Coop Inspiration: 8 Awesome Coop Ideas
Looking for inspiration for your new chicken coop? Check out some of the cool coop ideas submitted by our readers for the insight you need.
It’s fun showing off your chickens special coops, and why not? The work our readers have done is amazing. From the most sophisticated to the simple and practical, we enjoy all the pictures you send us, day in and day out. For this edition, we have selected eight of our favorites to show off.
Coop Idea #1: Converted Trailer
By Padraic McGuire and Brooke Snyder, Oregon
From The Designers: This is our interpretation of the tiny house movement, modified to accommodate chickens rather than people. The rig is completely mobile, as it is built on the stripped frame of an old travel trailer, so it can be transported to different spots on or off our property. It also became part of Brooke’s art installation at our local university, which is what brought about her custom screen-printed wallpaper. Right now it is the home of six hens and one rooster and it is parked at the Green Springs Inn (our family business) outside of Ashland, Oregon, with more chickens on the way.
Coop Idea #2: A Playhouse
By Daniel T. Contelmo, New York
From The Designer: A long time ago, this was our playhouse that was originally painted in pink, purple, teal and blue. My parents purchased chickens and repainted the house black forest green to match our home. As you can see from these photos, including the one of our Buff Orpingtons, it’s quite relaxing to be in the backyard.
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Coop Idea #3: A Dog House
By Mary Ann Borges, California
From The Designer: I used an old dog house and repurposed it into a very handy chicken coop. I first made the run, which is 5 feet wide and 4 feet deep. I placed 3/4-inch plywood on top of the run and cut out an opening, so when I placed the coop (dog house) on top of the run, the hens would have access to the coop. In the coop, there is a roosting pole and an old wooden crate that is divided in two that will be the nesting box. On the outside of the coop, I have my feeder attached that runs down to the coop made out of 3-inch PVC pipe. I made a door that you pull down so that the feeder top is hidden. The top is a cap made out of PVC. I used red roofing material that I purchased at Lowe’s. The red of the roof blends in well with the rest of the coop. I am so proud of how the old dog house turned out!
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Coop Idea #4: Rosie’s Palace
By Jessica Thurnau Pfund, Illinois
From The Designer: We think our coop is the coolest because we built it ourselves. The lumber was all provided by our neighbor whose dog killed our sweet Silkie, Rosie, hence the name Rosie’s Palace, named by my 4-year-old daughter. The cupola was done by my husband who used vents and built around it. The rooster weathervane tops it off nicely. The coop is very large and many people has said that they wouldn’t mind living in it. The coop inside holds two nesting boxes and was hand-painted to match the exterior run. The run holds a tri-level perch, a small set of stairs my 9-year-old son made, an old Dutch chair, electricity and is sand-based for easy clean up. The view the chickens get each day is a 1-acre pond with gazebo and beach. We aim to please for our feathered friends!
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Coop Idea #5: A Tree House
By Laurie Field, New Hampshire
From The Designer: The coop is our children’s repurposed tree house. I had the design in my head but couldn’t possibly have done the job without my husband Dan’s carpentry skills.Th e majority of the coop was built with materials we had around our home, other than the hinges, wire and solar motion lights. Aft er we cut the 8-foot legs on it down to 2-feet, we used scrap wood for doors and repairs, shingles and left over paint from the house, and a few old barn windows. The broken-down picket fence that was piled in the backyard for the last five years came to life in a crooked arrangement. I even pulled the nails and reused them to mount the fencing.
The inside is original, the way the kids left it. We put in a corner roost with a dropping board underneath, below that is a broody coop for new arrivals. Two nesting boxes and the front window opens for extra ventilation. The coop has a 5-by-7-by-6-foot living space and the run is 9 feet with an additional 5 feet under the coop. Our coop is whimsical and fun!
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Coop Idea #6: Coop DeVille
By Darryl Lane, North Carolina
From The Designer: What makes this coop “cool” without a doubt is its color scheme. It makes it fun for the kids and anyone that sees it in person smiles. This chicken coop is mobile and self-sustainable. It has an automatic watering system that keeps the water sanitary and only needs to be refilled a couple times a week. It also has an automatic feeder that needs to be refilled every few days. The Coop DeVille houses eight to 10 chickens and has two nesting boxes. Anyone can move the chicken coop in seconds. By lifting the handles attached to the wheels, it lift s the entire coop inches off the ground, allowing for full mobility.
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Coop Idea #7: A Haunted Coop
By Ann Lero, Kansas
From The Designer: I built my own version of a coop I saw a picture of online. It was called a haunted coop. The walls and windows are crooked to give it a haunted feeling. All the materials used to make the coop are recycled, except the wood screws, hinges and door handle. The lumber came from an old hog barn I helped take down. I took a walk through a nearby wooded area and gathered vine to use in the window, steps and porch of the coop. I also decided to make a swing out of the vine to hang on the porch of the coop. With the left over lumber, I then built a small out house that is actually a feeder!
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Coop Idea #8: A Garden Coop
By Hugh Reece, Georgia
From The Designer: After getting ideas from as many sources as possible, this is the arrangement I designed and built for my two Buff Orpingtons to enjoy. Complete with leaded glass window for ventilation and removable trays for ease of cleaning in the laying boxes.
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Do you have a fun story behind your chicken coop, or just some really cool design ideas? We’d love to share them with our readers. Email us at editor@backyardpoultrymag.com with a few pictures and a story about your coop!
Originally published in the August/September 2014 issue of Backyard Poultry magazine.
