Engineering Students Build a Better Chicken Coop

Science teacher Gerald Blycker has a predator problem.

In the past few months, raptors, coyotes, and raccoons have been invading his chicken coop. When Physics Teacher Brian Husted heard about it, he challenged his Engineering Club students to come up with a solution.

Tasked with designing a better chicken coop, students presented their projects before the faculty judges including Blycker. The criteria was simple. Design a chicken coop door that will open automatically to allow chickens in and keep predators out. Working within a budget, the designs varied with all using a timer and motor. Differences came in the mechanism that opens the door and construction materials.

“Some are more complicated than they need to be, and I know that we'll likely need to make modifications with whichever design we select,” says Blycker who has led Overlake faculty in sharing green designs throughout his home. “My chickens keep on disappearing, and I lost five last year. It always happens outside the coop so it’s really needed to keep those predators out.”

With 12-adult chickens and six chicks, Blycker and the panel listened to five plans and asked questions of students on design, cost, and operation. While the panel will select one option, the entire Engineering Club will work on the project. 

Using the Upper School Club block, they’ll begin assembling the coop next month. “We’ll get together as a panel and decide which project we think will work best,” says Husted who leads the club. “I’ll order the components during Project Week, and we hope to get it installed by the end of the school year.”

We'll keep you updated on their progress and click here to see some of the presentations.