This Garden Ark in Atlanta’s West End neighborhood is a good example of how anyone can use our chicken coop design plans to create something wonderful. According to Mary, “I did it all by myself with no help. . . I had never used a circular saw before this project!”
Not only did the plans help Mary build the coop herself, they also gave her the skills and confidence to take the design even further. Her adaptations include:
- Using 2×6 for the skids and 8″ wheels
- Adding a ladder and changing the placement of the perch
- Adding a reclaimed window instead of the egg door
- Outboarding the nesting boxes
- Covering the floor of the henhouse with vinyl stick-on tiles
- Building and connecting an additional run
- Shortening the double doors to work with additional run
Fruit crate nesting boxes
One of the features that adds a personal touch to her chicken coop is the old wooden fruit crate Mary transformed into outboard nesting boxes. “I removed the top two of three slats on the side facing the henhouse and covered it in plywood,” she says. “I made a shelf with some extra 2×6 lumber and two corner braces to attach the boxes. I’m not sure the shelf was necessary, but it is nice to put things down on.”
Extra chicken run
Mary also added a modular run that attaches to her Garden Ark with carriage bolts. “The run is twenty square feet, so it increases the girls’ total space from fifteen to thirty-five square feet,” she says. “Although they didn’t seem to be crowded in just the ark, I think they’ll be pretty happy with the run.”
So how was the experience overall?
“The instructions were very good,” Mary says. “There was nothing frustrating about them. And as I have said, I have practically no building experience. I didn’t even know what a corner clamp was. (Very useful, the corner clamp!) I am very happy with the way it turned out.”
Thank you, Mary, for sharing your pictures and tips. If you’ve built a coop using one of our design plans and have ideas or photos to share, leave a comment here or send us an email.
It’s done! The Garden Ark we’re donating to 
This Garden Ark in particular was a full family effort. My son worked with me through the whole process. I may have more strength to work the tools, but he’s a natural builder. It won’t be long before he’s doing these on his own. He can still fit in tight spaces too, which came in handy a couple times.
If you’re thinking of trying your luck in the raffle, here are a few details about this Garden Ark: It measures about 3′ wide by 6′ long by 4.5′ tall. It’s sized for three or four hens. It comes with a nesting box and perches, inside and out. It’s enclosed on the top and sides with 1/2″ galvanized hardware cloth. The lumber is treated with a non-toxic, eco-friendly wood preservative, and it’s got three coats of really nice exterior paint on the siding. The white polycarbonate roof panels are virtually indestructible and let through a beautiful glowing light. Pause for air. . .
Then, just a couple weeks ago, I was surprised to get an email from Tony with photos of his finished coop. Turns out he was that first customer! He explained that he’d bought the plans for 
