The four wall panels are first assembled on a flat surface. Wood framing is cedar deckboards ripped in two. The vertical studs for the walls measure 5'. The frames are attached with triangular 1/4" plywood gussets.

The two wall gable ends are built from 3/8" rough sawn fir siding (4' x 8' sheets) attached to the cedar framing. I used an 8/12 pitch for the roof. The wire (Galvanized welded wire with 1" openings, made by the Mazel Company) is attached to the inside of the coop with poultry staples.

The roof is a residential metal roof from the local roofing supply store. The company cuts the panels to length. Several different colors are available. The big box stores also sell a fiberglass undulated roof sheeting that will work. Shingles are always an option, but add much weight to the structure.

The floor of the coop has a 12" wire perimeter attached to the bottom of the frame. This is to keep predators from digging under while still allowing the chickens the center area to scratch in the bare dirt.

The roost and nest box are constructed of 3/8" plywood, with a scrap of vinyl flooring on the floor for easy cleaning. A 2" diameter maple branch serves as the roost bar. The egg door (see photo on page 10) allows for daily retrieval of the eggs without entering the coop.

While not a chicken tractor, this self contained roost and run setup can be moved around the yard to allow the birds access to fresh grass. Four adults can easily carry the structure.

The two coops shown are of the following sizes: The smaller one has a footprint of 4' x 6'. The larger one measures 4' x 8'.

The Plexiglas window is more decorative than functional, but does allow viewing of the birds from the outside.

The roost area measures about 30" high. Inside the coop the front panel is hinged horizontally to allow a 15" fold-down door to open. The door is kept open in the summer for better ventilation. Additional vent holes are cut into the flat plywood ceiling in the roost to allow for ventilation when the roost door is closed.

Approximate cost of materials for the coop is around $350.

While keeping a desirable appearance of your coops will help keep the neighbors happy, especially within city limits, Dennis notes that many of the materials used here could be of a recyclable nature from leftover materials or use a building you already have on site. See the article titled Chickens Come Home to Roost by Gail Damerow with suggestions for using existing structures.

For more information about the coops shown here, or to discuss ordering one, contact Dennis Harrison-Noonan, Isthmus Handyman, LLC, 3633 Alpine Rd., Madison, WI 53704; E-mail: im-handy@sbcglobal.net or call 608-244-8473.-Ed.