SHUT THE BARN DOOR: THESE CHOOK HOUSES ARE CLUCKING AMAZING!
You finish your home renovation, and suddenly there’s a weird little void. The big project is done, the dust has settled… and your hands are itching to build something again.
At the same time, the budget might be saying,
“Babe… that’s a big NO from me.”
Enter: the humble chicken coop.
And we say “humble” very loosely… because once you’ve laid eyes on The Pink Poultry Club or Cluckingham Palace (an unsurprisingly popular coop name), it’s clear these are not your average backyard builds. The chook-loving chicks behind them are a fabulously unique (and very clever) breed.
And that’s what we LOVE about Three Birds Reno School and our Reno School community… it’s never just about big house transformations.
It’s about learning the skills.
Building confidence.
And then finding any excuse to create something beautiful.
Lately, that “something” has been some seriously hot hen houses.
Vanessa Bonett’s grandkids had fun decorating her coop 😂
The Rise of the Chook Mansion
When we spotted a few chic coops popping up in the Reno School group, we put the call-out for more and WOW.
Turns out loads of our students have taken their Reno School skills and used them to create their chicks a designer home. And honestly… the results speak for themselves.
We’ve seen:
Mini homes that match the main house (of course they do)
Budget-friendly builds that still look a million bucks
Backyard projects that are small in scale but BIG on impact
It’s proof that you don’t need a full-blown home renovation to create something you’re proud of.
“My favourite reno project was making this for our girls 🥰”
Danielle Maddalena
Georgina Luck
Aspen Forgan
THE PLAN FOR BONNIE’S BIRD HOUSE
If all this inspo has you mentally designing a mini mansion for your birds, you’ll love the specs for the chook house Bon built at House 8. It’s a simple design you can easily adapt to suit your yard.
Front View
Top View
Walls | Treated timber frame
Cladding | Stria by James Hardie
Mesh | Aviary mesh (recommended)
Roof | Colorbond in Surfmist
Flooring | Concrete slab at rear and wood shavings at front
Paint | Dulux White on White (same as the house - mini me energy)
Thinking of Building Your Own Chook House?
If you’re ready to give it a go, here are a few things worth getting right from the start:
🐔 Predator-proofing is non-negotiable
Foxes are very determined. Use strong aviary mesh (not chicken wire) and make sure it’s secured properly. Even better - wrap it under the base, dig it slightly into the ground or flare it out at the base to stop anything digging in.
🐔 Ventilation = happy, healthy chooks
Airflow is key. You want good ventilation without creating draughts, so make sure there’s a mix of mesh and solid walls to keep the coop fresh and dry.
🐔 Easy cleaning is everything
Concrete slabs, removable trays or accessible doors will save you so much time. If it’s annoying to clean… it won’t get cleaned.
🐔 Shade & shelter
Your coop needs protection from sun, wind and rain. Think about orientation and where the harsh afternoon sun hits.
🐔 Space matters
Give your chooks enough room to roam, perch and nest comfortably. Cramped quarters = unhappy birds (and fewer eggs).
🐔 Make it cute (obviously)
Once the practical stuff is sorted… have fun with it. Match your home, add a little landscaping and paint it pretty. This is where your Reno School skills really shine.
Why THIS TREND MAKES SO MUCH SENSE
Because it perfectly sums up what Reno School is actually about.
Not just:
❌ Big budgets (some of the best coops we’ve seen are super resourceful)
❌ Full house renos (small projects can be the most fun)
❌ Massive before-and-afters
But also:
✔ Small projects with big joy
✔ Creative confidence
✔ Using what you’ve learned again (and again… and again)
And let’s not forget the chooks themselves.
Having your own chooks is one of those small backyard upgrades that delivers big rewards. Fresh eggs on tap (protein lovers, rejoice!), less food waste, and some very enthusiastic garden helpers who’ll happily tackle bugs and scraps. Add in nutrient-rich fertiliser, a bit of daily calm collecting eggs, and some surprisingly big personalities… and it’s easy to see why more and more Reno Schoolers are making room for a coop.
A chicken coop today… a cubby house tomorrow… a laundry glow-up next weekend.
These smaller projects are often the most fun ones.
Honestly… who knew the gateway project after a renovation would be… luxury housing for chickens? But here we are. And we’re completely clucking obsessed! 🐔💁♀️
