What do you think of your coop years later?

[jthornton]

I started Coop Uno in April 2017 from a plan I found online that Home Depot sponsored so it must have been good right?

Here is a photo of the original build. Looked like a coop I thought but what did I know?

Far from it actually... after multiple modifications to the coop I finally had a place for the chickens to roost only, no room for anything else.

As it stands today the inside stays pretty clean using PDZ under the roosts.


The overall view of Coop Uno.

I'm happy with the design of the run, just wish I had room for more overhang and should have extended the roof over the door a couple of feet for sure.

Coop Deux, I started converting a shed in February 2018 but didn't get very far until January 2020 when I really got going putting in a dividing wall for the shed.
Here is the dividing wall today.


Inside the coop not much has changed in the last 2 years except the roll out nest box was rejected in favor of a cardboard box or two. And I lengthened the poop table and roost as it was too small for 12 Cinnamon Queens once they were fully grown.




Inside the run is unfortunately where they spend most days, sometimes I let them out in the little yard they have while being supervised.
I've made a few changes like adding roosts, a pallet and a new feeder which I like a lot and so do the hens.



Finishing off the Chicken Crack!


Outside the run is the same.


So in conclusion I still hate Coop Uno every time I clean the PDZ or try to do anything on the inside of it, it's just too small and too low and the list goes on and on.

On the other hand Coop Deux I like it as it so easy to clean the Poop Table I can do it with one hand an usually have no choice when Betty Boop is in one hand.

The only drawback to having half a shed a coop is the dust it bad on the other side...

JT

 

[aart]

Have only had one coop and run.
Pretty happy with it all, except wish run had a solid roof and that coop was a bit bigger.

 

[aart]

The only drawback to having half a shed a coop is the dust it bad on the other side...

Yeppers!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

No picture handy, but my first coop was a raised one (I have ducks, they use underneath) I'm mostly happy with. I should have used more framing in the floor, for when the goats decided it made a good place to sleep, and I should have framed the roof differently, to provide additional free ventilation. My second "coop" doesn't count - it has no doors, no nesting boxes, no predator protection whatsover. Its a big shelter for the goats, a hay bale or two, and a number of additional roosting bars, because my flock has grown substantially since the first coop was built. I need to take additional pictures, now that I've added more roosting bars and built a shelf for the goats to sleep on. But I don't think it counts as a coop without nesting boxes, and the way its transformed itself has resulted in a design that doesn't have a good place for them anymore.

 

[3KillerBs]

I've remodeled the Little Monitor Coop once already and have a few more changes in mind for another revamp since we have to replace the roof.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/

I need a deeper sill on the pop door.

We're taking the legs off and putting it on termite-proof concrete blocks.

Since the roof is coming off anyway, we *might* add overhang to shelter the access door.

 

[DobieLover]

It's funny, JT. You and I started out with the exact same plans that we both modified in different ways.

It worked fine for the first year but, man, did I hate working with it. I never had any intensions of trying to modify it to meet my needs.
I also modified an old shed with a storage area in the front. The only thing I'm thinking about modifying in the future will be to drop the nest box down low enough to get another PB/roost combo on that side. It will give me another 5' of roost space. I DO NOT intend to increase the flock size. I just want more space for the less confident chickens to roost instead of getting in the nest boxes.

The only design feature I kept from the original coop was the paint colors.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Old coop was a prefab, better quality than most (solid cedar, ventilation on 4 sides) but still a pain in the butt to clean because I have a bad back so bending down for more than a few seconds at a time doesn't agree with me. We used it for 2 years. I did have to make modifications pretty much at the start because the roost wasn't long enough for 4 birds, so I removed the existing nest box and ran a roost across the entire space, and then modified an old dog house to attach to the rear as the nest.

Old coop has been dismantled and repurposed into a brooder, a covered feed area, and a compost sifter.

New coop was 6x10 shed I ordered from a local shed builder, with some modifications. Added a lot of windows, extra vents, and had the builder install the pop door as well. We've had it for 3 years now. Overall I think it works fine for the flock we have (I built for 12, we have 10 right now) and our climate, though I'm sure there's a bunch of little tweaks that could make it even better... things to consider if I end up building another coop someday!

New coop left, old coop on right.

 

[Sally PB]

I still have my first coop, though we added onto it when we added onto the flock. What would I change?

--Ventilation up at the top of the roof. Can't really add it now, without totally redoing the roof. Which ain't gonna happen; DH designed and built it, and is understandably proud of the arch design. It's very strong. DH stood on it at times while he was building it. (The arch was on the ground when he did that.)

--More openings for light. That could happen.
--I'd like to add another wing to the other side to balance out what we put on last May.

I mentioned that. DH was much less than enthusiastic. If there is a need for more chickens (world falls apart and we plan to have more for meat and more eggs), he might change his mind.

I like the inside. I can stand up in it, and I can reach into the wing no problem.

I put a solid roof over the original part of the run. (I added onto the run to accommodate the increase in the flock.) There's a tarp over the run addition, and I'd like to put a roof on instead.

It's only been about 20 months since DH built the coop, and I'm still very happy with it.

 

[linguini]

I started Coop Uno in April 2017 from a plan I found online that Home Depot sponsored so it must have been good right?

Here is a photo of the original build. Looked like a coop I thought but what did I know?
View attachment 2940578
Far from it actually... after multiple modifications to the coop I finally had a place for the chickens to roost only, no room for anything else.

As it stands today the inside stays pretty clean using PDZ under the roosts.
View attachment 2940583

The overall view of Coop Uno.
View attachment 2940584
I'm happy with the design of the run, just wish I had room for more overhang and should have extended the roof over the door a couple of feet for sure.

Coop Deux, I started converting a shed in February 2018 but didn't get very far until January 2020 when I really got going putting in a dividing wall for the shed.
Here is the dividing wall today.
View attachment 2940587

Inside the coop not much has changed in the last 2 years except the roll out nest box was rejected in favor of a cardboard box or two. And I lengthened the poop table and roost as it was too small for 12 Cinnamon Queens once they were fully grown.
View attachment 2940588
View attachment 2940589
View attachment 2940590

Inside the run is unfortunately where they spend most days, sometimes I let them out in the little yard they have while being supervised.
I've made a few changes like adding roosts, a pallet and a new feeder which I like a lot and so do the hens.
View attachment 2940592
View attachment 2940593

Finishing off the Chicken Crack!
View attachment 2940594

Outside the run is the same.
View attachment 2940595

So in conclusion I still hate Coop Uno every time I clean the PDZ or try to do anything on the inside of it, it's just too small and too low and the list goes on and on.

On the other hand Coop Deux I like it as it so easy to clean the Poop Table I can do it with one hand an usually have no choice when Betty Boop is in one hand.

The only drawback to having half a shed a coop is the dust it bad on the other side...

JT

OMG! You even make a zen garden out of PDZ! that's the best looking poop board I've seen!

 

[jreardon1918]

We built a 4'x8' raised coop. Still have it. It is OK. The design should have had more ventilation. We leave the windows and pop door open all year day and night. The run was hastily thrown together. There were 6 nest boxes. For this size only 3 needed. It has worked, but If I knew then what I know now. A shed 8x12, open under the eves. Very large overhangs all around. I would still do the ridge vent, knowing snow needs to be cleared every storm. The run or coop would have a built in brooder/broody buster.