots of light and ventilation (so windows and door designed with that in mind) maximized interior space (ie poop board to preserve floor space under the roost, extetior nest boxes).......at least partially covered run

Ditto Doze^^^^^
Have most of it except my walk in run is not covered with solid roof(just mesh).

 

[PetesChicks]

A walk in coop was a must for me. I did a 10x16 shed, and gave them the back 10' of it, and kept the front 6' for me. I built a wall with a Dutch door in it to separate the 2 areas. It gives me plenty of room for their food & stuff. The nesting boxes stick into my area, it gives me a shelf to keep stuff on.

Also, a poop board is a must. It really helps keep things clean. Mine is covered in sand with PDZ mixed in, easy to clean up with a kitty litter scoop.

Good luck, and Happy Birthday!

 

[hlhutchinson]

Love my coop. My husband made it for me, was so nice to customize it. Love that it is raised and set up for deep litter method. Has a board that will lift out for easy cleaning. Having the neasting boxes out side gives more room. It is 4x4 with a 4x10 run. We have vents in the top between the roof. Nest boxes opens from top to collect eggs, and from the side for easy cleaning.

Things I would do different make it taller in coop and run I can walk in the run but the roof is slanted so can't stand up strait on one side not big deal but would be nice. With a taller coop it would have also allowed for a door that slides up and not a pop door. Want the horizontal door so that when we up grade to an automatic door we could just buy one (so my husband gets to customize an auto door). Would also have more of an over hang with the roof to keep water off the neasting box. So far no leaks but we think the roofing that we put on it will crack from opening the nest box to collect eggs
kids helped paint it and had a blast still need some touch ups

 

[Bek]

A walk in coop was a must for me. I did a 10x16 shed, and gave them the back 10' of it, and kept the front 6' for me. I built a wall with a Dutch door in it to separate the 2 areas. It gives me plenty of room for their food & stuff. The nesting boxes stick into my area, it gives me a shelf to keep stuff on.

Also, a poop board is a must. It really helps keep things clean. Mine is covered in sand with PDZ mixed in, easy to clean up with a kitty litter scoop.

Good luck, and Happy Birthday!

Thank you, PetesChicks - for the birthday wishes AND for your feedback! I've been finagling a poop board into their existing coop until I get them a new setup, and I definitely am noticing a big difference already in maintenance