Coop Dreams

• kiwiphilly10.18.2010

  Very nice article. Interesting and inspiring to see urban garden and farming. It's nice to see a chicken coop that balances form and function.

• Second Grade Room 20510.19.2010

  I want a chicken! I want some chicken eggs! I want a million little chicks! I like your chicken coop! I like your garden on the top of the coop! Maybe your chickens would like a pink coop? Dress your chickens in ballet tutus!

• Henry Ferro10.21.2010

  Might suggest the use of a sliding floor that would simplify the cleaning of the interior of the coop.

• John T. Lytle10.22.2010

  Excellent! Is there a blueprint PDF we could download and build one like yours?

• Nancy Cameron10.23.2010

  Next, he needs to do dog houses...

• Justin10.23.2010

  Its nice to see a backyard ecosystem that recognizes aesthetics as a function, breaks with traditional coop designs and explores new ways of integrating backyard gardens into modern lives. Very cool. This is a link of successful garden that didn't manage a balance between form and function.

• Mitchell10.24.2010

  Thank you for all the nice comments and feedback. Henry that is a a good suggestion, a sliding tray would allow you to clean the henhouse without having to lean into the coop. If the tray could be removed, and emptied directly into the compost bin that'd be even better. John, I'd be happy to put together a more formal set of plans for you. Feel free to contact me here: www.msnyderarch.com/info_contact.html Justin and Kiwiphilly, its great you thought it was a successful balance of form and function. The hens' comfort and protection was the most important consideration. From there we tried to place the henhouse and run with consideration for our neighbors. The height of the henhouse and run were determined by the height of the fence to keep it obscured from view. Add in considerations of our interaction with and access to the henhouse, the design was kept as simple as possible. Nancy, a doghouse sounds like a fun project too. Room 205 those are all great ideas! Do you know where I can find ballet tutus for the hens?

• Margarita10.24.2010

  This is really awesome. I have been thinking about doing something similar so seeing it realized is very exciting! Great job! I have to educate myself on the chicken's needs (in terms of feed, temperature, etc.) but this article has certainly given me a boost. Thank you for sharing!

• Robyn Polan10.24.2010

  I just bought a house and would love to make this coop for some egg laying hens. the floor plans would be amazing!

• Andrew10.30.2010

  This is a great little story for Dwell readers that might be a bit overwhelmed by all the housing features. What I like most about this story though is that it acknowledges that the hen coop is an experiment and therefore, not completely perfect (the awkward entrance). Dwell writers rarely admit design flaws realized after construction is over that might help other builders on their own projects. Thanks for being human and keep up the good work.

• Kathy Rourke10.30.2010

  I love it!! We just passed a pro chicken ordinance in Providence, RI and this is just the ticket! Thanks!

• Miyoko Ohtake11.01.2010

  Thanks for the all the great comments and discussion! Keep 'em coming!

• Katy Skinner11.03.2010

  Nice job! --Katy / www.thecitychicken.com

• traci11.08.2010

  Great to see the agriculture community entering the modern design realm!

• chica11.08.2010

  I do find it a bit odd that the walls are insulated? These are some spoiled chickens...is the coop plumbed too?

• Mitchell11.09.2010

  Chica. I think the small amount of insulation required to insulate the coop was worth it for then hens when the temperature drops below freezing. We used leftover from insulating our home, but I often see spare rolls donated to our local store that sells reclaimed building materials. We also install a flap over the door in the winter with slits cut in it (similar to those plastic flaps you see in grocery stores that lead into refrigerated spaces) so the hens can pass through it out to the run. A warm hen house keeps their water from freezing too, which is extremely important in winter months.

• Toshi Kasai11.10.2010

  Cool cube. I want to sleep in it sometime..

• Urban Gardens11.13.2010

  Love this. There are some really innovative chicken coop designs and chicken folks out there, including the Chicken Whisperer who broadcasts on Chicken Talk Radio. Omlet is one of my favorite companies designing for chickens and bees, and I also love the guy who designed the green roof chicken coop: http://ow.ly/39lhV

• Pete11.15.2010

  ;) http://sites.google.com/site/pcarchi/Home/chicken-palace

• tom taylor12.05.2010

  to start our day here in mesa,we've got a blm wild burro that brays, a rooster that crows, and scarcely a cricket because my hens are on the prowl from sun up to (a little before) sundown each & every day.......!

• Rob03.20.2011

  That business about eating too many eggs is bunk. Even the gov has walked that one back. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=92 redux: 'No significant differences were seen between blood levels of total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in either group, confirming what other studies (Ballesteros MN, Cabrera RM, Am J Clin Nutr) have shown, including a relative risk study presented at the Experimental Biology meeting: healthy people can safely enjoy eggs without increasing their heart attack risk.'

• LOFT3203.20.2011

  I ♥ it! It's always fun seeing different coop designs. I designed my own coop and my dad made it for me. It has an elevated coop with a compost area underneath, so I can use the waste as fertilizer for my garden. It also keeps the coop clean and is very sanitary for the chickens. The run area is 6 ft x 6 ft with a full size door, so I can clean it and refill water/mash easily. The nesting boxes have an access door for easily fetching eggs. It is SUPER easy to maintain and the chickens LOVE it! Here are some pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16714&id=100000311382907&l=f79bef9c23 XO, Candace www.loft32.blogspot.com

• Jen03.20.2011

  This is awesome! I think that insulating the coop was brilliant. I remember worrying about our hens in the winter months in VT and of course lugging boiling water out to unfreeze theirs. I wish for all of the creatures that we choose to keep with us to be as comfy and happy as possible :-) Oh and, Candace, I love your coop too!

• Carmen Garcia04.13.2011

  love ur chicken coop! are plans available? in dwg or pdf? just getting started with chicks ourseleves and looking for a coop!

• Linette04.07.2012

  Love your coop! Well done! We're newly chick owners of five darling girls and need to get a coop up and running :) Love the modern design but was curious about the maintenance and cleanup of the hen house. How is the green roof holding up? We're in Philly and need something with insulation too. Many thanks! Linette

• Paul04.12.2012

  Love the coop... why do all the cool things happening in Portland? Need to head on over there at some point.

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