Planning a man sized A frame coop and run suggestions and tips welcomed please

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IdyllwildAcres

IdyllwildAcres

Crowing
7 Years
Sep 3, 2016
2,740
4,909
416
In the mountains of Southern California
My Coop
My Coop
I am going to Build an A frame coop and make it tall enough that the lost headroom will not be a concern I am thinking 10' wide , 16' deep and 12' sides with the coop on one end taking the first 6'. I think I will have the floor raise about 30" so the run goes underneath and they get the whole 16'. I plan on the egg boxes sticking out the back end for outside access. The roof will be metal, all the way to the ground for the 1/2 over the coop, that would give the underneath the coop part of the run extra shelter from snow and wind and the rest of the run the roof would come 1/2 way down. I think the roof/wall on one side of the coop needs to be removable, yet still water proof I have not figured that out yet I may have a shed roof/dormer on one side of the coop portion.....

All of the sizes are flexible

My must haves are, a wheelbarrow/man sized door at the end of the run portion, I am thinking maybe the door takes an A shape as well, wider at the bottom to accommodate a wheelbarrow.

Preditor proof, I live inb the forest, Racoons, owls, Bobcats, mountain lions and coyotes and snakes, and mice and rats and chipmunks and squirrels...

Room 6-10 birds

Good ventilation for the coop

Good access to the coop for cleaning, outside egg collection.


What am I missing? Has anyone done anything similar and have any insight?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions
 
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Welcome! Rather than an A-frame, how about a shed roofed structure? It will be much easier to have good ventilation, room for roosts, and space for everything. Ground level, without that miserable crawl space. Deep litter, mostly open on the south side with hardware cloth. Also easy to build, and much more usable space. Mary
 
Folly's place said:
Welcome! Rather than an A-frame, how about a shed roofed structure? It will be much easier to have good ventilation, room for roosts, and space for everything. Ground level, without that miserable crawl space. Deep litter, mostly open on the south side with hardware cloth. Also easy to build, and much more usable space. Mary
Click to expand...
Thank you Mary, that was my original idea something like the wichita coop with an incorporated run. Well as things go along I have decided on something bigger and better, I have just carved out a flat spot out by the garage. I will have a 4x10 coop on a 8x10 concrete slab with a 6x10 dirt run extending from that, the run has a deep concrete footing around it , all under a gable roof with a 6/12 pitch. So far I have leveled, formed for the concrete and drawn up a rough plan. The plan is to get it done before the end of the year, will see. Will be ready to brood outdoors as soon as I can get the chicks I want once its done. I went from simple and cheap a frame to retaining walls and concrete and on and on. Chicken math is not just about flock size its about the budget too!

From the mountain town of Idyllwild California
 
IdyllwildAcres said:
...I will have a 4x10 coop on a 8x10 concrete slab with a 6x10 dirt run extending from that, the run has a deep concrete footing around it , all under a gable roof with a 6/12 pitch. ....
Click to expand...
Why not go 8x10 for the coop?
4' width can get tricky fitting things inside ans still have room for birds to jump/fly down from roosts.
 
aart said:
Why not go 8x10 for the coop?
4' width can get tricky fitting things inside ans still have room for birds to jump/fly down from roosts.
Click to expand...
Ah, chicken math.... Lol, I want some outside covered space that was not on the dirt, I may make it bigger its only on paper now. Well except the foundation is dug out and formed:)

Thanks

Gary
 
I'm glad you eschewed the A-frame if it's for laying birds.

Floor space and available roost space never works out in an A-frame for my liking.

Nice little coop/tractor design for meaties or ducks that aren't going to roost, but for layers, I don't care for how they lay out.
 
IdyllwildAcres said:
Quote: Not chicken math......roosts, feeder, waterer, nests...everything you need for even a few birds...and well, yeah, chicken math too.

I have an area in my coop that I temporarily wall off for brooding/growing out chicks.....it's 4x6 of the 16x6 coop, it's tight in there.
It has a 1' deep roost board leaving 3' for me to navigate, board is set low with a concrete block for step up and down without them crashing into temp wall.
I've seen tons of folks having difficulty trying to kit out their 4x4 or 4x6 coop....sh!t just doesn't fit well.

Go at least 6x10, that 4' is a bear.
Is the outside covered space for you or the birds or both?

Easier to fix on paper for sure...or tape the space off on a floor somewhere, start fitting the gear in there....
...someone suggested using a 5 gal bucket to represent each chicken when mocking up spaces, an excellent suggestion IMO.
Click to expand...
 
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