Top Ten Creative Chicken Coops

Have you been contemplating raising your own chickens? If so, are you wondering how to design the coop? Perhaps you're considering something practical, efficient, affordable, and attractive. Then again, maybe you want them to live luxuriously. No matter, there are so many options. The good thing is that chickens are adaptable. They don't need a fancy coop to survive, and they won't hold a grudge against you if you incorporate recycled rather than state-of-the-art materials. They mostly need:

• Proper ventilation (windows)
• Protected nest boxes
• Easy access
• Room to roam, scratch and peck. A great alternative is to build a coop that you can move.
• Protection from predators
• Natural lighting (15 hours per day to encourage prolific laying)
• Food and water

Some chicken owners insist on providing heat in the colder months. We live through sub-zero temperatures throughout the winter, and (alongside an insulated coop) the only heat source we offer them is a heat lamp. We have friends who bermed their coop into a hillside, so they don't need to rely on electricity to warm or cool the space.

Otherwise, practicality is more for you. How easy is it to clean the coop and collect the eggs? Will you bump your head repeatedly when you change out their litter? How far do you have to walk to replenish their water?

Following is a top ten list of ideas to inspire your own design.

1.
Maybe you want your coop to blend into its environment, or you have limited space to grow a garden. Think about installing a live roof to grow grasses, or even herbs and hardy vegetables. Community Chickens shows us one example of a chicken coop with a life roof. This one has nest boxes for easy access so that you don't have to physically enter the coop to collect the eggs.

2.
Do you have an old entertainment center that's ready for your next yard sale? Instead, transform it into a coop, as shown by The City Chicken. The bottom of the cabinet offers a perfect storage solution for the grain.

3.
Another option is for you to use an old chest of drawers, as evidenced by Backyard Chickens. Personally, I think chickens are happier with a little more space, even if you have just a couple of them. The drawers would just fine with a roomy run.

4.
If your trampoline has a hole in it and your kids are off to college, you can turn it into a coop!  The Homestead Survival provides a great tutorial on how to do just that. It protects the birds from the elements, gives them space to roam, and turns trash into something functional.

5.
Perhaps you have a car, bus, van, or boat rusting away on your property. Until a car crusher stops by someday, why not make use of it? Daily Picdump turns an old VW bug into a chicken coop simply by wrapping it with wire and throwing in some bedding.

6.
Maybe you want something a little more classy, or maybe you don't have sufficient room in your yard for old cars. Perhaps you want your coop to be a focal point, so it's important for it to blend into the existing architecture. Todd Mecklem gives us an example of a quality font yard chicken coop.

 

7.
Another option is to spruce up an existing structure on your property, like a garden or tool shed. Instead of investing many dollars into lumber and materials, employ a local artist to paint a mural.

8.
Simple, minimalist, colorful. Coops don't need to be complicated. Best Design News shows us just how simple a coop can be. This one is perfect for small spaces, or in school yards for hands-on learning.

9.
Chicken tractors or wagons are a great way to let your hens roam without having their manure splattered all over your yard. Keep them contained, but hear them coo with content. Don't worry if you don't have a ton of money to invest in the project! Take Your Money And Shove It features a coop made with bicycle wheels.

 

10.
Then again, maybe you want the most luxurious chicken coop in town. You want a chicken coop, playground, play house, garden, and tool shed all in one. You will certainly have happy hens!