Coop Design To Protect From Predators & The Elements

In my search for cool coop designs I’ve focused on not the biggest or most well built, but those that express something about the folks that made them to house their flock. Sometimes that has meant using upcycled materials or fumbling along with no previous experience to create something they’re proud of.

When I came across Ron Kulas’ coop I realized he was in a class of his own. Not only is he an experienced builder he has put an inordinate amount of time, energy and thought into protecting his little flock from both the elements and the myriad of predators in the Wisconsin north woods. A fan of Carolina coops he modeled his build on their designs using CAD software to make his own plans.

He’s not new to chickens, having been raised on a farm where they raised 100 birds a year. His intention for his current flock was to purchase Australorps, a dual purpose breed used for both meat and eggs. As it turns out they didn’t get quite what was advertised and have ended up with 24 chicks, including a few cockerels: Barred Rock, Black Star, Leghorn and Rhode Island Reds.

Construction took about a month – punctuated by breaks due to the winter weather – to build the 6′ x 8′ coop on his own. And what did this enviable palace cost: just a mere $2600 for materials as Ron provided all the labour and the equipment required for the build.

You might not be a professional builder but there are a number of features he’s incorporated in his coop that we could all learn from.

Thankfully this winter was very mild and allowed me to work outside in warmer temps and less snow. I was able to start construction in December in my garage. The focus of this build is security from the cold and predators. I need to keep them safe from coons, all the members of the weasel family, skunk, possum, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, wolves, feral cats, bears, and raptors.

There was a long spell of VERY cold weather: -20F, with wind chills of -30F, so outside work came to a halt. The weather turned nicer again in February.

The night after we framed the walls, we got more snow. It was forecast so we wrapped the frame in tarps.

Then we began installing the venting in the eves. This provides ventilation without drafts.

I installed rigid foam board insulation because its gets very cold up here.

Nest Boxes

Lets talk coop cleaning. I’ll never have to enter the coop to remove old bedding. I can drive my dump trailer pulled by my ATV (or my large Rubbermaid wheelbarrow) right to the double doors and use my snow roof rake, a common tool this far north, and use it pull the bedding into the trailer and take it to the compost area. This was by design and what set the floor weight.

Automatic Coop Door

Predator Proofing

The focus of this build is security from the cold and predators. I need to keep them safe from coons, all the members of the weasel family, skunks, opossums, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, wolves, feral cats, bears, and raptors.