Here is a survey I put together to get everyone's opinions about Coop design in one place. Of course, my ulterior motive is to get answers for my own coop design. (I am thinking in terms off a relatively small coop, one for maybe 6-12 hens.)
Coop overall
1. Floor area per hen?
2. How much headroom needed above floor?
3. Best dimensions for pop door (door for the chickens)?
4. Number, size, and placement of ventilation openings?
5. Feeders and waterers -- inside or outside?
Roosts
1. Roosting bars -- total length needed?
2. Size of roosting bar (cross section)?
3. How high above floor? How high above poop boards? How far from coop wall?
4.If all same height, ho much horizontal distance between?
5. If in an “inclined ladder” arrangement, how much horizontal distance between? How much vertical distance?
Nesting boxes
1. Ideal dimensions for nesting boxes? (width x depth x height if box-shaped)? What about alternative shapes (buckets on sides, etc.)?
2. Ideal height of nesting boxes above floor? What about a second tier of nesting boxes above that one?
3. How many nesting boxes per hen? (How many for 4 hens? How many for 10? for 20?)
4.Best nesting box opening? (Circular? Rectangular?)) How large?
5. Interior versus exterior nesting boxes -- pros and cons.
Ramps
1. How steep (at most)? How wide?
2. Size and spacing of cross-treads to prevent slipping?
“Brooding” boxes and mini coops.
(A small coop besides the main one can be useful for quarantining birds, for rearing chicks, and other purposes.)
1. Ideal dimensions for a “nesting box” for a hen brooding eggs or rearing chicks? (Larger than regular nesting box?)
2. Ideal size for a mini-co-op for a hen rearing chicks? Is this best inside or next to main coop, or completely separate.?
4. What other features should a mini-coop have?
Any other thoughts or suggestions.
Questions:
Coop overall
1. Floor area per hen?
2. How much headroom needed above floor?
3. Best dimensions for pop door (door for the chickens)?
4. Number, size, and placement of ventilation openings?
5. Feeders and waterers -- inside or outside?
Roosts
1. Roosting bars -- total length needed?
2. Size of roosting bar (cross section)?
3. How high above floor? How high above poop boards? How far from coop wall?
4.If all same height, ho much horizontal distance between?
5. If in an “inclined ladder” arrangement, how much horizontal distance between? How much vertical distance?
Nesting boxes
1. Ideal dimensions for nesting boxes? (width x depth x height if box-shaped)? What about alternative shapes (buckets on sides, etc.)?
2. Ideal height of nesting boxes above floor? What about a second tier of nesting boxes above that one?
3. How many nesting boxes per hen? (How many for 4 hens? How many for 10? for 20?)
4.Best nesting box opening? (Circular? Rectangular?)) How large?
5. Interior versus exterior nesting boxes -- pros and cons.
Ramps
1. How steep (at most)? How wide?
2. Size and spacing of cross-treads to prevent slipping?
“Brooding” boxes and mini coops.
(A small coop besides the main one can be useful for quarantining birds, for rearing chicks, and other purposes.)
1. Ideal dimensions for a “nesting box” for a hen brooding eggs or rearing chicks? (Larger than regular nesting box?)
2. Ideal size for a mini-co-op for a hen rearing chicks? Is this best inside or next to main coop, or completely separate.?
4. What other features should a mini-coop have?
Any other thoughts or suggestions.
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