The Chicken Coop

We've dedicated one of our side yards to the chickens.  It's not really very usable for us, and it's not a huge area, only about six feet wide at the widest point, but it's plenty big enough to be a great run for a few chickens.  My original plan was to just fence this area off, and build a small coop for the birds for night, and I think that plan would have been totally fine.  But after thinking about it, I decided that it would be a good idea to have a "run within the run".  I decided that I wanted something with a bit more security for them should we ever be gone all day, or for the times when we get home late at night and aren't there to close the coop.  I don't think our suburban neighborhood has too many threatening chicken predators, but I did want to make sure they were safe.  So we designed and built a coop with an attached enclosed run.  It was definitely more expensive to build (and more than I had anticipated, as building projects always are), but I think the benefits are worth it.  We haven't finished fencing off the side yard, so they are in here full time right now, but even when we finish the bigger run, this will still provide a dry area when it is raining, as well as a dry place to keep their food, and as I said, it will provide more protection for the times we're not around, particularly at night.

We designed this based off some pictures we had seen, and then Seth and I (mostly Seth) built it.  I am so thankful Seth was willing to do this for me -  it was quite a big project, especially when you're not really into that sort of thing, and he really did a great job.  I am so happy with how it turned out.  We still have a few little things to finish up, like hanging the main door and burying the bottom of the fencing, but it's usable and the chickens are in there, which is the important part!  =)