Coop Build for my daughter

[Zappa5]

My daughter begged me to get pet chickens this past spring so we now have 4 silkie bantams. After realizing that the prefab coop I bought is way too small I decided to build one with enough space to add some egg layers next year. I must say I didnt think the chickens would grow on me as much as they have. I hope to get the coop done before winter, and in the spring I will add covered run.

The coop is a combination shed/coop and is 8 x 12. The shed portion is 4x8 and the coop 8x8. I have two 24 x 30 inch windows in the long sides and one 36 x 24 window in the shed portion. I am using Sketchup 2017 (the free version) to plan things out and it has been a huge help in catching mistakes and thinking about how things will go together. Here is a rough vision of what I am trying to build.





My yard is on a slope so I leveled it out with concrete blocks. Making a gravel pad was way out of my price range. So far I only have the floor done, but it is level and was a huge step for my confidence! This week I will be working on assembling the trusses.

After many hours of digging and adjusting the blocks to get the basic frame level, I added 4x4 skids. Then I enlisted the help of Grama(70), Son (12), Daughter (15) to flip the floor over and set the skids on the blocks. It was quite heavy, but we managed to do it. After that I installed the rest of the joists and then the pressured treated 3/4 inch plywood for the floor.







I did have a helper that kept showing up too!



This is my first time trying to build anything substantial so I am learning as I go. These forums have been a tremendous help!

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC and the wonderful world of chickens.

You're going to need some top-level ventilation for year-round airflow in addition to the windows. Here's my article on coop ventilation: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

 

[saysfaa]

Wonderful wide eaves!!

I'm sure you will like the shed entry space too! You might consider raising the door between the two spaces and under the pop door. That would keep the bedding from spilling out (as much, a little will still get kicked out by you or the chickens.)

Have you decided what kind of door to use between the two spaces? I used a sliding door so I didn't lose as much floor space. It doesn't need a track, it just slides on the 2x4 that makes up the short wall under it.

 

[Zappa5]

Welcome to BYC and the wonderful world of chickens.

You're going to need some top-level ventilation for year-round airflow in addition to the windows. Here's my article on coop ventilation: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

Thank you for posting this. I have seen it before as I was researching but it is a fabulous explanation on what the chickens need. For 24/7/365 ventilation I have open soffits with hardware cloth, a 4 inch wide gap at the ridge, and I'll be putting vents on the gable end triangles. I am very confused on what I need for the ridge cap with my metal roof panels though, I am still trying to figure that out.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you for posting this. I have seen it before as I was researching but it is a fabulous explanation on what the chickens need. For 24/7/365 ventilation I have open soffits with hardware cloth, a 4 inch wide gap at the ridge, and I'll be putting vents on the gable end triangles. I am very confused on what I need for the ridge cap with my metal roof panels though, I am still trying to figure that out.

I'm glad it was helpful to you.

The supplier where you get your metal roof should be able to steer you to the correct ridge vent for the type you're purchasing.

 

[Zappa5]

Wonderful wide eaves!!

I'm sure you will like the shed entry space too! You might consider raising the door between the two spaces and under the pop door. That would keep the bedding from spilling out (as much, a little will still get kicked out by you or the chickens.)

Have you decided what kind of door to use between the two spaces? I used a sliding door so I didn't lose as much floor space. It doesn't need a track, it just slides on the 2x4 that makes up the short wall under it.

I was planning on building a pretty basic door with chicken wire and 1x wood, but I really like the sound of your sliding door. Do you have pictures of yours that I could see? And yes, I plan to have the pop door and interior door raised up about 12 inches, I just don't have that in the SketchUp model yet. The pop door will be on the short side of the building opposite the shed and will lead to a 10x15ish enclosed run in the spring. On the back long wall, there is a cleanout door under the window. I still need to figure out some temporary run for the winter that is enclosed.

 

[WIchickMama]

Looking good so far!!!

 

[WIchickMama]

I still need to figure out some temporary run for the winter that is enclosed.

if that is the prefab temp coop in the back---could you butt it up next to the pop up door and then plastic it off for the winter and give them this extra space to come out and about? that way you wouldn't have to construct anything-they would already be used to it and would have a place to go and hang--just a thought

 

[3KillerBs]

a pretty basic door with chicken wire

Don't use chicken wire, use 1/2" hardware cloth.

The only thing that chicken wire holds is chickens. Larger predators rip right through it and smaller predators slip right through it.

 

[aart]

Don't use chicken wire, use 1/2" hardware cloth.

The only thing that chicken wire holds is chickens. Larger predators rip right through it and smaller predators slip right through it.

I believe the door is interior to the building.