How to Design a Chicken Coop: Automatic Food, Water, Easy to Clean 

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Honestly this man is out here grinding. He reads studies for the effects of dowel geometry on chicken feet. Respect.

Forgive me, Sir, I forgot your name when I tried to find you again on youtube so I did a search "chicken coop guy with the big eyebrows." You popped right up, I laughed so hard I think I hurt myself, not because of your brows (they are very impressive manly brows by the way) but the fact that youtube knew exactly who I was looking for. Seriously, you have excellent ideas on chickencoop building which I am trying to utilize. thank you sincerely for your videos.

This is one of the best chicken coops I've seen! You put a lot of thought and planning into this project and you've incorporated so many awesome ideas.I can tell you tried to think of all their needs resulting in safe, happy chickens.You even thought of cutting down on cleaning time for yourself. The less work the better and you thought of it all! I would have never thought to even look for a study on which type or shape of perch is best for their feet. Thanks for sharing.

an excellent book if you are considering building a shed. While you may not choose to build one exactly as shown in this book ru-vid.comUgkxT9ExVpR-3A-9rpRqx8vzXKZ3BMMTg_KH , the information found in here would be useful in any shed building project. The information is well presented, with color photos throughout. As was noted in a previous review, though some dimensions are given, the complete plans must be ordered elsewhere. I ordered the plans for the gambrel shed and did notice a few discrepancies between the book and plans however.

Came for the coop ideas, stayed for the brows 👍

Yesterday my husband and children decided to buy 10 baby chicks from tractor supply. I love how adorable they are but I know I'll be responsible for the lives of these little ones. I'm trying to learn all I can. Thank you for this great information. I'm subscribing.

One way we kept our auto coop door from binding is, instead of putting the wood between more wood (which all expands and contracts with weather), we put the door on ball bearing drawer slides. Works like a charm!

Watching this video, seeing your passion, and listening to your knowledge, just makes me wish I would have started homesteading when I was younger. Now I finally live in the country, but I'm older, and my arthritis prevents me from homesteading like I'd like to. But I sincerely appreciate the fact that you would share your knowledge with others who seek the same lifestyle, without charging them for what obviously you've spent lots of hours researching. Time is something you can never get back, so I truly appreciate you sharing yours. Thank you!

This video is by far the BEST video I've ever seen- every second packed full of valuable info...no filler...LOVE IT!

Those brows are magnificent. Was hard to focus on vid

Got into chickens about 2 years ago. Running into the issues of being an enormous amount of work and I want it to fit symbiotically into my gardens and general backyard ecosystem. You soldier fly box and vertical coop design have been very inspiring to me and I truly appreciate the years you have spent learning these different methods and of course the time you spent making this video, solely for others to learn. In my situation I am free ranging with a coop that currently has hard wired electric for heating. And I'm at the point where I simply do not have time between all other projects to feed, water, clean, open doors, close doors etc for my hens. I use livestock guardians for protection from predators along with motion lights and dazzle objects to prevent air attacks. Water and feed systems are nearly identical to yours. The one thing I have incorporated that I didn't see in your setup is a WiFi connected temperature and humidity sensor (ecowitt on Amazon has a little kit for $45) so that I can in real time view the temp/ humidity of my coop from my phone or computer anywhere I have connection. I live in MO so I do have some wilder temperature ranges and weather, my property also backs up to woods so I have issues with raccoons, hawks, opossums, feril cats, foxes etc. Literally everything is trying to eat my ladies. I put all this info in my comment for the peeps (HA! chicken pun) that live in slightly wilder climates but the principles are all the same I feel. I love your idea of using that pain in the arse feeder for nutrients and I have thought about putting sub-tank on my water line system for adding vitamins to their water to allow easy and fair distribution to all birds. Incorporating plants into the mix as you have done is truly holistic. I have plenty of Virgina creeper vines that I will now incorporate into my coops (I have ducks chickens and rabbits). Hopefully once all my animals are at near self sufficiency I can reclaim my gardens that they gave wrecked and maybe just maybe they will one day be as beautiful as yours!!! I am looking to do all your basic herbs, veggies and fruits for my region bit also heavily focused on fungi and mycelium and the role they play into nutrient exchange for all the plants involved. These are just pieces of the puzzle. And we fit them together slowly, one by one. But as in nature, all live in balance. I hope to replicate that circle in my backyard so we all can prosper. I really truly appreciate you making this video, I've seen a lot of things just didn't really work for my situation or just were not too well thought out, but you sir have seem to stumbled across the same pieces as I and tied them all together in this beautiful picture you shared with the world. Thanks again for the ideas and affirmation. Best wishes to you and your ecosystems ☮️

Thanks for the great coop tour! You have some innovative time savers for sure, and they serve to make the hens happy, too. I have been doing "temporary" coops for about 4 years now thinking each year I'll finally get my final production in the best location on the property. You have inspired me to get at it using the concepts you settled on. Thanks again!

I've seen other people use painter's trays for the nesting boxes, that way it rolls away from the hen after it's been laid.

I'm taking mad notes on your chicken system. Especially the automatic food and water systems. The use of rainwater is great. Growing the hens food so you know what they are eating is perfect. Your eyebrows and eyelashes are amazing. Chickens can do everything.

My husband and I were amazed how well your chicken enclosure was designed and all the research you have put into it making easier to give good care for them. Thank you for the videos and yes we are subscribed.

I’m designing my coop after this video. I’m about to start exploring all the other videos as well. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!

I have been blessed and purchased 41 acres. Now, a year later we are settled and I am taking my time on livestock. Chickens are first. I have an old coop that is falling apart. I am planning on taking that one apart and salvaging what I can. I have been looking for videos on "how" to build the coop. I'm not a carpenter. However, I feel I can do this. I am on the path of creating a homestead and look forward to this challenge. Great video! love the fact it is solar powered and you harvest rain water.

I love all the ideas. Me and my husband spent a lot of money in ours. We got it from tractor supply and as we were new about CHICKENS didn’t knew many mistakes were in the chicken coop. We adore our chickens but once the bad weather goes away we will try to improve but as we already spend so much money at this point is a LOST . This is all GENIUS ideas.

Your chickens are so calm. They seem very happy. Your coop is great. They have different areas to go to, not crowded. You should write book for those starting out. You are really knowledgeable and facinated to hear you.

I’ve lost two chickens to heat, it gets to be 106 degrees where I’m at so it’s important to give them shade in hot environments ❤️❤️❤️ thank you for brining that up!

Man you know the know! I will be building my coop next week. You answered every thing. Thank you. I recently moved to N. Florida. In process of being more sustainable and loving nature. I live in the Spring Belt of Florida. I own an acre right now and am interested in buying more grow space. Clearing over growth at present time and planning. Inspired!

absolutely one of the best all around videos on the subject! well done

Thumbs up man! You are a treasure for this Earth. Wish more people would be so in tune. Thanks for sharing your ideas. I'll be sure to borrow a few for my backyard farm/garden. Keep being "you".

This is my end goal for my chickens right here. Extremely well thought out and efficient. Well done.

If you ever go back to free ranging with the automatic door, a handy trick is to not get out of bed too early. Hens mostly lay in the morning, so if you let them out closer to lunchtime, they'll have to lay in the boxes and not hide their eggs under a bush or down a culvert somewhere.

Love this. Been waiting for the full run through. Thank you!

WOW, So much information. Thanks so much for everything. I truly hope I can incorporate as many things as possible that you mentioned in this video. Me and my family are so grateful.

You're extremely good at explaining the design and purpose of each proponent. You also do well in editing to delve into more detail or make corrections as needed. I love the design, the automation, and the added benefit of passion fruit. Excellet job my man! I subscribed and turned notifications on because you're awesome.

That soldier fly trap was amazing. I woulda never thunk it. Cool set up.

Gosh, I LOVE how you explained WHY you did everything the way you did it!! I learned SO much from this one video! Thank you and great job!

Egg-cellent idea!! Can you do another with some measurements and joint connection details - especially for 2nd level 2X4 roosts and measures of how high above nests? Plus door placement tips for the easy cleanup? You should make a blueprint book and sell it as a download!!

I'm so glad I found your channel...Much respect!! Newfoundland Canada here!!

I've been looking at chicken coop plans for awhile, and yours is by far the best! Thank you SO much! Now will you come and build mine for me? LOL

That was the best informative chicken coop video I've seen to date! thank you!!!

Thank you for this video. I appreciate how environmentally respectful you are.

So happy to find someone with good San Diego-specific chicken advice!! Great video

You have some really great ideas I have not even thought of before. For eg...your idea of having the roost at the same level to avoid having issues with pecking order. Thanks for sharing!

Planning on raising chicken next month in my unused garden. And this is exactly what i need. Thanks man!!!

Love the size of your coop. The chickens look free and well composed , happy environment for them. You really treat them like a good dad. Love chickens. I will have a little spot for a couple of chickens when I retire. Thank you for all the good advice and for sharing your experience 🏆🏆🏆

Tons, and I mean TONS of great information here. Thanks for posting!

Love your ideas, well planned. We are building a large enclosed garden & planning a chicken coop, your channel popped up at the perfect time, we will use your concept, it obviously works, chooks look healthy & happy, Ty for the great info & explaining stuff so all can understand, new sub here

I finally found this video after I fell in love with your Coop on the first tour from Epic Gardening. This is definitely the plan that I will be building from when I get my coop put together (if I can convince my neighbours) but am curious on how I will adjust it for my cooler winters up here in Canada - both for the inclusion of lights and preventing freezing of the water lines.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and knowledge. Very helpful 👍

Wow. Those are some well cared for chickens! Bravo for your innovation and ingenuity. Great ideas!

I ordered chickens yesterday, to ship June 3rd! YAY! LOL I’ve always had chickens, until the past few years; I was a caregiver for my parents and that was a difficult, yet rewarding “job.” However, I found that I didn’t have the time to really dedicate to raising and taking care of animals. My dad passed in 2015, and my mom followed this past January. (She was on dialysis so we had a lot on our plates!) Anyway now I actually have too much time on my hands, so I decided to fill that time with chickens and gardening. I really love the raised coop. I’ll be using a small shed that’s already here for them, but in the future I’ll keep your chicken coop in mind! I ordered four breeds: Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn, Whiting True Blue, And Salmon Faverolles. Great video and wonderful ideas! Best - Adam

Thanks for sharing this information with us. You’ve got a new subscriber. Have a great day and be blessed.

Glad I watched this video. I raised chickens for about three years before circumstances caused me to stop. It’s been three years & I’m Looking forward to raising my “feather therapy” again & using the soldier fly idea to help self sustain as well as a raised coop.

The passion fruit is lovely. Has grown so well!!

New scriber here.....Excellent vid young man. Super well thought out plan. The best in all directions that I have seen so far. Another big huge plus...RECYCLED!!! You definitely thought out the comforts for your chickens. Happy Chickens --Great results!!!. Healthy is the key. They look very healthy and HAPPY to me. I've always loved raising chickens all of my life. I too.....took good care and provided similar concerns like you've shown. Great vid and thanks for sharing. Ken Orlando, Florida, USA

This is the best set up I have ever seen. Personally my favorite video out here! Thank you for sharing! You get it!

My weird little family is working on planning a mini homestead. Your videos are absolutely amazing. Your research and grind are commendable. Your chickens are lovely. This coop is my dream!

This is the best design we have seen!!! Very thoughtful. Thank you so much for the tour and fantastic explanations!

Well done! Shining example of commitment to your chickens' health and well being.

This was really informative and interesting!

Excellent ideas and well thought out chicken coop design. I love all of the features you incorporated into it, especially the automated door on the timer.

You did a FANTASTIC job!! Amazing!! I love all your ideas & your great work. Your chickens are sure very happy.

Thanks for the vid. Very informative. Thumbs Up for sure.

excellent job. Thank you for sharing.

I just tuned in! Awesome info, I'm going to try some of your handmade ideals!

Came to get some ideas on growing chickens..and it was very helpful💕Thank you☺️

Loved this video, very well detailed, very well narrated, plenty of experiences shared, very refreshing video without trying to oversell you on something... Thanks a lot... will try to share updates after trying this in Tanzania East Africa (might have to increase ventilation since Dar es Salaam is very hot)

Wow you gave me a lot of great ideas for my chicken, thanks!

Very inspiring to see all the creative projects you've done. Thank you for sharing!

Yes!! A chicken video from a San Diego local, wonderful info!

I saw a few really great ideas here. Thanks

I used to use covered kitty litter boxes for nesting boxes lol 2 x 4’s are also better roosts in cold climates, they can keep their feet flat on the beam and cover their feet with their feathers to help prevent frostbite The ventilation issue is actually even more important in cold climates in winter as the moisture creates respiratory issues and frostbite/chill due to the damp cold air.

Nice brows! 😊 Thank you for sharing. Love your coop & your garden is beautiful!

Love your inventiveness. Some great ideas. We have VERY different weather in the UK (we have weather and don't have climate) but I like the way you have cared for your hens by providing so much shade. We both know that chickens can stand the cold but the wet and the heat are stressful for them. Well done, chicken-loving bro'. About the heat- when I kept 1000s of birds professionally, the fans broke down in one of my sheds and I wept buckets carrying out hundreds of dead birds that had 'smothered' in the built-up heat before I could get to them. For a normally hot or warm climate, your provisions are brilliant. Well done, again. I wish all poultrymen cared as much. Love your 'grit overkill'. Better more than not enough. I always have several grit cups topped up and handy for the birds. As you say, they need them though it may not be obvious to the beginner. you are also one of the few poultry keepers that has pointed out the need for a droppings board under the perches (roosts) that can be easily cleaned. It protects the bottom litter from poop as keep the coop sweet. A sweet coop and a good run makes for happy birds. Best wishes across the pond Paul in the UK Midlands

Alot of thought went into this design, going to take alot of the recommendations for my coop!

Thanks for sharing some great ideas! Love the gravity feeder & appreciate your insights on a raised coop. People should know: you do need some sort of solid flooring in your coop. Wire (which you mention as an alternative) really isn’t a good option since even fine mesh will cut the birds feet -leading to bumble foot and other problems.

Thank you for all the informative information of chickens and coops

Well thought out design. I especially love the circle of life concepts. Great job!

Really great content. I look forward to going back and checking out your other videos.

Love the video, I only bought supplements once for my hens. A former roommate left behind a blender that wasn't water tight but worked well enough to put egg shells in and (after they are completely dry) we blend them and give the crushed shells to the chickens for calcium.

Thanks for explaining everything very well, it was all very informative. Thank you.

So good seeing another video of yours! Awesome coop and shade area including the vine for deeper shade👍

Here's a guy that's raising chickens even better than his eyebrows! Great info! Starting a flock next month

Why do chicken coops have two doors? Because if they had four doors they would be chicken sedans.

I love your coop. I'll be checking out your other videos. Really great content. Thank you!

Great video man, love it! Going to start my coop this spring, you had great ideas. Thank you!

Perfect ! Love it...

You have one of the best thought out coops, that I've seen. Going to use some of your ideas. The grubs give me the willie's. Shudder. It is good for the chickens though. Thank you for your video.

Great video! Love your passion ...Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

I love your episodes, your garden, and chickens! Thanks for sharing.

I'm totaly impressed man, I'm really happy I found your channel I'm going to subscribe! I'm a new chicken owner they haven't come as of yet!, I'm hoping for March like 20th! now that, I see you are going to buy couple things that you were talking about the ( water cups) I was looking at those anyway, but now that you're going to try those cup things I think I'm going to give it a shot also! I can get 10 of them for 8 bucks on eBay! anyway thank you so much and God bless!

Wonderful video on explaining everything. My coop was also "Est. 2016"!! ;-) I don't know if you have ever thought about it but if you put a sheet of linoleum remnant on coop floor it makes cleaning much easier plus saves your wood from rotting from the poop!

Great video! Basically, you've shown some self-sufficient ideas for a coop. Appreciate your time and thoughts into explaining everything. We will use a lot of your ideas.

This is exactly the video I needed to see when I went searching. I think I can basically duplicate the setup that you have. It looks perfect. Thank you for sharing

If you put a shallow pan for water, in the shade, the chickens will stand in it. This is one way they cool themselves when they get too hot. I also stop feeding corn in the Summer as it heats their bodies.

My man, greetings from a foresty ranch near Houston, TX. Just moved back from the DC city life. I got chickens, goats, turkeys, and I brought along my koi and goldfish. I'm an aquaponics guy, but I love your videos. You've got a new subscriber in me.

Very Inspirational! I was looking for feeder ideas, and got so much more. My four birds are in for some improved accommodations. Thank You. I'm going to have to check out your other videos now!🐔

You are so talented. I bought your plans and we start tomorrow . Thank you . Your plans are amazing . So detailed . It’s perfect . Thank you

Hi there! Looking for your recommendation on building/buying an automatic chicken watering cup system. Saw this video on an efficient coop with the nipple system and you reference a future video on creating the cup method. I’m new to chickens and know this kind of system would be a game changer for efficiency. The systems I’ve seen on Amazon seem cheap and easy to break. Thanks!!! Your videos are awesome!!

holy freaking eyebrows batman

Thanks for great info. Very thorough and well done.

It's the first time I've seen the composting, chicken feeding grub producer. I love it! And the chickens must love it too.

Absolutely the best eyebrows i have ever seen in my whole life.

I have some chickens that like to roost in the cedar trees. I've noticed they prefer the branches that are much larger or if I gave them option for different sizes of branches they prefer the branches that are about the diameter of the width of their feet or slightly smaller...

I've learned more information from this video than I could have researching myself. You really cover the important things needed when raising chickens. So many great tips and tricks too! Thank you thank you! So very grateful!