Read my review of this great book donated by Fox Chapel Publishing and then comment at the bottom to enter to win a copy !
The Art of the Chicken Coop:
A Fun and Essential Guide to Housing your Peeps
by Chris Gleason
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If you have an eye for something a bit off the beaten path and are looking for plans to build your own chicken coop, this book was written with you in mind.
Author Chris Gleason, also an experienced chicken keeper and woodworker, has provided the plans for seven unique coop designs.
Each set of plans includes photos of the finished coop, a pencil sketch, materials list, and step by step instructions.
This has got to be my favorite one... A movable chicken gypsy caravan coop !
The author includes practical information such as what size coop you need, and how to find materials that can be re-purposed. Also included are short profiles of several backyard chicken keepers from around the country with photos of their coops and some words of wisdom from each of them. There are even a few egg recipes included.
Really a fun read with some very unique coop designs. The only downside would be choosing which coop to build !
Or check it out on Amazon ....
BOOK GIVEAWAY !!! Leave a comment under this blog post telling us why you will be building a chicken coop this spring to be entered to win a copy of this book.
Or check it out on Amazon ....
We are currently in the middle of a move to a new city and will be building a bigger and better coop for our girls - I love these designs, all the stars! I'd love a copy of this book, thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful timing! I need to build several coops for my Nankin Bantams. I am starting a Nankin breeding program to help this very rare breed from disappearing. I plan to build 4 or 5 coops and runs for them, but I don't want them to look "trashy" in my yard. This book looks like exactly what I need!
ReplyDeleteOhhh cool book! I have got to build a bantam house SOON! Brooke (the 10 year old poultry fanatic) is collecting quite a few little birds. Bantam White Leghorns, Blue Breasted Red Old English, Bantam Buff Cochin, Call Ducks and coming soon, Belgian porcelain d'uccle. They need a home of their own away from the big girls. Brooke has her sketch book out and is searching the net and pouring over books looking for the right design and making notes and sketches about design and function. She is such a cool kid...the book would be perfect for her! She helped me with the bubmlefoot surgery and it is so exciting that she has found her passion at age 10...I wish I could post a pic! I have requested it from the library but am 5th on the list...that could potentially be 30 weeks!
ReplyDeleteI also have to say..when it comes to assembly I am a step by step kind of gal! None of this show me a picture and I can wing it from there..okay maybe with food but not with any thing that is going to require nail or screw or some sort of tool that has some sort of metric designation! But I am determined to build a coop this spring with my daughter and NO BOYS ALLOWED....usless there is someting really heavy that needs lifting!
DeleteI need this book because my husband is making me build our next chicken coop!
ReplyDeleteThat was my first mistake - building our first coop. Now there's no way I'll ever be able to buy one ready made ! My husband knows I can build one myself :0)
DeleteI will buy it even if I don't win it!! I need a decent chicken coop in the WORST way!! Mine strongly resembles a shanty - someone built it that has never heard the phrase measure twice, cut once. Poor chickens in their lean-to; I live in Florida and I absolutely am terrified that this thing is going to take a tumble during the first bad storm this summer. I have a place for them in the garage if it gets to that point LOL! My daughter and I are going to rebuild it - and this book is precisely what we have been looking for to help us along!!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE THE WINNER ! Please email me your mailing address to: fresheggsdaily@gmail.com. And thanks for being a fan.
DeleteWoot woot!! Cool!! The shanty shall receive its MUCH needed upgrade. I doubt I can make a caravan out of it, but I can start a village LOL!
DeleteLovely pictures! We need to build the gypsy caravan!
ReplyDeleteThat said, this is really a badly needed book. I must have bought several books online and none of them had the detailed plans that this one does. Nicely done!
Since moving from NY to Texas I had to leave my coop behind. I have a small little coop that is perfect for my two girls, but in the next couple of months we are looking to leaving our rental house behind and I will need a real or substantial coop so that I can rescue some chickens that desperately need some love and a new home ~ Margaret Coyle
ReplyDeleteI love the ideas in this book! A new coop would come in handy for those times I need to separate chickens or just want to raise some babies. I just might need to buy this book :)
ReplyDeleteWe'll be building our first chicken coop this spring for our new babies arriving in April! This book looks like it has lots of unique ideas! :~)
ReplyDeleteThe reason that I need to build a bigger chicken coop is this: Since I have found FED, I have found many other 'Chicken-y' people, all of which I simply adore. It seems that many (if not all) are currently talking about hatching chicks, posting a moment-to-moment commentary on their hatching eggs, or are showing off their beautiful adorable cute irresistible little fuzz ball chicks that have just hatched. Sooo, an incubator, fertile eggs, many chicks, and many chickens are in my future - thus, we need a bigger coop!! From your review, it looks like this book is right up our alley with plans for a unique, funky, functional coop. Thanks for the review :)
ReplyDeleteI'm building a second coop because I want to keep my heritage Buckeye flock separate from the other birds so I can keep them apart from my other birds! Please enter me in the book giveaway!
ReplyDeleteOur first four chickens lived in a chicken tractor we built from reclaimed wood. That was 7 years ago and it is affectionately referred to as the "ghetto". It is time for the ghetto to be replaced. Our other two coop houses are referred to "the Hotel" (where our diverse breeds live) and "The House of Blues" (where the Easter Eggers live). I would love some ideas to turn our ghetto into something funky!
ReplyDeleteI am getting 8 more chicks and they need a home! It would be a great homeschool project for me and my kids to partake in!
ReplyDeleteCool book,who can tire of looking at coops really? every one is different. We are getting our first chicks this spring and are really excited. We want to design a chicken tractor so we can have healthier chickens and eggs. Thanks for the giveaway =)
ReplyDeleteExciting and interesting! We have been using a large dog kennel for our girls and rooster. We enclosed a third of the kennel to protect them from the weather, they perched on the top of the doghouse and it was dark, gloomy, and leaked terribly in the rain. So I threw blue canvas over the top. I had to hire some construction guy to come fix me up something better because we did not know how to build a good coop. We now have to build another for some new hens I have and two new roosters that came with them.
ReplyDeleteHELP!! My girl's desperately need a new home! They live in a dirt floor OLD grain bin! Most of the time they are wadding in water just to eat and lay their eggs! They stand on their roost and their nest boxes to stay out of the water. I worry about them freezing their feet off when it get's really cold. That said, this is really a badly needed book. I must have bought several books online and none of them had the detailed plans that this one does. I have GOT to build them a NEW home..Just as soon as I can. Please pick me for this book. I really NEED it! Thank you! Melody
ReplyDeleteWe're moving to Northwest Arkansas in June, and plan to build a coop and raise 2-3 hens when we get there. This book of coop ideas looks like such fun, and would be a great place for us to start!
ReplyDeleteOh, the coops are beautiful and whimsical! It would be fun to build one!
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to build 2 coops this spring! One will need to house a mixed flock of girls we will raise for eggs, 12 girls in all, and a second one to house a small flock of bantams which we have started with 2 at this point. All the girls are in brooders now and I have been diligently collecting wood and supplies from my local Habitat for Humanity and preparing the areas that they will be located in. A book like this would be awesome to guide me along the way on making a good looking, perfect habitat for my new babies!!
ReplyDeleteWe are finally moving to the farm in late spring. We'll have a number of predators, including the requisite racoons, possum, coyotes, hawks, and snakes. We obviously need a wonderful, safe, coop. We're building a new house, so our coop needs to be pretty, as well as functional and safe. I've never had chickens before! I was chased by a hen when I was about 4 and have never gotten over the shear SIZE of her! I think now, I've overcome my fear and am ready for a flock of my own. Totally for fresh eggs and entertainment. I would love to have this beautiful book for guidance, just as this lovely blog has been!
ReplyDeleteI saw this book at the library and checked it out-it is a great book!! We need to build a chicken coop because we have already ordered the chicks to come in May! lol (This is the best way to get my partner to finish a project-make it mandatory!) We are new to chickens (well other than growing up w/ them) and will be free ranging as much as possible! Would love to have a "fancy" coop like one of these!
ReplyDeleteI bought a ready made coop that is not well designed at all so I need to make a new one that works! I will buy this book regardless (especially since I never win anything!). Thanks for this great blog, by the way. You do a terrific job.
ReplyDeleteWOW These look great I need another coop and the one that I paid for someone to build is just "OK" A lot of poor workmanship inside it. I want to do the next one myself and this book would be just the ticket!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I built our coop my wife said I spent too much $$$. Now friends of ours want to become backyarders and I don't know how to help them build their coop without spending too much. This book would really help both of us out!
ReplyDeleteAll your comments are great ! I am really enjoying reading them. Thanks for entering and we'll announce the winner on Tuesday evening.
ReplyDeleteWe must build a better coop this spring/summer as something got into our old one and killed all my girls...the day before Thanksgiving...I still miss my girls!
ReplyDeleteOh I am so sorry ! I know how heartbreaking that can be.
DeleteI need to build a coop this spring for my Dominiques. Right now they're in the old coop which is going to become the guinea coop. tgperg (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteWe're getting ready to build a new addition. We got so many "how cute" comments on the other one, the addition has to keep up appearances. The new girls coming in this spring can't be denied cuteness.
ReplyDeleteI actually had this book in my hand yesterday! I need this book because I recently doubled my flock and we need more room! Plus, since I can't build my dream home, I want to build my dream coop! I could spend an entire day just watching my chickens. I'd love to have a beautiful house for them!
ReplyDeleteThe book looks spectacular! Still fighting city hall to have chickens in Warwick with under 5 acres of land. (There are very few residents who have 5 acres of land - once you count out the airport, commercial properties, etc.) My property used to be a chicken farm long ago, but now it's just 1.3 acres, and I don't qualify. Doesn't stop me from dreaming, or loving chickens!
ReplyDeleteI'm dreaming of a farmlife with chickens. I'll need to build a coop for them. (Never mind that I can't hammer a nail straight!) It looks like my dream is about to come true so I better figure out the whole nail thing and the whole chicken thing too! Woot!
ReplyDeleteI am on my way to look at an insulated dog house with a detachable roof as we speak. If it doesn't work out I will need to purchase your book unless..............:)
ReplyDeleteI have wanted chickens for a while but the time wasn't right. Now I need a distraction to help keep me stress free. My mother has moved in due to health issues and I also travel to care for my Dad. My daughter and grandaughter have moved in also for the time being so I am going in different directions with everyone. The coop would help with the expense of this new adventure since I can only work part time right now.
ReplyDeleteI meant the coop book would help with the expenses.
DeleteI am not sure if I "need" a new coop, but I really "want" a new coop so that my little flock can have room to move around. I want to build something unique and this book seems to have some really cute ideas!
ReplyDeleteI have four new babies that are now 4 weeks old and need to build them a home soon. This book looks like a good resource. We can never have enough sources.
ReplyDeleteMy current chicken coop is what used to be my husband's office. Because he loves me, he renovated his business office (connected to our garage)into a cozy, but small space for my girls. I have enjoyed having laying hens so much that I've decided to expand the "extended family" this Spring. In order to do this, I'll need to build a much bigger coop than I have now. This book would come in handy.
ReplyDeleteMy coop is an 8x12 end of an old barn/shed. It badly needs a make over. And besides doing that I really need to build a 2nd small coop so I can separate my Silver Spangled Hamburg hens and rooster. I want to put an Americana rooster in with the rest of the flock and let a couple of the banty hens hatch out some Americana chicks. I figure if I put a few big blue Americana eggs under the banties that are such good moms, it should work out well.
ReplyDeleteI need to build a second coop! I have fallen nead overheals for chickens! I have increased my flock and will prolly contiune to do so lol! This book looks wonderful! Thank u for the informative blog!
ReplyDeleteYip. I clicked. Now I am dreaming of gypsy caravans and paint colors!! The coop we have now I built with all reused materials and miss cuts from Home Depot and Lowes. The total cost including the nesting boxes and the ladies was $37.82. It is really cute with the old windows I found in a dumpster and the flowers I planted around. It looks kind of like a little cottage. But OOOOOHHHHHH that gypsy coop is calling my name. :) -Deanna Ford Kearns
ReplyDeletePerfect timing! We are getting chicks for the first time ever this May and are in the process of converting our shed into a coop with a run attached. We want to be absolutely sure we don't miss anything so our girls will be safe and happy! <3 This book would be invaluable!
ReplyDeleteFirst, i purchased your coop plans, be gathering supplies, hoping this weekend to get it done! Already know we might need two! Would love to get this book just for the cute movable chicken gypsy caravan coop ! lol the hen house and the gypsy caravan coop!!!! home and travel coop..
ReplyDeleteI need this book..I have built the DIY incubator, have collected old fencing and coop supplies off of craigslist, have husband on board, and have found a supplier of fertile eggs. Now I can't comfortably start eggs in the bator until I know they will have a cozy home ready and waiting, and these plans will speed the process along nicely! PICK ME! PICK ME!!! I cant stand waiting any more!!! I NEED MY CHICKS!
ReplyDeleteWe are going to build our first coop together
ReplyDeleteThis April. We have 11 chicks in our house,
And 7 more coming soon! The need a home!
I had chickens when I was young, but sharing
the hobby with someone you love it's twice the
fun! I plan to decorate it. My husband plans
to paint it red. These babies are so spoiled!
But building one is not in our line of talents
without a great plan like the one in the book!
We REALLY need it!
I love the idea for this book! We want to start an annual coop tour in our town and this looks like great inspiration.
ReplyDeleteOMGOSH! How awesome!! I would love this book! My current chicken pin is down about 100 yards from our house, but I want to build a new one closer to the house so that I can enjoy my girls :) I love to look out the window and see them scratching around! This would be awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteI have one chicken coop but need another one to keep breeds separate. I love how this book gives not only beautiful pictures but detailed drawings as well. It would be a well loved resource in my animal library. :-)
ReplyDeleteBarbara Anderson
goldennarri@gmail.com
I started back with 4 baby chicks last Apr... from tractor supply....I have now 27!!! I am expanding my coop....it is very important to keep them safe!!!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog thanks to a friend!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win the book, but not for myself. My hubbs built me a chicken PALACE last summer, but I will be teaching a backyard chicken keeping class at our community college this spring and this would make a great give-a-way!
We have new chicks coming our way soon and will need a new coop for them. Our current coop houses our hens and isn't the prettiest thing in the world, so having some plans to go by would be a great addition to the book shelf. I loved the review and I'm excited about a book that lays things out in plain English! Thanks for taking the time to review it for us!
ReplyDeleteThanks all for entering... Merry Melinda is the winner !
ReplyDeleteSorry, apparently there was a blogspot glitch and the announcement went out to everyone that they won. The winner - as posted above in my replies - is Merry Melinda. Congrats ! We will be giving away more great books in the next few weeks tho so please sign up to follow the blog or facebook so you don't miss out. And I apologize for the confusion.
ReplyDelete