This is the coop I'm designing - Let me know what you think!

Hi all,

I haven't started the building process yet. I plan to build this coop with my dad pretty soon. I used I 3D software for the design. This week I'll finish all the plans with dimensions and all the essentials to start building it. If you are interested in the plans just let me know. I'd love to share it with you. This is the coop...

Let me know what you think about it

How many chickens do you have? Man, that's a pretty tiny coop!

Hi,

Maybe it looks tiny but it is not. It's 8'X5' (96"X60"). My father has 4 chickens. I thought this should be ok.

What part of the country will it be in...I'm thinking about ventilation, especially in the winter months.

I'm writing you from Venezuela. Here's always summer Do you think I should add some ventilation door or window? I could make some holes to the doors. Would that work?

This coop is similar to the catawba ark only bigger. I also added more space between the roosting pole and the roof and decided to place the nesting boxes (two) on one side only (as you can see on the picture above).

antonio978 said:

I'm writing you from Venezuela. Here's always summer

Do you think I should add some ventilation door or window? I could make some holes to the doors. Would that work?

This coop is similar to the catawba ark only bigger. I also added more space between the roosting pole and the roof and decided to place the nesting boxes (two) on one side only (as you can see on the picture above).

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I'd add more ventilation. Maybe cut a window in the door that folds down and cover it with hardware cloth.

Thank you! Awesome tip. I'll definitely do that.

Is this being designed as a movable tractor or a permanent structure?

I assume that the lower section is the run and the upper section is the coop area, is that correct? If this is the case then is does seem kind of small but it is probably doable for 4 birds,

If the upper section will open like the picture to allow access for cleaning and such, how will you keep the chickens from escaping while you have it open?

What are your plans for under the roost? It doesn't appear to have enough space to do a deep litter method, you could always frame up a lip and use sweet PDZ under the roost. It will get dirty with poop and if something is not done about it you will get lots of moisture and smell from it.

The opening from the lower section to the upper section seems to take up a lot of the roost space, could cause problems with chickens on the roost and chickens coming and going through the opening. Have no idea if that would be an issue or not.

Not trying be all negative with your plans, just trying to help see with a different set of eyes. I made many mistakes on my build that I will do different next time.

yyz0yyz0 said:

Not trying be all negative with your plans, just trying to help see with a different set of eyes. I made many mistakes on my build that I will do different next time.

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X2.

I was also wondering about cleaning under the roost. Although, to be honest I'm not quite sure I understand the top part. I just assumed it looked weird because I couldn't read the design properly. If the bottom part is the run, then where's the perch in the top? It looks like that's almost flat on the floor in the upper part? I could see cleaning being a problem because it looks like the cleaning door creates a lip when folded down, which will trap whatever litter you use. If you tried to hose it out then all the water & mess would fall down on top of the chickens through the hole in the floor (I'm guessing that's where the ramp connects?).

It might be easier to have one end or side that opens flat - that way you can sweep everything out if you need to, or like yyz0yyz0 said - build up more of a lip and use sweet PDZ (or maybe sand). Just a thought. I just know from my own experience that sometimes a full scrub-down is needed, especially if someone gets sick. I think you need to be able to clean the top part without disturbing your chickens in the run below.

yyz0yyz0 said:

I assume that the lower section is the run and the upper section is the coop area, is that correct? If this is the case then is does seem kind of small but it is probably doable for 4 birds,

Click to expand...

Yes, that's correct! These are the dimensions...










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The chickens would be on the run. You can close it (the upper section too). But this will cause another issue as 6of6chicks mentioned. I should find a way to clean without disturbing the chicks. I guess that we could just leave them take a walk outside the coop while cleaning. They won't live night and day inside the coop and run or will they (not sure)? I read somewhere that we should give them some space, is that correct?

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Below are the dimensions between the TOP of the roost and the roof. In the design I'm using 2X2 (actual measurement 1.5"X1.5"). Form the top of the floor and the roost base there is a 1.5" gap.




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The opening is a 9"X20" rectangle. I'll do a pulley system to open and close it at night or whenever is needed. But you make a good point. I'll consider that. Now, my question at this point is... What or how do they do the people that have ark coops type. It seems that the design of this kind of coop it's a bit tricky. And both of you make good observations. You are awesome!

Thanks again my friend.

P.S: Below I'll reply to 6of6chicks and add more images of the coop.