Welcome to Community Chickens!
Sign Up for Your Free Newsletter!


  • Home
  • About
    • Contributors
    • Giveaways
    • Free Newsletter!
    • Become A Contributor
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
  • Free Newsletter
  • Chickens
    • Backyard Breeds
    • Heritage Breeds
    • Eggs
    • Chicks
    • Roosters
    • Behavior
  • Misc. Poultry
    • Ducks
    • Geese
    • Guineas
    • Turkeys
    • Exotic Species
  • Coops & More
    • Coops
      • Cool Coops
      • Coop Snoop
      • Nesting Boxes
      • Roosts
    • DIY
    • Product Reviews
    • Recipes
    • Feed Recipes
    • Safety
  • Podcast
  • Advertise
  • Shop

Cool Coops! ~ The Chick Compound

By Rebecca Nickols on July 14, 2013 Visit Rebecca's Website.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email

by Rebecca Nickols ~ the garden-roof coop

This month’s “Cool Coop” is an inspiration to all those folks who choose to embrace retirement and undertake the projects they had dreamed and planned for when they had the time. Michael Joyce took on his backyard chicken project and created a wonderful structure that comfortably houses a large flock. Continue reading as Michael describes his set-up:

I drew up the plans and put it together myself except for a few hours of generous neighborly assistance with the rafters (rough) and with the interior sheet rock. It was a two phase project over two summers.

There are 12 layers in the ‘big’ house and 10 – 1 month old White Leghorns in the smaller coop (the one between the two runs). There are 4 Australorps that stay out in the 8×12 run for now. They have everything they need – a couple of nesting boxes along with their food and water. They preferred being outside around the clock last summer during the hottest days and would now rather be outside all the time. It worked well as the little leghorns moved in and will be ready for the run in a few weeks.

I enjoyed everything about the construction – grub hoeing the 60 foot electrical service trench. I also wired the coops and run providing lighting and occasional heat during the sub-zero Minnesota winters.

At present we get a 90% lay rate. The Red Stars gave us 142 days in a row before one took a day off.  That is now their routine on occasion – generally all provide us an egg a day.

We grind our own feed mixture – the commercial products are rancid and generally nutritionally deplete. The birds told me from the beginning that it was not something they wanted!

I also built an ark which presently houses 6 – one month old broilers. 

I now have the need to build some more (chicken coops) — may have to move back to the country now that ‘retirement’ has arrived.


Too much fun —

Micheal D. Joyce

To view more photos of Michael’s construction, click on this link:

The Chick Compound

Thanks Michael for sharing your “compound” with the Community. It’s always helpful to view several examples of coop options before undertaking your own DIY project. Click on the link below for previous entries in the “Cool Coops!” series…

Cool Coops!

Do you have a “Cool Coop” you’d like to share? Email me at:  RNickols@communitychickens.com

To view what else is happening at our Southwest Missouri property visit: the garden-roof coop
If you enjoy bird-watching (in addition to “chicken watching”), I invite you to “like” my facebook page:
Rebecca’s Bird Gardens

Tags

  • chicken coops
  • Rebecca Nickols

Related Posts

 
Cool Coops, Coop Snoop, Coops

Cool Coops! ~ Hobbit Hole Chicken Coops

 
Cool Coops, DIY

Cool Coops! – Lucy’s Special Needs Coop

 
Cool Coops, Coops

Cool Coops! ~ The Green Chicken Coop

 
Cool Coops, Coops, DIY

Cool Coops! ~ The Chick Inn

 
Cool Coops, Coops, DIY

Cool Coops: Solar Powered and Full of Gadgets!

Leave a Comment

  Cancel Comment


24 Comments


Sipho
2 years ago

(Reply)



I am interested in being the builder and supplier of these wonderful coops. Please help me with plans (will pay)

Michael Joyce
5 years ago

(Reply)



Chickens like all living creatures are biochemical electrical experiments every moment of everyday — where genetic expression is manifest contingent on interaction with the environment. So how important is the cell sustaining food provided?

The girls are provided organic, non-GMO, and soy-free food grade or feed grade screenings. I have found commercial feed rancid and containing soy in a non-soy labeled bag which the girls would not eat until I mixed with the mash below. No more commercial feed for them.

Since we reside in a town where the water is chlorinated and fluoridated the water provided is double filtered and distilled with pro and prebiotics added.
Small batches (so as not to become rancid) of mash is freshly ground from the following:

Corn 3 pounds
Hard Red Wheat 4 ”
Soft White Wheat 4 “
Oats 6 “
Split Peas 2 “
Lentils 2 “
Millet 1 “
Quinoa 1 “
Hulled Barley 1 “
Rye 1 “
Buckwheat 1 “
Flax Seeds 1 “
Chia Seeds 1 “
Hemps Seeds 1 “
Shredded Coconut 1 “
Pumpkin Seeds 1 “
Sunflower Seeds 1 “
Kelp .75 “
Garlic Granules .25 “
Celtic Salt .25 “
Diatomaceous Earth . 50 “
Whey Protein – organic .50 “
Brewer’s Yeast .50 “

The lay rate is 90 % within a week of onset. And have had birds go 3 years before their first molt. Can a chicken ‘burn-out’? A chicken is going to do what a chicken is going to do – given their world.

They are also provided daily sprouted then fermented – wheat, rye, barley, oats and lentils (or mung) along with greens from the summer garden which are available generally until December. At which time the sprouted fermented items listed above are provided twice per day – about an ounce per bird.

Baby chicks are provided a fermented mash at one week of age along with a dry mix.
The meal worm colonies have been terminated for now – time permitting will resume.

Deb Grace
5 years ago

(Reply)



A really beautiful coop. You have so much knowledge. I’d love for you to write more – especially about your hen nutrition experiments. Thanks so much for sharing. You have very lucky hens!

Mary Nickerson
6 years ago

(Reply)



What a wonderful Coop.

Linda
6 years ago

(Reply)



Wonderful Job! What is the material you used on top of the pen?

    Michael Joyce
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    I used vinyl tarp – custom cut without seams or grommets. The tarp was easier and quicker to apply by myself than utilizing other roofing material. Though not as durable than more permanent roofing material it should provide quite a number of years of service. The tarp was applied over galvanized 14 gauge 2×4 inch mesh screwed into 2 x 4 inch purlins 24 in O.C which were notched into 2 x 6 inc rafters also 24 O.C. Wood is pressure treated with two coats of 22 year durability solid stain. Link to the tarp site — http://www.tarpsupply.com/vinyl-tarps–18oz-super-heavy-duty-vinyl-tarps.html

    Linda
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    Thanks for the link! I have a 6×10 pen with just a light poly tarp now and was looking for something more durable.

Anonymous
6 years ago

(Reply)



wow–what a wonderful coop-you are so talented-I was wondering-you also mentionedthat you and your wife make your own chicken food-what do you do-Im really interested-thanks, kathy

    Michael Joyce
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    We grind a mash formulation consisting of organic non-GMO food grade ingredients. Small weekly batches of white and red wheat, corn, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, buckwheat, green peas, lentils, millet, flax, hemp, chia, quinoa, shredded coconut, salt, kelp, diatomaceous earth, pre and pro biotics, whey, nutritional yeast and when indicated protomorphogens and cytosol extracts. In additions a green food product may be added depending on whether we are able to provide adequate green products. During the summer they get cole crops daily along with gardens weeds – purslane in particular. They also get 4 day old sprouted R and W wheat, barely and rye which is then fermented – daily. Occasionally sprouted mungs are provided as a treat. Their water is double distilled that is fortified with green food powder. I may have missed something – their diet is a ‘work-in-progress’ – a healthy, productive bird — manifesting full genetic expressive potential is our guide — so far even with this heat wave they continue to have a good appetite with no decline in egg production. They have taught me how to feed them and it appears they know what they are ‘tweeting’ about —

    Michael Joyce
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    forgot — they also get pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds ground into the mix —

    Karin
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    Wow….my chickens are so jealous. I admire the beautiful coop and the fact you make your own feed. How did you come up with the feed mix? I would love to find a recipe and make my own too. Thanks for sharing all your pictures.

    Michael Joyce
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    The mixture was derived from much net research. The challenge is to meet nutritional requirements without soy, fish meal or crab meal – typical ingredients used in commercial feed. No additional synthetic fractionated isolated ‘vitamins’ are used. I also have several meal worm colonies going which helps with the protein requirements.
    I take a few of the girls out to help with weeding the garden where they find bugs and such – we also go ‘hunting’ on occasion in a wooded area where they scratch and dig for worms and bugs.
    They all are healthy and happy and very productive – even today when the temps where near 100 degrees they all gave us an egg. They also ate buckets of weeds and vegetable refuse from the garden.

fce25ca0-eab0-11e0-b133-000bcdcb8a73
6 years ago

(Reply)



Any chance you’d like to share the plans. This is spectacular!

    Michael Joyce
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    There is a local writer/publisher who contacted me inquiring about featuring the coop in her next book – The Ultimate Chicken Coop Book. She intends to provide the plans along with materials list. She will be doing this for the 10 coops featured in the book. She indicated the book would be out next February. I haven’t heard from her for awhile so – not up on any details.

    If you click on the – link – just the the right of the last picture above – you will see more detailed pictures of the progressive stages of construction. It is really quite basic. The 16 o.c. would not be necessary – I figured as long as I was doing it I may as well make a fortress.

    I built it without plans – should the book come out I will have to get into the details. So nothing yet – check out the detailed pictures – they should provide many answers —

Chaplain Lori
6 years ago

(Reply)



I am so totally jealous!

    Michael Joyce
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    As I understand so are several flocks in the neighborhood.

Anonymous
6 years ago

(Reply)



Wow. What a great coop! I am intrigued by the nest boxes. What are they made from?

    Michael Joyce
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    The nest boxes were acquired from Premier1supplies.com. They are plastic – easy to clean and the roll-out feature works. I have had some problem with a few broken perches which were quickly replaced by Premier 1.

Anonymous
6 years ago

(Reply)



What an awesome job, Michael!!! I am just amazed at this wonderful coop and run. We have 17 laying hens including some Australorps and Leghorns, Cinnamon Queens, and an Americana, and yes, we are moving to 12 acres to expand for our girls and 4 roos. Laura in Forest, VA

Julie
6 years ago

(Reply)



I could live there with the chickens!

    Michael Joyce
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    Yes and the girls would keep you warm on cold nights – they like to cuddle when I joins them on the roost.

Margaret Adamson
6 years ago

(Reply)



Hi Boy. those are some smashing coops. Wonderful. Margaret

Steve Finnell
6 years ago

(Reply)



You are invited to follow my Christian blog

    Truth Peeler
    6 years ago

    (Reply)



    This is SPAM. Pure and simple.



      Connect with Us

    • Get Our Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Grit

    • For more than 130 years, GRIT has helped its readers live more prosperously and happily while emphasizing the importance of community and a rural lifestyle tradition.
    • Subscribe Today!

      Popular

    • A Guide to Hatching Chicks in the Classroom, Part 1
    • Call for Authors
    • A bit of Chicken history and terminology
    • Starting My Egg Business — Twice
    • There’s a Lot to Love About Legbars!
    • Recent

    • There’s a Lot to Love About Legbars!
    • Starting My Egg Business — Twice
    • A bit of Chicken history and terminology
    • Call for Authors
    • A Guide to Hatching Chicks in the Classroom, Part 1


Our Partners:

  • Mother Earth News Grit
  • Dirt On My Plate
  • LL Farm
  • Livestock Conservancy
  • Iron Oak Farm
  • Chickens

    • There’s a Lot to Love About Legbars!
      February 21, 2019
    • Starting My Egg Business -- Twice
      February 21, 2019
    • A bit of Chicken history and terminology
      February 18, 2019
    • Call for Authors
      February 13, 2019
    • A Guide to Hatching Chicks in the Classroom, Part 1
      February 8, 2019

  • Coops

    • Preparing For Fall and Winter
      September 26, 2018
    • The Ultimate Chicken Coop By Hampel Corp
      September 1, 2018
    • Duckingham Palace
      August 30, 2018
    • Uses for Porcelain Eggs
      August 16, 2018
    • Does Your Flock Need a Grow-out Pen?
      July 16, 2018

  • Eggs

    • Starting My Egg Business -- Twice
      February 21, 2019
    • How to get More Eggs in Winter
      November 30, 2018
    • Easter Egger Chickens and Blue Eggs
      February 23, 2018
    • Thick And Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup
      February 21, 2018
    • Winter Eggs: The Big Egg Laying Slow Down
      February 13, 2018

  • DIY

    • Homemade Summer Chicken Heat Beaters!
      July 9, 2018
    • Repurpose Your Feed Bags
      June 20, 2018
    • 5 Key Steps to Building a Chicken Coop
      March 20, 2018
    • Part 2, Setting Up A Quality Brooder, Let’s Pick...
      March 7, 2018
    • Part 1, Setting Up A Quality Brooder, Let's Pick The Brooder
      March 6, 2018


Copyright © 2019, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Ogden Publications, Inc., 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, Kansas 66609-1265
  • Home
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contributors
    • Become A Contributor
    • Contact Us
    • Back
  • Free Newsletter
  • Birds
    • Chickens
      • Backyard Chickens
      • Heritage Chickens
      • Chicks
      • Rooster
      • Broody
      • Silkies
      • Back
    • Eggs
    • Bantams
    • Ducks
    • Guineas
    • Turkeys
    • Funny Stories
    • Back
  • Coops & DIY
    • Coops
      • Cool Coops
      • Coop Snoop
      • Nesting Boxes
      • Roosts
      • Back
    • DIY
    • Product Reviews
    • Recipes
    • Safety
    • Back
  • Advertise
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.