My plan for 4ft x 4ft coop for 4 hens – feedback please

Quick background. I have four full sized girls that are doing really well. I started with a chicken tractor I built, but decided that wasn’t enough room for the girls. I added a 10ft x 10 ft fenced dog run (with fencing on the roof) and attached the tractor to it (the tractor isn’t moved anymore). Both the run and tractor have food and water. We open the tractor door to the run early and close it after dark since the run isn’t as predator proof as the tractor. We haven’t had any predator problems (likely because of the dogs that roam the area outside our yard - we are in the country), but we don’t want to take chances. The girls are allowed to free range several hours a day. They seem happy with their setup, but the tractor is a pain to clean and so I am building a new coop with the goal of easy cleaning. My wife likes a very clean coop so deep litter, etc. is not for us. I have read a ton of posts on BYC (THANK YOU!!) and want some feedback on the design. Picture of the current set up attached.

I’m planning a 4ft by 4 ft raised coop attached to the run. It will have roof line vents and a window and large window sized vent for a summer cross breeze. The coop and the run are in the shade of several trees. I am planning for about half of the coop for two 3 1/2 ft roosting poles with an angled poop board under them (so we can scrap it every day). The other half will have one nesting box and a small pvc feeder and nipple bucket (off the floor) for bad weather (or late wake up) water/food. That gives them about a 1 1/2ft by 3ft open floor area just inside the door.

Main question – since the girls really only spend the night in the coop except for laying, does my design give them enough room? I could go with a single roost bar to give more floor space, but didn't know if that would cause problems

Second question – can I use a floor made of 2x2s with 1-2” spacing so any poop on the floor can easily be pushed into a drawer underneath the floor.

Any other pit falls or suggestions?

Appreciate all the help, Scott

Unless all those open air places are wire mesh, that may not be enough air movement, esp. since hot air can collect in the roof (it looks like.) IMO, 4x4 should be what is available to them without including food or water, even with some free range time.

Take a look at this thread and see if it helps you come up with an idea for your situation:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops

Go BIGGER!!! Always go bigger, its never enough room!

I will make more room by putting the nesting box on the side of the coop. Judy, the new coop will have roof line vents as well as a window on one side (that opens) and a large door with wire on the other side that can be left open. I'm also going to insulate the roof.

Should I go with one roost or two?

Appreciate the help.

The coop part of my set up is 4'x4' and has been great. I have soffit vents along with the ridge vent, as well as windows on 3 sides (pop door on 4th) to allow for ventilation which has been working well. Maybe think of including some soffits? My feed and water is in the run part so no space lost to that in the coop and I have an automatic chicken door on a timer so getting up late to let them out has not been an issue for us. I also hung the nest box on the side to provide more floor space. I only keep 2 chickens in here and it has been perfect for our needs. Would be tight, but adequate I suppose, for 4 girls.

Thanks for all the feedback and info. I changed it to be a 4x6 coop to make sure the girls have enough room. Here are the construction photos.

Corner posts and bottom floor up


First wall done and the nesting box framed


Three walls up and the nesting box done. Also walking floor, roosts and poop board done.


pop door done and roof on.


Front opening door for cleaning installed

Here are the completed photos. Still needs trim work, but it is functional and the girls have moved in.