Predator-Proof Coop & Run

This is the 13th post in my series on cool coop builds. I haven’t been looking for the biggest or best, but ones that express the heart and soul of the owners that have interesting back stories that might inspire my readers.

I was drawn to Kim and Dave’s coop which incorporated vintage materials and lots of windows in a self-built predator-proof coop and run. Living on an acre adjacent to her parents’ 100 acre farm they were determined that their flock wouldn’t be predated by fox, raccoons, coyotes, bald eagles, hawks – or the neighbour’s dog. Free-ranging is limited to a couple of hours a day when the weather is nice and the couple is able to supervise their birds.

I’m noticing more older folks, women and upcyclers are building their first coops. The results are so much more interesting and satisfying than buying a pre-fab coop or hiring someone to do the work for you. I’m hoping that their stories will inspire others to challenge themselves to do the same.

The Birds

We have two adult children who’ve recently moved out on their own so we took up a new hobby and became first time chicken owners.

We bought a mixture of newly hatched chicks at a local Rural King last January, and then lost a couple, so we added more in February. We ended up with 13 (my parents’ lucky number). We thought we had purchased all hens but ended up with a surprise rooster in our mix. So our beloved ‘Dottie’ is now simply known as ‘Dude’. We learned early on that ‘chicken math’ is definitely a thing! Our flock consists mostly of Olive Eggers, four Gold Laced Wyandottes and two Black Copper Marans. I wanted a nice mixture of different coloured eggs. I’ve decided I will incorporate more at a later date, adding white and chocolate coloured eggs.

The Build

We dove in exploring different coop options while the chicks stayed in our heated garage. Youtube and endless chicken info was researched and absorbed. My dream was growing fast, just like our chicks. I guess becoming more attached to my birds and my love with our new hobby grew equally as fast.

Carolina Coops videos are my favorite place to look for inspiration and advice. Matt DuBoise is amazing! He had a huge impact on our build, as well as our choice of deep litter hemp bedding, rope roost bars and how to do a predator-proof enclosed run. I feel like he’s become a part of the family.

Dave and I spent hours laying out the design that fit my goal of incorporating a dedicated space inside the coop for sitting as well as storing everything I needed. Yes, I visit my girls and Dude; he only tolerates me though.

We debated whether or not to do a raised coop floor on their side. Dave argued this would allow storage below the coop area and also make it possible to have wheelbarrow height access from outside to allow for easy clean up. I really wanted to be able to have easy access to my birds so we opted without because I do go into the coop a lot.

Every detail was discussed and critiqued. Dave basically designed it with my goals in mind. He went above and beyond what I imagined. I recently heard him tell friends he wanted it to my liking and covered every detail so he wouldn’t have to spend much time personally being out there.

Another big obstacle we discussed was where to put our coop because we wanted the perfect spot. We dove in exploring different coop ideas while the chicks stayed in our heated garage. I really wanted to look out and see the flock from the back of our house and patio as well as have natural light for our birds. After removing our kids old play area we began the build right there. Our son joked we were replacing him and his sister with chickens which became an on-going joke between us.

We started at the end of June and finished in early November. We juggled several projects like we usually do: we’re business owners of a salon (where I work alongside nine others) and were renovating our son’s first house as well as building the coop.

The Coop

Coop is 8’x12’; my area is 8’x5”
L-shaped enclosed run is 7’ one side and 9’ along the back
Front porch
Four hinged nesting boxes where I can access eggs from my side
Farmlite automatic chicken door. I set it to be triggered by ambient lighting so it automatically adjusts as our daylight does. Set it and forget it. Love it!
Hardware cloth used for the run and to cover the opening windows

The Materials

We budgeted different amounts. We wanted nice but went for thrifty. My hubby went to the local Amish community to order our oak boards and battens. His love for wood shows on all of his projects. We had some leftover hardwood from our son’s remodel so I grabbed that for my side of the coop. We sanded, stained and polyurethaned that to our liking. My dad donated an old grain bin I am so grateful for. He used it for years so, again, my sentimental side is showing.

We had some older windows and doors I needed to incorporate because I love them too. We made a place for a special old window at the top of the front wall. I definitely wanted a chandelier so that old little window was a must to show off my light. The old grain box, glass door and front window are three of my favorite things!

I saw the old rocker sitting out as trash alongside the road so we snagged it. The owners were on their porch at the time so we had a nice conversation and off we drove with my new treasure and some new friends. We laughed, although I was a little embarrassed. It was perfect for how I envisioned my chair. I definitely brag on that old rocker now. I think that old couple would be quite impressed too. The chair needed repairing so Dave tackled that and I focused on a deep clean and a new coat of polyurethane.

The old stuff we incorporated added so much sentiment for me. The old rocker is so comfortable and now looks amazing. I love the vintage feel throughout. I also found the much-needed chandelier on Facebook Marketplace which is the icing on the cake for me! I love bling so we also added a crystal glass knob to the old cabinet. I love how it ties in to my chandelier.

We surprisingly came in well below my budget at around $2,000. Hours of labour and my husband’s knowledge saved us thousands!

We do plan to add some downspouts next spring for an automatic chicken waterer. Personal touches will be added. Dave offered to add a flower box under the windows and we might landscape that area.

Thanks to Kim and Dave for sharing their story and photos, used with permission.