1st coop

[arsnow]

My dad and I would like to get some chickens this year and I need some assistance with the coop design. The building my father wants to use is about 8x10 ft. We are going to put in a new floor and maybe a window or something, but what do we need to know about building a coop: essential furnishings, layout, capacity, etc.

I have checked out the coop design area of the website, but all I found were plans and ideas.

We really have no clue about chickens except that they eat insects in your garden and lay eggs. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[justusnak]

arsnow .... What a great project for you and you dad! Well....an 8x10 coop is a great start! Basically....you will need nest boxes..3 hens per box is usually good. You will need roosts. Depending on the breed of chicken...will depend on the height. My Buff orps have thier roost about 3 1/2 feet from the ground. My banty's have more like a ladder...to help them get to the top, about 3 ft from the floor. Windows are great...for ventilation..just make sure they are covered with strong fencing...hardware cloth is best...to keep predators out. The coop needs to be draft free..and dry. The nest boxes need to be away from the window...my hens prefer to lay in a darker area. You will need feed. For the babies...non laying..you will need chick starter...most prefer medicated. When they reach laying age..about 18 to 20 weeks, layer pellets...and crushed oyster shell..free choice. In an 8x10 coop, you will have 80 sq ft...so with the larger breeds...you can easily have 20 chickens. If you dont plan on haveing that many, you might want to add a wall...and use part of the shed for storage.
Im sure someone else will come up with something I forgot....welcome to BYC..and the madness of being owned by chickens! May you have MANY eggs..and happy days!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
I'd suggest learning more about chickens, and the keeping thereof, before trying to nail down coop design -- form follows function

Look under "Learning Center" on this site, browse old forum topics that catch your interest - that will help a LOT, I know it sure helped me. Check out the 'free chicken care guide' at http://www.mypetchicken.com/ebook.aspx , it is good, concise and helpful. For more depth look at the selection of links at
http://www.freewebs.com/professorchicken/
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chlinks.html#breed
and other places I am too lazy to find my bookmarks for

Good luck and have fun,

Pat