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Author and farmer Judy Pangman combed the country to select these 45 coops for housing both laying hens and meat birds (chickens or turkeys). The coops range from fashionable backyard structures featured in the annual Seattle Tilth City Chickens Tour and the Mad City Chickens Tour in Madison, Wisconsin, to the large-scale, moveable structures Joel Salatin has fashioned for Polyface Farm in Virginia.
You'll also find ideas for converting trailer frames, greenhouses, and backyard sheds; low-budget alternatives for working with found and recycled materials; and simple ways to make waterers, feeders, and nestboxes. A gallery of color photographs provides other creative ideas to get you going. With basic building skills, a little elbow grease, and this book of conceptual plans, you've got all you need to shelter your flock.
Chick Brooders 1
Brooder Basics 2
Feed and Water 3
Temperature 4
Ventilation . 4
Predator Protection 4
Chicken Coops 5
Feed and Water 5
Ventilation 6
Roosts 6
Nest Boxes 6
Predator Protection 6
Things to Consider When Designing Your Coop 7
Part 2 Coops for the City
Setting Hen Hut 10
San Miguel Coop 12
Bo & Friends Coop 16
Cézanne’s Garden Coop 19
Sun Coop 23
Megan’s Coop 27
Cottonwood School Coop 30
Oakhurst Community Garden Coop 33
Cordwood Chicken House 36
Little Red Henhouse 40
Seattle Tilth City Chicken Tour 43
Hi-Rise Coop 44
Poulet Chalet 47
The Cat House 51
Shake Your Tail Feathers Coop 55
Toolshed Henhouse 57
Starclucks Coop 61
Kids’ Garden Coop 65
Chicks ’n the ’Hood Coop 68
Mad City Chickens Tour 69
Part 3 Coops for Small Farms
Truck Cap Coop 74
Egg-loo 76
Beck-Chenoweth Broiler Skid 78
Caretaker Farm 80
Chicken Prairie Schooner 81
Sap Bush Hollow Farm 84
Sap Bush Broiler & Turkey Hoop 85
Sap Bush Turkey Roost 88
Sap Bush Chicken RV 90
Sap Bush Eggmobile 92
Sap Bush Brooder House 95
Our Farm CSA 98
Our Farm Broiler Pen 99
Soup Coop 101
A-Frame Henhouse 103
Chicken Greenhouse 105
Shiloh Farm and Retreat 108
Shiloh Mini Hen Retreat. 109
Shiloh Hen Retreat. 112
Shiloh Broiler Retreat. 116
Cotton Trailer Coop. 118
Sweet Tree Farm 122
Sweet Tree Birthday Coop 123
Coop de Grass 126
Winter Coop 129
Polyface Farm 133
Salatin Turkey Coop 134
Salatin Portable Broiler Pen. 136
Salatin Eggmobile 138
Salatin Raken House 141
Salatin Chick Brooder 144
Winter Laying-Hen Hoop House 146
Salatin Feathernet System. 148
Part 4 Cool Coops
Selected Coops 151
Inspiring Coops 156
Anonymous
Posted August 10, 2006
I pre-ordered the book to use as a 4H poultry project resource. I have two 4H youth that put off building coops just to see this book for more ideas. There are some very nice plans, if you want to keep a few birds, up to about 6 or 8. If you want to keep more, like many hobbyist's (and my 4H youth) the plans are not very helpful. Some I would not even call a coop, like a plan for 3 barrels stacked together as the housing unit! The plans for flocks over 50 birds are based on production flocks, built on movable bases, or were light, portable 'broiler' frames. Worse yet, one of the larger, 50 bird coops, was built with hay bales! There were not really any feasible plans in the book for a fancier who keeps more than 10 birds. Anyone who keeps more than one breed, and keeps them for breeding purposes will probably be very disappointed with the book. I couldn't even find a plan to modify to fit the needs of my 40 bird flock.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.LadyhawkeJL
Posted January 4, 2011
This book may contain plans yet it does contain any instructions on buidling the coop. I cannot believe there is not a book out there that that has simple, simple, simple nice size coop 8 x 8 with complete instructions. It just has photos with very little instruction.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 11, 2012
I LOOKED UP CHICKEN POOP AND I GOT THIS FLOWER PRINCESS!!! WHY THE FREAKIN PICKLES AM I EVEN BOTHERING TO EAT A TOILET!?! I HATE CLOAKS!!!~this is from a random person
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.lizziewriter
Posted January 19, 2012
I took this book out of the library when we first got chickens and ducks, and while we didn't build any of the coops in it, it is a lovely book and could fuel both designs and dreams. Sure it doesn't have plans for all these things, but many people would adapt the plans to their own methods anyway. I think it is a wonderful book and would like to have my own copy someday.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 29, 2010
I Also Recommend:
this book was great in helping me get ideas to create my own coop at home. it presented easy info on egg boxes and where to put feeders and doorways. i suggest taking a peek at it if you're looking at getting a flock; along with the books i recommend.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 28, 2007
I too am in 4H and thought the book was quiet usefull. I was able to modify the plans to my specifications and thought it to be a great resource.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 26, 2012
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Posted March 5, 2013
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Posted March 21, 2012
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Posted June 1, 2009
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Overview
Author and farmer Judy Pangman combed the country to select these 45 coops for housing both laying hens and meat birds (chickens or turkeys). The coops range from fashionable backyard structures featured in the annual ...