Coops

Before we talk chicks it may be a good idea to think about living situation. While the chicks start out in a brooder, which can be as simple as a cardboard box, they quickly need something a little more substantial. This is the most time consuming part of the chicken process. The coop can be anything you want as long as it provides shelter from cold and rain as well as a place to keep chickens safe from predators (dogs, opossums, and raccoons are especially problematic for the urban farmer).

I understand coops in two ways, moveable or permanent. The movable coop idea is reflected in the book Chicken Tractor by Andy Lee where the coop is moved around the yard to provide fresh eats for the girls, as well as not allowing buildup of waste. This has the added benefit of fertilizer for the lawn. The moveable coop minimizes the need for cleaning, and it allows the hens to be pastured. We started our flock out with the more traditional idea of a permanent coop and run. The run is an outdoor portion fenced in with chicken wire. The coop is the shelter where the hens lay their eggs and find safety at night. We also built a fence that extended our run into the yard, within 2 weeks the grass was no longer there.

Now we have a moveable A-frame that we really like. The design is aesthetic and easy to care for. Since I have both coops, I keep the hens in the moveable run by day, and the permanent run at night. I would like to streamline the design for the moveable coop so that can be the only hen house in my yard:)

Here are some interesting designs I have come across:

The eglu

 Nogg Chicken Coop

There are kits to buy such as this one from Lowe's, as well as books that detail different coop designs. Farmer D's in the ATL build custom coops. In short, the sky's the limit with coop design. If you would like help with your coop please contact us!