Why I Went to China (And What Comes Next for Queen of Coops)

Why I Went to China (And What Comes Next for Queen of Coops)

After sharing my last article on the Queen of Coops system, something became really clear to me.

The design concept was solid. From prior experience, AKA as “failures” I’d refined and tested new ideas and I knew the system would do what it was supposed to do. But there was still a big gap between what I had built… and what it would take to actually get this into other people’s backyards.

That gap is what led me to China.

I didn’t go to cut corners but to figure out how to manufacture it the right way. Although the majority of the Queen of Coops will be made in the USA, designing something that can be:

• manufactured
• shipped across the country
• assembled by real people
• and still perform the way it’s supposed to

That’s a completely different challenge. Especially at scale—and initially within a one-woman-factory operation—certain parts and components must be manufactured elsewhere to streamline the process and end up with a kit that is both all-inclusive and affordable.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been refining my designs around asking two very specific questions:

How can I make this stronger and lighter by reducing material without sacrificing performance?

And…

How can I simplify the assembly process without losing what makes the system work?

As I worked through every aspect of the design, I found that the core philosophy hasn’t changed at all. If anything, it became even more important.

·       Every component has to earn its place.

·       Every part needs to do more than one job.

·       Everything needs to work together as one system.

Some materials changed. Some structures have been simplified. Some ideas got replaced entirely by better ones. But the way I have ultimately executed that system has evolved.

For one, the kit is now more than a coop—it’s a complete, year-round food production system. Everything works together as a unit.

At its core is the coop itself, but it’s now fully integrated with raised garden beds on both sides, creating a shared environment where chickens and plants support each other. Those beds are paired with polycarbonate covers that extend the growing season while also adding an extra layer of protection for the flock during colder months.

The system continues around the entire structure. A dedicated compost zone captures and processes waste, while trellis areas open up vertical growing space for vining plants. Chickens are able to harvest their own greens through reach-through grazing built directly into the raised beds, turning feeding into a natural, continuous process instead of a daily chore.

Even the surrounding earth becomes part of the system. The soil and compost mass around the coop act as a natural buffer—supporting plant growth across three seasons (and in some climates, all four), while helping regulate temperature and protect the structure.

And because everything is designed to work together, the system can even support rainwater harvesting when desired—capturing, storing, and reusing water to sustain both the flock and the garden.

It’s no longer just a collection of features.

It’s a closed-loop system where nothing is wasted, and every part strengthens the whole.

And some of the best improvements came from standing in a factory, looking at a process, and realizing:

There’s a smarter way to do this!

Now I’m back.

And this is where things start to get real!

The next step is building the first full prototypes here at home—bringing together everything I’ve refined: 

·       The structure

      The roof system

·       The garden integration

·       The water system

·       The compost system

·       The ventilation

Every part of it works together as one complete ecosystem.

This is what I’ve been working toward from the beginning but now is when design turns into something tangible and testable.

And soon, something ready to manufacture and ship in the form of a kit anywhere across the country.

I’ll be sharing more as the prototypes come together.

There were a lot of breakthroughs in this process—and some of them completely changed parts of the design for the better.

We’re getting close!