My growing chicken population made me want to design a new chicken coop. The dog kennel that we had them in wasn't ideal, and I wanted them to have access to fresh grass every day. We can't let them run around the yard, as they visit the neighbor and leave her "presents" in the driveway. So, since we don't have a fence around our .6 acres, we came up with a solution to our problem.
I started with a rabbit hutch that we were using for our rabbits (bought from a sale for $1!), and made some adjustments:
I started by ripping out the wire floor, and putting chicken wire around the bottom posts. Then I built a square frame along the bottom.
Then I added a solid floor with a hole for a ramp, and opening doors on each side:
Next I built a run under and extending from the coop, and lined it with plastic poultry netting:
My husband had to help with the roof, because I always seem to cut my hands to bits when I try to cut tin roofing. The ramp is on now.
Next I painted the interior and added a nesting box on the back. Pink's a good color for the ladies!
Leftover paint from my daughter's bedroom...
Because we needed to move the coop daily, my husband made two handles on the front to lift the coop/run up, and added wheels on the back. The wheels are basically a little bicycle cut apart (again from a sale for $1!), and fastened to the back. They are flat against the ground so we don't have to lift the coop up very far to tractor it around the yard.
Still need a couple coats of paint, but does the trick!
The ladies are happily moved in!
And Duke thinks he's big stuff (as usual)...
So now... we need to name this "creation"... What are your ideas?
I started with a rabbit hutch that we were using for our rabbits (bought from a sale for $1!), and made some adjustments:
I started by ripping out the wire floor, and putting chicken wire around the bottom posts. Then I built a square frame along the bottom.
Then I added a solid floor with a hole for a ramp, and opening doors on each side:
Next I built a run under and extending from the coop, and lined it with plastic poultry netting:
My husband had to help with the roof, because I always seem to cut my hands to bits when I try to cut tin roofing. The ramp is on now.
Next I painted the interior and added a nesting box on the back. Pink's a good color for the ladies!
Because we needed to move the coop daily, my husband made two handles on the front to lift the coop/run up, and added wheels on the back. The wheels are basically a little bicycle cut apart (again from a sale for $1!), and fastened to the back. They are flat against the ground so we don't have to lift the coop up very far to tractor it around the yard.
Still need a couple coats of paint, but does the trick!
The ladies are happily moved in!
And Duke thinks he's big stuff (as usual)...
So now... we need to name this "creation"... What are your ideas?
