Well being as it's spring in the Pacific Northwest - I thought I'd share with you all our chicken coop and a bit about how we got there. We found this little gem posted "free" on Craigslist after having hunted for something like this for weeks. Hitched up the trailer and drove out to see it - couldn't beat the price. But... It was one of those "some assembly" required when it was new - the owner had built the shed in his backyard - inside his 6' fence. The gate wasn't wide enough to accommodate the shed but thanks to the help of two neighbors, myself, Adam, and the owner, we were able to hoist it over the fence to freedom. (The shed is made of light-weight sheet metal and doesn't have a floor.) Our first step was to build a platform for it to live on as we didn't want it to be subjected to rodent visitors. Then we placed inexpensive peel-n-stick tiles over the plywood floor for easy cleaning. I don't know if you know this but chickens can be kind of gross... I had to work double time as the sun started to go down finishing just as it got dark. The next day we mounted the coop to the platform and Adam cut the "chicken" door out of the lower right corner. Here's a view from the inside. Next step was to build the perimeter of the run - keeping a space to allow for a door for us to access it - and completing the run with 2"x4" galvanized steel fencing - being careful to counter sink the fencing an inch or so around to deter unwanted visitors. We topped the roof with corrugated steel and decided to install a window into the coop for more light. We found the 24"x24" window at a local re-sale store for fairly inexpensive. We also installed two simple HVAC vents to either end of the coop that can open and close depending on the weather for some cross-ventilation. For the interior we concluded that the ladies didn't need all 4' x 8' of the space so we devised a way to build a closet space into the front 1/4. Here we can keep their food, bedding and other miscellaneous chicken supplies. The middle shelf you see in the closet extends the length of the coop where we've installed their double nesting box as well as the roost where they will sleep. Here's Doris trying out the little ramp we included to assist them on and off the shelf if needed. See, I told you chickens can get gross. And for the final step - making it look nice! We chose two exterior paint colors - one for the "trim" and one for the rest of the "siding." I then cleaned the exterior from top to bottom, allowed it to dry, and painted (2) coats of paint and primer in one. Then I twisted Adam's arm into making me shutters and a window box which I painted a contrasting color and filled with geraniums. Last but not least were two hanging baskets filled with flowers and these girls are set. What are you doing to get ready for spring? Are you as in love with planting colorful flowers around your yard as I am?