16x12 coop design

[Themagicone]

Being my current coop is too small I decided to go big on the addition. 16x12 to be exact. 7ft walls with a 12x12 attic space that is also 7ft high. Gives me 192 sqft of main space, 144sqft more if I count the attic.

How would be the best layout for 50 hens? I'm thinking a 30" shelf all the way around at 3ft, 2 rows of roosting bars above the shelf. Below all nesting boxes or storage. That gives me 112ft of roosting space plus they would have the attic trusses to roost on.

Planning to heat and lights also. May be running water?

 

[DobieLover]

Being my current coop is too small I decided to go big on the addition. 16x12 to be exact. 7ft walls with a 12x12 attic space that is also 7ft high. Gives me 192 sqft of main space, 144sqft more if I count the attic.

How would be the best layout for 50 hens? I'm thinking a 30" shelf all the way around at 3ft, 2 rows of roosting bars above the shelf. Below all nesting boxes or storage. That gives me 112ft of roosting space plus they would have the attic trusses to roost on.

Planning to heat and lights also. May be running water?

You don't need heat in the coop unless it gets bitterly cold, as in -30F or below, provided you have proper ventilation. What is your ventilation plan?
When you make your poop boards (shelves) with two rows of roosts going around, the boards will need to be about 3' wide in order for the boards to catch everything and the birds to have enough space roost to roost and roost to wall.
You can't really go all the way around the room with this as you need to be able to get in the coop. If you are set on this design, I would go with a U shaped board and roosts.
I also would discourage the birds from roosting in the ceiling rafters. Flying down from those heights is asking for injuries.
You would only need about 10-12 nest boxes for 50 layers. If you plan to put them under the boards, they should be hung at the front edge of the board with a landing perch in front of them so they can be accessed. If you try to build them under the boards hanging on the wall, you will end up crawling under the boards to collect eggs.

 

[Themagicone]

Thanks for the advice. Yeah, I'm not sure how to use the attic space best efficiently without risking the birds.

As for ventilation I'm thinking 3-4 grates around the side then a 750cfm fan. Run it 15-25 min per hour or something like that. That would turn the air over few times a hour. I have a perfect south view so if I put up some solar the electricity will be free. I'll put plenty of windows also so when nice out can open it all open up.

As for heat, yeah overkill. But I can get a mini split system for like 500 from someone I know. Heat and ac. Spoil the birds.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Sounds like a neat plan. Keep us posted.

 

[aart]

12x12 attic space that is also 7ft high.

So a two story building?
Building from scratch or....?

 

[Themagicone]

So a two story building?
Building from scratch or....?

From scratch. I can get prebuilt truss though that will give a 12x12x7 room on top. Not sure how I would utilize the space. Chickens like to group, if I have a 300sqft space I'm guessing they'll just bunch up in the corner.

 

[aart]

I can get prebuilt truss though that will give a 12x12x7 room on top.

Having a 'second floor' may interfere with ventilation.
I'd plan carefully.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not sure how the attic thing will pan out... is that for storage? How will you get up and down from there?

You really don't need heat, but having electricity would be ideal. Running water... if you're doing that, I'd have it outside, not inside the structure.

 

[Themagicone]

Having a 'second floor' may interfere with ventilation.
I'd plan carefully.

Thought of that. I might do it over half, then have it all open. Just use the space for storage of food or something like that. Going to put a 650-750cfm fan in and put it on a timer. Run like 15min every hour or something. That will turn all the air over few times a hour.

I get not needing heat, I've had them for 3 years and been fine without it. But, it won't really cost me much, keeps frostbite now, allows me to run water and such without risk of freezing and lastly itll make collecting eggs from 50 hens a lot more bearable for myself in -20. Plus if I do a mini split I can cool it down in there also, keep it under 90. With all that, I should be able to keep egg production fairly stable year round.

 

[aart]

Plus if I do a mini split I can cool it down in there also, keep it under 90.

So you are going to install a full HVAC system?