My First Coop
For my first chicken coop I used a dog house that I built that wasn’t being used. I added a foundation vent to the top front that is temperature controlled for ventilation. The front opening was too large, so I modified it with a ramp that I can use as a door to secure the coop at night.
I hinged the roof for easy cleaning. The clear corrugated plastic was used to allow light into the coop. Although it seemed to be a good idea at the time, the plastic degrades after a couple years.
The nesting boxes were added to the rear and the hinge for the lid was covered with a rubber matting material. The side door was also added to allow access for cleaning.
My work schedule conflicted with the times to open and close the coop, so I made an automatic door. I used a 12V linear actuator and drawer slides.
The door is powered by a 12 volt battery being charged by a 10 watt solar panel and charge controller.
