“It is just as desirable to build a chicken house as it is to build a cathedral.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

The Poultry Project 2010 Chicken Coop Design Competition

Eat local.  Farm your backyard.  Raise your own chickens.

Chickens will compost, fertilize, control pests, and lay eggs.

Return the favor, build them a nice coop!

The Poultry Project 2010 Chicken Coop Design Competition is calling farmers, designers, thinkers, architects, artists, and locavores to design a chicken coop for use in urban or suburban backyards.  The ideal coop will integrate aesthetics with utility and make creative use of local materials.  Two cash prizes — a juried prize & people’s prize. The competition is open to ALL.  For more details, see below and visit our website: poultryproject.com. Download Entry Form

Design Considerations

Location — urban/suburban backyard

Sizes — 6 birds or less; allow 4 sq. ft. per bird (Cleveland and many other U.S. cities permitting urban chicken keeping restrict the number of birds to a flock of 6 or less)

Protection — protect the birds from the elements, predators, theft, and injury

Feed & Water — allow space for easy access to feed & water supplies

Ventilation — keep the coop dry and draft-free with windows, door(s) & roof; controlling humidity is essential — especially during cool months

Nests — one nest for every 4 hens

Perch — provide 6-10 in. of perch space per bird

Light — a source of light is vital for layers; an electric light may be needed during winter or in cool climates

Materials

Reuse. Repurpose. Be creative.

Schedule

Competition launch: July 21, 2010

Registration and submission deadline: October 10, 2010

Announcement of winners will be made at Chicken Coop Design Competition Event in November 2010 (date/location TBA)

Apply

Complete the application form on back. Submit application form, $10 application fee, a brief description of your design, and images of your design by 10.10.10 via email or mail to The Poultry Project.  The images of your design can include illustrations, photographs of small scale or full size models, video, etc.  Building the coop design is optional, but encouraged.

Awards

Cash prize of $500 for juried prize; the panel is made up of prominent local farmers, designers and change-makers

Cash prize of $250 for people’s prize; vote made by event attendees

Winners to be featured in a variety of media

Winning designs to be fabricated as built prototypes and considered for commercial manufacture

Winning designs to be modified for use by The Poultry Project participants in Uganda

Resources

http://www.thegardencoop.com/links.html — links to online resources for chicken keeping, coop building; great book recommendations