The Chicken Palace

We recently acquired three mature chickens.  These barred rock ladies give us an average of two large brown eggs per day.  When we first got them they had been housed in a small A frame chicken tractor for a year, with only limited backyard privileges.  When they got there they had the run of the place and were only "cooped up" at night.

Then they started pooping on the back sidewalk.

If they accidentally dropped one while passing by that would be one thing.  No, it seemed like they were saving it up, or hanging around on the sidewalk just in case nature should happen to call.  The poo and the flies led to the Homestead Manager to note that a new approach was called for.  I always do what she says, so I began planning my chicken coop construction project. 

The whole thing is designed around a sheet of plywood for the floor which leads to a 4x8 coop.  Some leftover metal roofing, cheap fence pickets, a batch of 2x3s and a huge number of decking screws and we were in business.  It took two weekends and numerous evenings because I was making it up as I went and I often had to stop and plan the next step.  Carefully.  Sometimes from the sofa with my eyes closed.

For being an ad-hoc project from someone who never owned chickens, I think it turned out all right.  The girls have the top level (penthouse), outside ramp (promenade), lower level (basement) and the run (yard) to enjoy. 

 The front features four feet of floor to ceiling ventilation, the outside ramp leading down to the basement, and the door which leads to the yard.  The basement is well protected from predators with welded wire fencing, just in case we are out late and can't secure the front door before dark.

The back view (during construction) shows the large cleanout door on the left side, the double doors for water, food and general access on the right, the door mounted feeder, and eight feet of ventilation across the entire back.  The whole thing was built under the overhang attached to my tool shed which means I didn't have to protect the north side from the weather.

 The view from the cleanout door showing the nest boxes to the left, and birds on roosts straight ahead.  When I tuck them in at night I put a piece of newspaper under them to catch what they drop during the night.  It helps to keep the coop a little cleaner.  The poo filled newspaper gets put into the garden or compost pile.

I figure this house will hold 5 birds comfortably year round and maybe an additional 5 in the summer when they can get outside and stretch their little legs.  Next year we may try raising meat chickens from Tractor Supply peeps.