# I Built This Chicken Coop Almost Entirely From My Woods Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAYQ4emfWzc Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/OAYQ4emfWzc Generated: 2026-01-05T21:03:56.146+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The creator built a functional chicken coop almost entirely from logs harvested from their own woods, sizing it at 12 feet by 8 feet, and integrated a solar-powered Hen Gear automatic door opener for predator protection and convenience. **Key Points:** - The chicken coop was constructed primarily using logs harvested directly from the creator's woods, with only plywood and roofing material being purchased. - The coop size is approximately 12 feet by 8 feet, and the creator specifically used logs of 4 to 6-inch diameter for the roosting bars inside. - An automatic door opener, specifically a Hen Gear unit powered by a solar charger, was installed to secure the chickens at night and allow them to free-range during the day. - The creator strongly recommends using 1-inch hardware cloth (chicken wire) on the lower sections to prevent predators like raccoons from reaching in to grab the chickens. - To facilitate easier cleaning, the coop floor beneath the nesting boxes has a screened bottom allowing droppings to fall through to a dry bedding layer below, which is cleaned out perhaps once a month. - The fermented feed system, which includes brown rice, bamboo leaves, and probiotics, is preferred over store-bought feed because it unlocks more nutrients and is more digestible for the flock. - The creator built a custom roll-away nesting box system using 2x4s and logs for roosts, which allows eggs to roll to the exterior for easy collection. ![Screenshot at 0:00: The creator stands in front of the newly constructed, wood-sided chicken coop nestled in a lush, green, wooded area, preparing to show off its features.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/OAYQ4emfWzc/00-00-00.jpg) **Context:** The video is a showcase and review by a homesteader who details the construction and features of a chicken coop they built on their property, emphasizing sustainable building practices using natural materials from their land. The creator contrasts this new coop with a previous one built in San Diego and highlights several key features designed for efficiency, predator protection, and optimal chicken health, including a unique composting floor system and an automated door. ## Detailed Analysis The creator details the construction of a chicken coop, emphasizing that it was built almost entirely from logs harvested on-site from their woods, making it cost-effective, with the only significant purchased materials being plywood, roofing, and specialized hardware. The coop's dimensions are noted as 12 feet by 8 feet. A key feature is the Hen Gear automatic door opener, which is solar-powered, allowing the chickens to free-range during the day and securing them automatically at night, preventing predators from reaching in. The creator also discusses internal features, such as using large, rounded logs (4-6 inches in diameter) for roosting bars, noting these are superior to smaller dowels as they offer a larger platform for the birds. The nesting boxes are designed as a roll-away system for easy external egg collection. Furthermore, the video touches on feeding practices, specifically using a fermented feed mixture (including brown rice, bamboo leaves, and probiotics) which is considered more nutritious and digestible than standard feed. The bedding system uses a screened floor under the roosting area so manure drops through, minimizing the need for frequent cleaning of the main coop area, which the creator handles about once a year. The creator also mentions using 1-inch hardware cloth on the lower sections for predator defense and expresses satisfaction with the overall design, especially its ability to keep the chickens cooler in the summer due to its design and the availability of fermented feed. ### Coop Construction & Materials - Built almost entirely from harvested logs (12x8 ft size) - Purchased materials include plywood and roofing - Used 4-6 inch diameter logs for roosts ### Automation and Security - Installed a solar-powered Hen Gear automatic door opener - Door operates based on a light sensor to secure birds at night - 1-inch hardware cloth used on lower sections for predator defense ### Interior Features - Custom roll-away nesting boxes allow for easy external egg collection - Roosts use natural logs for better perching comfort - Screened floor beneath roosts allows manure to drop into a bedding area for easier composting/cleaning ### Feeding Strategy - Emphasizes using homemade fermented feed (brown rice, bamboo leaves, probiotics) over commercial feed for better nutrient absorption - Chickens were trained on this feed early on ### Upgrades and Future Plans - Mentions installing a dry feed auto-feeder and a nipple watering system (used in a previous coop) - Considers adding a rain gutter and barrel system for water collection ![Screenshot at 0:10: The creator points to the exterior of the coop, highlighting the natural log construction used for support posts and the run area.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/OAYQ4emfWzc/00-00-10.jpg) ![Screenshot at 0:46: Two men work together to set up one of the large log posts being used as structural support for the coop.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/OAYQ4emfWzc/00-00-46.jpg) ![Screenshot at 1:22: Close-up view through the chicken wire showing the installed Hen Gear automatic egg collection system, which uses a sloped trough.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/OAYQ4emfWzc/00-01-22.jpg) ![Screenshot at 2:26: Interior view showing the natural log roosting bars installed at different levels inside the coop.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/OAYQ4emfWzc/00-02-26.jpg) ![Screenshot at 6:15: A white bucket containing fermented feed \(oats, dirt, and other organic matter\) sits on the ground.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/OAYQ4emfWzc/00-06-15.jpg)