2/8/13

"Reinventing the Chicken Coop" a review

Photos by Erin Kunkle
I just received this book in the mail from my friends at Storey PublishingReinventing the Chicken Coop 14 Original Designs with Step-by-Step Building Instructions by Matthew Wolpe and Kevin McElroy

It is amazing there are so many different kinds of coops - coops with gardens on the roof, spiral staircases, built in composting system, even the coop pictured above with a V shaped roof to collect rain water called Chick-In-A-Box (page 94). Each coop design has very detailed step-by-step plans with really helpful illustrations. I think just by looking at these photos you will be inspired to rethink your coop. I am. See on the picture below what the authors call “the water catchment system” – awesome. It’s a V shaped roof and a funnel that leads into the coop to water the hens. “The simple water catchment system collects runoff water from the lower end of the roof’s valley flashing and diverts it to a pan inside the coop”, ok that’s brilliant. I was once told that farmers are really problem solvers, they have to be. Here is the proof.

The book itself is has great pictures and very easy to follow directions with detailed drawings. My mom called this book the DWELL for chicken coops; I’m not exactly sure what she means except that the coops are well designed. She says, “Equal parts utility and style”. That’s true. The book is also labels each design: beginner, intermediate and advanced. This is really helpful before you get started and jump in.

The opening chapter of the book is called Chicken Coop Essentials. This is a great chapter with really useful information: General space requirements, coop and run setups, definitions of deep bedding, guidelines for roosts, nesting boxes, protection from predators / rodents, and ventilation to name a few. This isn’t just a how to build a coop book, it is a great chicken raising book for your library.

One of my favorite things to see was on page 91 the use of corrugated clear plastic for roofing. This is what I use on my outdoor run because in the winter in New England our hens need 14+ hours of light and it would be terribly expensive to keep the lights on that long, so the clear roof plus lights enables my hens to have plenty of light.

> Check out this book, it is very inspirational and has lots useful and helpful information. Also Storey Publishing has been super awesome to offer a copy of this book to one of the readers of this review. Leave a comment on the Happy Chickens FB (search Happy Chickens on Facebook)  and I will randomly pick a person  to get a copy of this book from Storey.

photo from justfinedesignbuild

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, that sounds neat. We will be building a new, larger coop to house 8 chickens instead of our six. I'll have to check out this book.

Deb said...

Orren, once again, you've been the cause of adding to my ever-growing, chicken library. I can't wait for this one. My poor husband. "Jim, get out your tool belt honey!"

Brenda Hutchings said...

Cant wait to give my gals a new home!

Leila said...

I would love that book! email is leilagrant@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

If you're building your own chicken coop, you might feel a little intimidated. Don't. With some basic woodworking skills and a lot of patience, you can build a great coop that will house your girls comfortably for years to come.Just check this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlxalBhSRgA you will learn how to built a good chicken coop..
thnx

Unknown said...

If you're building your own chicken coop, you might feel a little intimidated. Don't. With some basic woodworking skills and a lot of patience, you can build a great coop that will house your girls comfortably for years to come.Just check this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlxalBhSRgA you will learn how to built a good chicken coop..
thnx

Noo said...

I love that, "Dwell for chicken coops". Awesome. We have been researching chicken raising for the past year and have attended classes and tour the coops as a family. My 6 years old sat through a 3 1/2 hr class WITH enthusiasm the whole time. The interest is there so I think this year might be the year. Thanks for your blog.

Anonymous said...

So who won a copy of that book? We designed our coop ourselves.

Alexander said...

Hi Orren! I found your website by chance and I really do like it. I also started keeping chicken this year with 4 hens and a cock of an old German chicken breed (Vorwerk). And these chicken - of course - got a self-build house: http://www.hertel-schlotter.de/projekte/mobiler-huehnerstall/ and they seem to love it. Cheers!

Unknown said...

That’s really amazing and extraordinary blogs & can help those who get issues in searching this type of information.https://www.backyardchickenshop.com/coop-kits-sale/

Building a Chicken Coop said...

This is what I exactly Looking for.

How to Build a Chicken Coop said...

Wow What a Guide.

Dyan Twining said...

Great information about chicken lay, I must agree for these so to provide this info. I Thanks to u... for doing a great job.

Chicken Coop

Backyard Chicken Coop

jude said...

I just discovered your blog fun. Love it...
Butchers Chicken

KIT said...

Nice blog, it's so knowledgeable, informative, and good looking site. I appreciate your hard work. Good job. Thank you for this wonderful sharing with us. Keep Sharing.
Kindly visit us @
100% Job Placement
Best Colleges for Computer Engineering
Biomedical Engineering Colleges in Coimbatore
Best Biotechnology Colleges in Tamilnadu
Biotechnology Colleges in Coimbatore
Biotechnology Courses in Coimbatore
Best MCA Colleges in Tamilnadu
Best MBA Colleges in Coimbatore
Engineering Courses in Tamilnadu
Engg Colleges in Coimbatore

OGEN Infosystem (P) Limited said...

Nice blog, thanks for sharing this information with us. OGEN Infosystem provides the Best Website Designing Company in India and also for SEO Service in Delhi.
Website Development Company

The India said...

Popular Fashion Blogs in Surat
Fashion Blogger in Surat
Surat Blogger
Indian Fashion Blogger
Fashion Blogger in India

Pradeep Appslure said...

Mobile app development company in mumbai

KIT said...

A very inspiring blog your article is so convincing that I never stop myself to say something about it.

Big Loan Lender said...

Great Post and keep Updating
Read my latest post 5 Tips To Make Your Business Save From Every Dropping

KIT said...

A very interesting blog....

Malaivel Siddha Hospital said...


I´ve been thinking of starting a blog on this subject myself .....

Credit Lenders said...

Hello, I am Alice Sharing more post and Thanks for sharing

Credit Lenders said...

Hello, I am Alice Brown Thanks for sharing with us and keep updating

Itools Mobile Service said...

Thanks for sharing information. I really appreciate it.


KIT said...

A very inspiring blog your article is so convincing that I never stop myself to say something about it.

Shanthi Cabs said...

Nice blog, it’s so knowledgeable, informative, and good looking site. I appreciate your hard work. Good job. Thank you for this wonderful sharing with us. Keep Sharing.

Shanthi Cabs said...

Keep sharing the post like this...

KIT said...

A very interesting blog....
Biotechnology Courses in Coimbatore | Biotechnology Colleges in Coimbatore
Best Biotechnology Colleges in Tamilnadu | Biomedical Engineering Colleges in Coimbatore

SS Vermicompost Industry said...

Thanks for sharing such a great blog
Vermicompost Manufacturers | Best Vermicompost in chennai

Shanthi Cabs said...

Nice blog, it’s so knowledgeable, informative, and good looking site. I appreciate your hard work. Good job. Thank you for this wonderful sharing with us. Keep Sharing.
Tours and Travels in Madurai | Best tour operators in Madurai
Best travel agency in Madurai | Best Travels in Madurai

tjproductstech said...


Hi, Very nice article. I hope you will publish again such type of post. Thank you!
Corporate gifts ideas | Corporate gifts
Corporate gifts singapore | Corporate gifts in singapore
Promotional gifts singapore | Corporate gifts wholesale Singapore

Isa Bonita said...

A backlink is a link created when one website links to another. Backlinks are important to SEO & impact for higher ranking. In my 7+ years seo Career i see, without backlinks a website doesn't rank higher on google SERP.

Get Your 300+ High Quality DoFollow Backlinks Here!

Order Now with Full Confidence & 100% satisfaction.

SS Vermicompost Industry said...


Thanks for sharing such a great blog
Vermicompost manufacturers in Tamilnadu | Vermicompost in Tamilnadu
Vermicompost Manufacturers | Vermicompost Suppliers
Vermicompost in Coimbatore | Vermicompost manufacturers in Chennai
Vermicompost in chennai | Best Vermicompost in chennai

tjproductstech said...


Hi, Very nice article. I hope you will publish again such type of post. Thank you!
Corporate gifts ideas | Corporate gifts
Corporate gifts singapore | Corporate gifts in singapore
Promotional gifts singapore | Corporate gifts wholesale Singapore
Business card holder singapore | T shirts supplier singapore
Thumb drive supplier singapore | Leather corporate gifts singapore


Anonymous said...

This is a great tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate information… Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read post!
KBC Winner
KBC Lottery Winner
KBC Lottery Winner 2020
KBC Lottery Winner 2020 List Today
KBC Lottery Winner 2020 25 Lakh List
KBC Lottery Winner List 2020
KBC Lottery Winner 2020 25 Lakh List
KBC Lottery Number Check
KBC Lottery Number Check Online
Kaun Banega Crorepati Lottery Winner

Last Journey said...

Last Journey is providing all types of services such as Chautha, Tehravin, Pandit, Cremation and all funeral services in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Chandigarh.
dead body freezer box in bangalore Last Journey
funeral service in hyderabad cremation ground sector gurgaon hindu death rituals Funeral Services in Pune where to immerse ashes in delhi Journey of the soul after death in Hinduism

lisa said...

Top 15 Brandy Brands In India Top 15 Agarbatti Brands in India Top 15 Innerwear Brands In India
100% Guaranteed Payday Loans London lenders

Evermolpro said...

Thanks for sharing information with all of us . Who visit your website . good work and great stuff .
Website Development Company in Ghaziabad

Pradeep Appslure said...

Appslure is an award-winning mobile app development agency building feature-packed and interactive mobile applications for startups, medium and large enterprises.

casinositewiki 카지노사이트 said...

Thanks for a very interesting blog. What else may I get that kind of info written in such a perfect approach? I’ve a undertaking that I am simply now operating on, and I have been at the look out for such info. Feel free to visit my website; 먹튀검증가이드

casinositetop 카지노사이트 said...

Before Commenting, I wanna say thank you for providing this great information. I feel too good to read it this awesome blog. Keep sharing this type of content. Feel free to visit my website; 카지노사이트링크

oncasinosite 카지노사이트 said...

This is also a very good post which I really enjoy reading. It is not everyday that I have the possibility to see something like this. Feel free to visit my website; 배트맨토토프로

Abi Packers and Movers said...

I really enjoyed this post
Packers and Movers in Chennai | Packers and Movers in Trichy
Packers and Movers in Theni | Packers and Movers in Karur
Packers and Movers in Madurai

SAM Machinery said...

Amazing write-up! Best Murukku Machine in Tamilnadu
Low Cost Murukku Machine in Tamilnadu
Automatic Murukku Machine in Tamilnadu
Kai Murukku Machine in Tamilnadu
Chakli Making Machine in Tamilnadu

먹튀검증 said...

I read good articles and comments here and leave comments with a lot of help. Thank you. I ll grow up and spread good comments. 먹튀검증

먹튀검증사이트 said...

The cool things here. I am very satisfied to see. Thank you for your writing . 먹튀검증사이트

토토 said...

Wonderful post however , I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject 토토

안전토토 said...

They were active listeners and viewed meetings deadlines as an imperative 안전토토

토토 said...

Well I truly enjoyed reading it. This subject offered by you is very helpful and accurate. 토토

Pinterest