Coop Design Opinion

Hey everybody!

I am planning to make a new coop when the winter is over, and I am really interested in your opinions. It's about 5ftx10ft in size, I have planned a separate compartment in case I get some new chickens, have some baby chicks or something like that. The barrier can be removed. It will have a run of about 700 square feet. the open areas will be closed with plexi glass during winter. (the back is only open for better view, it will be fully closed)

I look forward to any constructive criticism, improvement ideas etc.

I really like the design. Keep in mind it is recommended to allow 3-4 sq. ft/bird in the coop. Wasn't sure how many birds you were thinking of getting, but bigger is always better if you can swing it. Post some pics of the finished product!!

Welcome to BYC!

Looks pretty good....3D models are always so attractive.....Sketchup?

What is your location/climate?
(Good to put your location in your profile for better answers/suggestions).

I would suggest a big roof overhang all around to protect the ventilation openings you will add up high.
Why the roosts near the floor and only a short one above poop boards?

5' wide might be a problem for them to get down off roosts without crashing into walls.
My 6' x 16' coop has similar L shaped roost/boards and I have a ramp that many of them use.

Will you have an access door from outside to the chick area?
Maybe add some screen shots with the end and back showing.

Will coop be elevated or on the ground?

You've got a great start here!

ETA: the 4sqft per bird in coop is a minimum IMO.
very good article about Space https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

Thanks for the replies

Yes, it's done using SketchUp, i've used it to do many things, and since it's winter and I have nothing else to do, I decided to try out different options for my coop before I start buiding it.

I live in a moderate continental climate, it doesn't get too cold here during the winter, it rarely gets below 20°F, it's mostly around 30-50 during winter. I plan to install some form of a lamp to "extend the day" and a socket for water heater during winter. The chicken should be able to go outside on all but 10-20 days per year, and that's maximum 2-3 days at a time.

As far as the size goes, this is as big as I can build (I wish i could make it 5 times bigger though ) I plan on having about 10-15 chicken inside (bantam wyandotte and some layers), but if it gets too crowded I'll regulate the flock size.

It will be elevated from the ground a bit, I won't have any acces to the smaller compartment from the outside, because it is only meant to be in use very rarely. I can put in feed and water through the small door in the front, but I can always remove the barrier from the inside in case I need direct acces.

I have planned to put in a ladder, but forgot to actually do it.. I have arranged the roosts the way I did purely to make it a bit more dynamic, I guess it makes more sense to put them up higher and leave them more room on the floor.

here are some more screenshots after I've modified it a little

looks great @br0nc0 ! I don't know a TON about coops but that looks like a nice one! G'luck with your future plans and welcome to BYC!

Just a couple of thoughts.....

How are you accessing the inside for cleaning? The poop boards especially.

5x10 is nice sized, but it's odd for lumber. Can you work with something on a 4 foot basis? Most lumber comes in multiples of 4, so 8x12 instead? Seems it would be more economical for building materials.

I think you only need about 4 nest boxes, if that many. They'll probably all crowd into 1 or 2 anyway, if they're anything like my birds. That will free up more floor space.

donrae said:

Just a couple of thoughts.....

How are you accessing the inside for cleaning? The poop boards especially.

5x10 is nice sized, but it's odd for lumber. Can you work with something on a 4 foot basis? Most lumber comes in multiples of 4, so 8x12 instead? Seems it would be more economical for building materials.

I think you only need about 4 nest boxes, if that many. They'll probably all crowd into 1 or 2 anyway, if they're anything like my birds. That will free up more floor space.

Click to expand...

donrae is correct, why not go with at least a 4 x 12 or BIGGER (Chicken Math)....You'll save on wasted material. LOVE your design, glad to see you got poop boards. Great that you're fine tuning prior to build in the Spring.

Thanks for the input guys

It doesn't look like it (mostly because I didn't put in the effort) but there's a door on the right side (the side with the feeder). That should allow me to get in clean everything up I'm thinking about using wood shavings for the floor (they are extremely easy to clean, and they love to "bathe" in them) and straw/hay for nest boxes, it works really well for me now, but with them being turned out daily, I'm afraid they'll just drag it all outside.

We actually use meters over here, so the conversion to feet is a but rough (the original measurements are 1.5mx3m) and the plank length isn't an issue, whatever i have lefft from the sides fits perfectly into the poop boards and the nests.

I actually had 4 nests in the original design, but I made the coop longer and then just added one more box. Mostly because my wyandottes tend to lay eggs all at once and then go one on top of the other I think i will go back to 4 nest design, not so much for the floor space (because they are mostly outside of the coop), but because it should be easier to build and more efficient

I like that math actually unfortunately I can't go bigger, because of other limitations, otherwise I'd make it at least twice this size

br0nc0 said:

I'm thinking about using wood shavings for the floor (they are extremely easy to clean, and they love to "bathe" in them) and straw/hay for nest boxes, it works really well for me now, but with them being turned out daily, I'm afraid they'll just drag it all outside.

Click to expand...

I use wood shavings and haven't had any problems at all with that. I've got a 6 inch high piece of ply-wood along the base of the door that the chickens can hop over but the wood shavings don't get dragged out. Just my experience though.