The Hubs and I went over to OK Feed and Supply (a.k.a. horseontheroof.com) to do a little tour of their model homes... for chickens, of course.
They currently have two styles at two different price points. Model A had a simple structure, with 1-inch hardware cloth stapled to a wooden frame, 4 raised nesting boxes, and two wooden roosting rails. The eggs were accessible outside the nesting boxes through metal-covered holes. It was raised on a pallet, and 5-feet tall (I'm 5'4", for reference).
The roof is shingled, and you can see how open the coop is on its sides. At just 4-feet wide and 6-feet long, I would probably need to join the door side to the side of my old coop, as well as screw down the hardware cloth. I could take out the top two nesting boxes in order to raise the roosts above the boxes, and then install a droppings board along the back side for ease of cleaning.
Model A was $400, however the plywood backing was warping and spitting out staples.
Model B is $500, and has more built-in details, with a smaller-gauge hardware cloth (still stapled, instead of screwed in - doh!) First, the nest boxes are external, which means that they take up less space in the coop. The boxes are accessible through a wooden door that you lift up. Second, there is a pop door for the chickens to enter the run on the opposite side, and another door for humans to enter on the front.
Third, the chicken ladder is already attached to the coop (the droppings board could probably be slid right over that wire, without too much fuss).
It has a gabled roof, which is shingled, which enables the ceiling to be 6-feet tall at the middle. The sides measure 4-feet wide by 5-feet long. I would want to connect the side with the pop door to the old coop, which would then leave a 2-foot gap to cover with either hardware cloth or plywood.
Both models are okay - however they both cost quite a bit and would still need to be customized.
Another option is to purchase online - most coops are either teeny-tiny, or thousands of dollars.
Or... playhouse? Kidkraft has several that are tall enough, made of wood, and have doors and windows. I could screw hardware cloth in over the windows and any openings... and some of these are really cute.
This modern outdoor playhouse by KidKraft for $350 has a 5'2" ceiling that slopes down, and a play table and chairs. I could see attaching the door side (it's 4-feet on each side, so there'd be a 2-foot gap again) to the old coop, adding roosting boards, a droppings board, and using the ladders and laying boxes that I already have.
They currently have two styles at two different price points. Model A had a simple structure, with 1-inch hardware cloth stapled to a wooden frame, 4 raised nesting boxes, and two wooden roosting rails. The eggs were accessible outside the nesting boxes through metal-covered holes. It was raised on a pallet, and 5-feet tall (I'm 5'4", for reference).
The roof is shingled, and you can see how open the coop is on its sides. At just 4-feet wide and 6-feet long, I would probably need to join the door side to the side of my old coop, as well as screw down the hardware cloth. I could take out the top two nesting boxes in order to raise the roosts above the boxes, and then install a droppings board along the back side for ease of cleaning.
Model A was $400, however the plywood backing was warping and spitting out staples.
Model B is $500, and has more built-in details, with a smaller-gauge hardware cloth (still stapled, instead of screwed in - doh!) First, the nest boxes are external, which means that they take up less space in the coop. The boxes are accessible through a wooden door that you lift up. Second, there is a pop door for the chickens to enter the run on the opposite side, and another door for humans to enter on the front.
Third, the chicken ladder is already attached to the coop (the droppings board could probably be slid right over that wire, without too much fuss).
It has a gabled roof, which is shingled, which enables the ceiling to be 6-feet tall at the middle. The sides measure 4-feet wide by 5-feet long. I would want to connect the side with the pop door to the old coop, which would then leave a 2-foot gap to cover with either hardware cloth or plywood.
Both models are okay - however they both cost quite a bit and would still need to be customized.
Another option is to purchase online - most coops are either teeny-tiny, or thousands of dollars.
Or... playhouse? Kidkraft has several that are tall enough, made of wood, and have doors and windows. I could screw hardware cloth in over the windows and any openings... and some of these are really cute.
This modern outdoor playhouse by KidKraft for $350 has a 5'2" ceiling that slopes down, and a play table and chairs. I could see attaching the door side (it's 4-feet on each side, so there'd be a 2-foot gap again) to the old coop, adding roosting boards, a droppings board, and using the ladders and laying boxes that I already have.
Of course, Amanda will want one too...
Comments