Chicken owners are often like-minded people, and one of the things they have in common is that they like to get maximum uses out of the things they invest time and money in.
Bear this in mine when you build your coop, with just a little extra time and planning you can incorporate other chicken areas into your coop.
For example, if you are converting your coop, do you have a small corner area that you aren't sure what to do with? Why not wall it off and put in some metal or plastic rodent proof bins and use it to store feed? You'll appreciate it being that close in winter time!
Have a place under the roosts or poop boards that's just too small to be of any 'real' use? Don't leave it empty! By partitioning it off with wire and adding a door or other access, it will be a great place to 'store' any broody hens; they can be safe and secure under there to hatch their babies in peace. Make sure that the wire you use isn't a large enough gauge that the chicks can squeeze through and find themselves at the mercy of the other birds. Just ensure that it is large enough for your hen to stand and move around and that it has sufficient air flow and ventilation.
Alternatively, if the space lends itself, you could use paneling to make a brooder where your small chicks can be raised up to juvenile size, when they can then be let out with the main flock. For this purpose, you will need to add power outlets for heat lamps and also pay extra attention to the places where a small chick may be able to squeeze itself and get stuck or escape.
Adding power and / or electricity to a coop can only enhance its usefulness, if you have someone on hand who can do the work for you. Electricity can be dangerous and a coop is a highly flammable place, so ensure than any work is done safely and correctly.
Water is only a good thing if it doesn't freeze in the winter, so good insulation and plumbing are a must. Pipes that freeze can burst and then you'll end up with a flooded coop.
Any space, floor space or overhead, can be put to use, so view your coop with an eye to making it work for you, and build in that storage area you need, the safe place for a momma hen to raise her family, or the new home for those chicks from the feed store you just couldn't not buy!
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