Creative Coops: Thinking Outside the Box
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Build creative coops for your flock with these helpful tips on handmade poultry housing.
by Sherri Talbot
As raising poultry becomes more popular, it’s become a hobby rather than a means of survival, and with that change has come increased costs. We forget that chickens in the 1930s and 40s were common in nearly every household to help with food shortages. There was rarely special food or coops for the birds, and when one was constructed, new poultry keepers were advised to use cheap materials1 and repurposed items2. People made do with what they had available for kitchen scraps and got creative with their housing. Now, the expectation is a specially made coop, organic feed, and a host of ideas to keep your birds stimulated and entertained.
The major upfront cost of owning poultry is the coop. The only options available often seem to be small, cheaply made coops that fall apart within a year or two or large, expensive coops that cost thousands of dollars. Buying one of the larger coops is prohibitive for the average homesteader who wants a dozen birds or so. The smaller coops can’t hold or maintain many chickens and are often not designed with waterfowl in mind. This can lead to birds being free-ranged in unsafe areas, being crowded in a too-small area, or you spending more money than you want to.
To raise chickens, ducks, turkeys, or other poultry on a budget, begin by thinking about what you want and what you have. If you plan to raise chickens, there are more ready-made supplies available. If you plan on having waterfowl, you must consider where your water sources will be. Wilder species like turkeys or game fowl require more space, while quail require more protection.
You can cut your start-up costs by thinking creatively about what structures you may already have. If you have a barn, shed, or garage with a free corner, fence it in and install a locking dog or cat door that you can open in the morning and shut at night. Wood shavings on the floor will catch moisture and manure, which will help keep birds healthy. Cement and wood floors are simple to clean with a wheelbarrow and a shovel. If your neighborhood is prone to predators, a fenced-in run outside the “coop” will easily keep the chickens in and unwanted guests out. Smaller outbuildings can be moved to where you need them if you have access to heavy equipment like a forklift. To quote Frank Hyman, “A coop is really just the box that chickens sleep in at night3.”
If you don’t have an appropriate outbuilding, then it’s time to hit your local online marketplace for something to do the trick. This is a method that requires some time, so planning ahead is a must, but if you’re lucky, you may find a used coop available. These can also be expensive, depending on the area you live in, so try using search terms that involve things that resemble coops. An old shed, ice shack, or playhouse can be modified to fit your needs. For good biosecurity, make sure to properly disinfect any structure that is purchased used and has already housed poultry in it.
Someone often has a run-down but solid structure that they want to be moved. Our homestead is the proud owner of one shed that came with the property, one playhouse that cost $50, and an older 8’x8’ shed that cost us $75. The playhouse was converted for the price of three sets of shingles to cut the winter winds when they blow — about $20. The rather ragged-looking shed was transformed with easy aesthetic repairs that cost about $160. Both of these required a truck and a heavy-duty trailer to move, so renting, borrowing, or buying appropriate equipment can make your life easier.
Moveable coops are great for those who want to pasture-range birds without the danger of predators. You can find or build an easy A-frame on skids for your chickens, adjusting the size for the number of birds.
Hardware cloth walls will protect your poultry and provide ventilation. Ensure where they roost is sheltered from rain and storms. Smaller chicken tractors can be moved by hand or with an ATV. If your structure is large enough, a skidder or small tractor will likely be the most convenient way to move it. The downside is that it only works in warm climates or during warm seasons and that the birds will need to be moved regularly.
When deciding on modifications to your structure, remember that your wants are likely greater than the needs of the birds. Chickens, especially, have very few requirements for their sleeping quarters, and many of the accessories in a coop are simply a reason for salespeople to charge you more money. Paint jobs and decorations are for the humans, not the birds. Their entertainment, food, water, and other needs will mainly be outside in the yard or the run4.
Inside, chickens and turkeys will likely want a roost to sleep on that keeps them out of the wind and severe temperatures5, and a few cut saplings can provide those without spending a dime. Most ducks and geese won’t even care about that. They simply need a dry spot secure enough to prevent predation6 and regular access to water.
Ventilation is important to pull moisture and ammonia out of the coop. In cold climates, ventilation sources should be above the chickens’ heads so that they don’t risk a draft in cold temperatures7. However, a breeze at roost level can give them an easier night’s rest in hot temperatures.
Insulation should be avoided since it can get damp and attract nesting vermin, and chickens can think it makes a tasty treat. Choosing chickens suited to your environment should mean insulation is unnecessary. Similarly, keeping cold-hearty chickens in chilly climates means you can avoid heat lamps, which can be dangerous for chickens and homeowners alike.
Wide doors and people-sized ceilings will make cleaning and caring for your new coop more convenient. Placing the roosts so they are easy to clean under will decrease the time and effort needed for maintenance. Nest boxes that are off the ground or moveable will make it easier to clean them out. Some people even house their chickens above an excavated compost pit and add a back door so manure and bedding can simply be shoveled into the pile.
Of course, bird types, numbers, weather, and landscape differences will require modifications to all of these suggestions. However, the need for a custom-built, specially designed coop is a myth, and you can find a cheaper, functional structure with a little ingenuity and by thinking outside the box.
References
1 Jull, M.A., & Lee, A.R.. (1934) Poultry Houses and Fixtures. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers Bulletin No. 1554. USDA: Washington D.C
2 Reed, F.D. (1945). Homemade Poultry Equipment. Maine Extension Bulletin 278. University of Maine –
College of Agriculture: Orono, Me.
3, 4, 7 Hyman, Frank. (2018). Hentopia: Create a Hassle-Free Habitat for Happy Chickens. Storey Publishing: North Adams, Ma. ISBN – 10: 1612129943.
5 Schrider, Don. (2013) Storey’s Guide to Raising Turkeys. Storey Publishing: North Adams, Ma.
6 Holderread, Dave. (2011) Storey’s Guide to Raising Ducks. Storey Publishing: North Adams, Ma.
Sherri Talbot is the co-owner and operator of Saffron and Honey Homestead in Windsor, Maine. She raises endangered, heritage-breed livestock and hopes someday to make education and writing on conservation breeding her full-time job. Details can be found at SaffronandHoneyHomestead.com.
Originally published in the July/August 2024 issue of Countryside and Small Stock Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy
