Critique my coop design please.

SixChickFlock said:

In your new design, I would be concerned about all your rain water flowing off the roof and getting into your nest boxes. Even if they're real tight, it may not be pleasant collecting eggs in the rain or snow.

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Good point.

I changed the layout (again). I like this one, seems to give me everything I want/need. Two openings on the side are two swing out cleaning doors. Top openings are vents.

I'd put swing out doors on the roost side too....unless you want to crawl in there if needed to reach far side from doors.

Might want to think about accessing nests from back instead of top, give top a good sized overhang.
Easier to avoid water infiltration that way and swing down back to nests held with chain gives a surface to put your basket on.

I modeled and remodeled and remodeled and remodeled my coop plans for 6 months before buying materials and building...better to redesign on the screen than in materials.

You also want to consider the winter months, the direction of the prevailing wind during the winter and how to keep snow and rain from the run year round. I have seen the PVC water systems and am concerned that it is PVC with those chemicals leeching into the chicken's water. Also - there is a possibility of algae/bacteria colonizing in the pipes during the summer months. How will these be cleaned?

For the winter, you may want to add polycarbonate paneling to the walls to keep out snow. This is my first year doing so and the run is much easier to maintain. A dry chicken does not bring dampness into the coop - the bedding stays dry and the chance of frostbite sharply decreases.

I do not keep either food or water in the coop. Only in the run. All food is removed at night to discourage mice/rats from seeking entry.

Hardware cloth is buried 18 inches around run.

Gate has solid plywood panel on bottom half. Adds strength and stability to door and keeps out the elements.

I have an east facing window covered in hardware cloth that opens to the run. I leave it open. Other 2 windows are covered in plexiglass for the winter.

3/4 of the run's roof is covered in clear polycarbonate paneling. Run walls have 4" of ventilation at the top. So far, everything is working out fine.

Good luck with your coop!

Some things that come to mind again.

Is the run door big enough to get a wheelbarrow in there if needed?

The egg nest positioning is something I would still reconsider. If you want to enlarge your run at some point, that is the side it can be done on the easiest. That's something I'm regretting on my own coop at the moment, I didn't take the possibility of extensions into account when working out my design.

detz said:

Good point.

I changed the layout (again). I like this one, seems to give me everything I want/need. Two openings on the side are two swing out cleaning doors. Top openings are vents.

Click to expand...

I am not quite sure about the practicality of a raised coop in the cold Northeast. There would be so many more options if you just built a coop that YOU could enter. Having an open area under the coop means a colder coop floor during winter months due to wind and snow build up. It is also more difficult to fill in holes where they dig and dust bathe. How will you turn over the soil there?

You are starting out well by beginning with a lean-to design. If you expand, you could just add another half! Keep in mind that ramps up to the coop level get encrusted with poop, and bedding gets kicked out of the access door. If not built properly, the deep litter method can restrict door opening and closure if the bedding gets wedged between the frame. Easier to build the coop to 6" or so above ground and surround with hardware cloth buried 18" deep. The chickens would not need a ramp that gets filthy and becomes an obstacle when cleaning.

Lived in MA for many years. Now closer to Canada's border. After YEARS of trial and error, I am finally at peace with my coop lay out but I am always refining what I have.

Looks good!

My gals spend tons of time chilling in the space below the hen house. That space in mine is closed on two sides... So they watch me from below as I enter the run to bring feed or treats. For the elite in the flock, it's a favorite space and not much cleanup has been required there. When I need to, next mid spring, I can use a grass rake and get the job done from inside the run. For me, it will probably be a once a year cleanup. If you are concerned, you could put a sealed floor and seal the ceiling below, and fill it with insulation. So far mine seem happy and warm.

Merry Christmas!

Regarding the space under the coop, my girls also spent tons of time there. It is their favorite dust bath and sunbathing area. I am so glad that we have that space to contain the dust plume generated from their dust bath, otherwise, the dust could be all over their food and water feeders. The space beneath the coop should be at least 2 ft in height to make it usable, but not too tall that you can't reach the coop easily. We shield it on 3 sides with clear corrugated plastic panels in the winter time, leaving the top 4" open on two sides for ventilation and keep the coop above warmer also. If you are limited in space in terms of coop & run footprint, consider using the space below. If you have lots of room on the property, there is more flexibility to build a larger walk-in coop.