Introduction
This summer I have another hatch and because the hens in the main coop have been harassing chicks in the past, I want an extra coop when the chicks are getting old enough to roost. So this new group has their own coop to roost without the fuss and stress like I had previously.
#1 playhouse with 4 of my free ranging chickens
First failure, buying a prefab
I bought a new coop in 2 flatpacks I had to assemble. I started to build it but it was really rubbish and the roost area was smaller than promised.
Read more about this prefab on page 2.
I returned it to sender and made a new plan.
Second plan buy a playhouse
I bought a children’s playhouse and made several alterations to turn it into a chicken coop for my juvenile bantams.
The quality of this playhouse is much better than the prefab chicken coop.
#2 screenshot from website
Its useless as it is as a coop of course. Things I altered:
#3 with secured ventilation window.
A hwc window for the opening above the door (photo #1)
I made a frame with 1 x 3 cm slats and stapled hardware-cloth (1cm maze) on it.
Two hinges on top and a window block-something to be able to set it open. ( i dont know the name, so you have to use your imagination)
If the window is closed I have two locks to block the door underneath.
Ventilation
The hwc above the door + the openings under the roof (also hwc).
Nest boxes
Normally you would need a nest-box too for a coop. I didn’t at the start, bc I do have nest-boxes in the main coop.
Dimensions in cm
#4 Another screenshot with dimensions in centimeters
Assembling the playhouse was easy
Just 1-2 hours to build it and put it in place.
#5 assembled playhouse
Materials I had/bought:
- 2 roosts (made from 3x4 cm wood)
- oil baths for the highest roost against red mites
#6 highest roost
For the ventilation window:
- Wooden slats
- Staples
- Screws
- Hardware cloth (hwc) 1cm2 maze
- Sliding lock
#7 just enough space to get in with the door and ventilation window open.
- diatomaceous earth (DE) to paint the walls inside
#8 painted with DE
- A piece of plastic to cover part of the ventilation opening in winter with only 3 small hens inside.
- A perspex panel underneath to avoid digging animals to come in (bad choice - bc the water that comes in gets in the cardboard and doesn’t disappear).
#9 connection to the run.
- Added a small old stool to jump on the roosts more easily.
- Added a cardboard tray with hay under the stool for one pullet bc she often laid eggs randomly on the floor.
- Auto pop door (Chick cozy that opens sideways)
#10 Chickencozy auto pop door (easy to install)
#11 chickencozy mounted on the playhouse
Reflection after 6 months
I have been using this playhouse for 6 months now. 3 of my bantam chickens prefer to sleep in this playhouse even though they can sleep in another coop at the other end of my setup. The other hens didn’t want the juveniles in their ‘bedroom’ when they were younger.
I use cardboard (wine cartons) to cover the slippery perspex floor. I replace it regularly because it gets wet after a storm. It is easy to fold and to get the dirty cardboard out. The cardboard, paper tape, bedding and chicken poop are composted.
Improvements
+ I added an EPDM slab on one side to avoid water coming in when its raining a lot.
+ I found a piece of second hand linoleum. Cut it in the right size to cover the floor, folded a few cm upwards.
The rainwater doesn’t come into the coop anymore and the cardboard stays dry .
Idea for perfection
Make a poop tray under the roosts for easier cleaning.
After 9 months
The wooden slats are loose in a frame. In the back panel there are gaps because the playhouse is not placed neatly level. Fixed it with hammering and a larger screw.
The door broke. I got it out of the hinges to repair it. Easy fix, only a screw was missing.
The coop is not as sturdy as I thought.
In the meantime, 4 of the 8 chickens like to sleep in the playhouse. There is another coop where the other 4 chickens prefer to sleep.
This summer I have another hatch and because the hens in the main coop have been harassing chicks in the past, I want an extra coop when the chicks are getting old enough to roost. So this new group has their own coop to roost without the fuss and stress like I had previously.
#1 playhouse with 4 of my free ranging chickens
First failure, buying a prefab
I bought a new coop in 2 flatpacks I had to assemble. I started to build it but it was really rubbish and the roost area was smaller than promised.
Read more about this prefab on page 2.
I returned it to sender and made a new plan.
Second plan buy a playhouse
I bought a children’s playhouse and made several alterations to turn it into a chicken coop for my juvenile bantams.
The quality of this playhouse is much better than the prefab chicken coop.
#2 screenshot from website
Its useless as it is as a coop of course. Things I altered:
- Close the opening above the door.
- Make a lock on the door.
- Close the smaller openings under roof (not visible on the photo).
- Make roosts inside
- Make sure a predator cant open the windows.
- I made an automatic pop door to the attached run.
#3 with secured ventilation window.
A hwc window for the opening above the door (photo #1)
I made a frame with 1 x 3 cm slats and stapled hardware-cloth (1cm maze) on it.
Two hinges on top and a window block-something to be able to set it open. ( i dont know the name, so you have to use your imagination)
If the window is closed I have two locks to block the door underneath.
Ventilation
The hwc above the door + the openings under the roof (also hwc).
Nest boxes
Normally you would need a nest-box too for a coop. I didn’t at the start, bc I do have nest-boxes in the main coop.
Dimensions in cm
#4 Another screenshot with dimensions in centimeters
Assembling the playhouse was easy
Just 1-2 hours to build it and put it in place.
#5 assembled playhouse
Materials I had/bought:
- 2 roosts (made from 3x4 cm wood)
- oil baths for the highest roost against red mites
#6 highest roost
For the ventilation window:
- Wooden slats
- Staples
- Screws
- Hardware cloth (hwc) 1cm2 maze
- Sliding lock
#7 just enough space to get in with the door and ventilation window open.
- diatomaceous earth (DE) to paint the walls inside
#8 painted with DE
- A piece of plastic to cover part of the ventilation opening in winter with only 3 small hens inside.
- A perspex panel underneath to avoid digging animals to come in (bad choice - bc the water that comes in gets in the cardboard and doesn’t disappear).
#9 connection to the run.
- Added a small old stool to jump on the roosts more easily.
- Added a cardboard tray with hay under the stool for one pullet bc she often laid eggs randomly on the floor.
- Auto pop door (Chick cozy that opens sideways)
#10 Chickencozy auto pop door (easy to install)
#11 chickencozy mounted on the playhouse
Reflection after 6 months
I have been using this playhouse for 6 months now. 3 of my bantam chickens prefer to sleep in this playhouse even though they can sleep in another coop at the other end of my setup. The other hens didn’t want the juveniles in their ‘bedroom’ when they were younger.
I use cardboard (wine cartons) to cover the slippery perspex floor. I replace it regularly because it gets wet after a storm. It is easy to fold and to get the dirty cardboard out. The cardboard, paper tape, bedding and chicken poop are composted.
Improvements
+ I added an EPDM slab on one side to avoid water coming in when its raining a lot.
+ I found a piece of second hand linoleum. Cut it in the right size to cover the floor, folded a few cm upwards.
The rainwater doesn’t come into the coop anymore and the cardboard stays dry .
Idea for perfection
Make a poop tray under the roosts for easier cleaning.
After 9 months
The wooden slats are loose in a frame. In the back panel there are gaps because the playhouse is not placed neatly level. Fixed it with hammering and a larger screw.
The door broke. I got it out of the hinges to repair it. Easy fix, only a screw was missing.
The coop is not as sturdy as I thought.
In the meantime, 4 of the 8 chickens like to sleep in the playhouse. There is another coop where the other 4 chickens prefer to sleep.
This playhouse is really small. I can’t stand in it. But I have a system to clean it out easily. I put 2 pieces of cardboard on the floor (2 unfolded wine cartons). I have a garden kneel mat I put in front of the door opening. fold the dirty cardboard to the center and pull it out. If any dirt is left behind I use a small shovel to get this out too. If the floor is clean, I add new unfolded cartons to cover the perspex floor. Add a little bedding and its ready.