I have joined a forum called backyardchickens which I think is a USA thing but there are some excellent resources on there and its lead me to find a design in coop that I am REALLY interested in. Its a huge coop and the smallest I believe it should be made is something like 8'x12'.

Its the Woods design. I love it!! big and open and airy ... lots and lots and LOTS of fresh air for the birds which makes perfect sense.
It has two open windows at the front which NEVER closes so that allows plenty of fresh air in the coop all year round. Positioned correctly, then there would be little weather problems too.

Looking at the old coop here ont he farm I believe it would also be considered and "open air/fresh air coop" what a shame FIL keeps all his nuts and bolts in there its perfect.

The book was written in the 1920's and everything that I had read so far (thank you amazon) makes good logical sense. the people on the forums who use this design (while incredibly enthusiastic) have SNOW in their yards and all over the coop and the birds still seem to be happy and healthy.

OK so it won't be for all species of birds but if you think about it logically, Mother nature has provided the birds with the right equipment - feathers and downy feathers ...I sleep under a down doona and its so snuggly and warm ... the birds can and will sleep happily in trees too so an open air coop really (in my mind at least) makes good sense rather than the danky dark box they are currently in.


I am also looking into the deep litter method and using sand and woodshavings.

Its part of the grand scale plan but DH supports it providing I do most of not all of the hard work

first step - buy book - CHECK
Second step - Find corner post underneath 30 years of Ivy growth - FUN (not)

Nae x