Our coop & chickens...

We're finishing up the door on the second yard. We have one coop, 8 x 16 feet. One door opens into one 50' x 30' yard, and the other opens into a 90' x 30' yard. The yards are fenced with 7' high deer fence. We have 9 year-old laying hens: 4 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Rhode Island Reds, and 2 Ameraucanas. We also have 10 young chickens, about 4 months old: 3 Black Australorps, 3 Golden Laced Wyandottes, 3 Light Brahmas, and a white Ameraucana.

Here is the door to one of the yards. We covered it w/ chicken wire, but the fence is the black poly deer fence.

Here is one side of the coop, with the nesting box we made out of our house's old outhouse seats I found in the cellar. Currently occupied by one of the Ameraucanas, who lay very nice greeny-blue eggs.

Here are the roosts:

Oops. Here's that side of the coop with the nesting boxes again (I can't edit it to correct the lack of a photo there; not sure why.)

Um, it was because the picture I took was actually a short movie. Dummy! I ran out and took another.

The front of the coop, with the wooden door open and the wire door closed.

The right side of the coop (the other side looks much the same):

The back of the coop has a large window. There is vented soffit all around the edge of the roof for circulation, and on either side of the large window there are two wired vents (we close them in winter).

Close-up of the nesting box ("dark box" style):

This is the egg-collection door on the outside. 'Scuse me, ma'am. (That's an Ameraucana.)

Young white ameraucana cockerel, freebie from McMurray:

Some of the young chickens are on the roosts during the day. At night they still crowd into a corner on the floor, as they're a bunch of boneheads.

This is one of the yards. You can't see the fence at all (the chain link fence you can see, but that's outside the yard). The fence is the same height as the wooden posts, so go by that.

An ameraucana cockerel and orpington hen. The younger roosters seem to be getting interested in the older hens, and the older hens are not bossing the roosters much.

This message was edited Aug 6, 2006 4:47 PM

A pile of chickens. Okay, I'm done. Thanks for taking the tour.

Everything looks cool!!! All I have is open air coops...cuz my winters here don't get all that cold...I just wrap the sides with plastic fabric that breaths..to cut down the cold wind from blowing thru...All my coops are off the ground..

Zeppy it all looks so nice. Ya done good ! Your chickens all look nice and happy and healthy. Still think your outhouse seat is the coolest !

Moodene, that's a good idea.

Why, thankee, Peggie. How're your chickens doing?

Looks good Zeppy! Looks like you did a lot of work, and it is worth it. Your chickens look very happy and healthy.

They look great Zeppy!!

Your "tweeter" is whiter than mine, but that crest around the neck is identical! :-)

Thank you for the grand tour. Your coop is attractive inside and out! It looks like a cabin, especially looking at the red side.
I love the sloping roosts, set up sort of like a ladder.
Great design!

Hey Zippy. I finally got to see your tour. Some great ideas. I have to rebuild my whole coop before winter. I will be using your egg collection and 2 door idea on mine. The inside looks so comfy and cozy for your ladies and gentlmen. Nice job.

Thank you! They seem happy to have a lot of space, even if I'm not letting them destroy my garden. :)

One of the roosters (the "tweeter") has taken the 9 older hens. He is now part of their little flock. The other flock seems to be still in the process of sorting themselves out. The flocks are free to intermingle, but rarely choose to.

Zeppy, that is a wonderful set-up! Thank you for the tour. I remember when you posted the outhouse seats and said you would use them for nestboxes. Great job! Can I move into the henhouse, too? LOL! BAM

That is a nice looking set up you have there. Lots of planning and work went into it I know. I like nice light and airy shelters for birds. The birds look healthy and happy.