Final Coop Plans
The Coop designs changed and changed and changed again - thanks to all who gave me feedback! Basically, many of the changes occurred based on further and further education. It may seem obvious, but if you are planning on starting to raise chicks -its not enough to explore chicken coop building texts and plans- I highly encourage reading as much as you can, (NOT just about coop plans but) about chicken behavior, needs and space requirements. Helpful sites were the Manna Pro Webinar, MyPet Chicken.com's free Chick raising guide, and Backyard Chickens Coop Designs.
This final design may seem the most traditional of all, but why mess with a tried and true working design? This little elevated cottage will provide extra shaded run space below the coop (and include a ramp that is not shown here) and will be an attractive little fairytale-like structure for my yard. Since chickens provide such great garden fertilizer the run you see on the right may be duplicated on the left and therefore alternated with extra garden space on alternating years.