1st Time Chicken Owner

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Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow

You definitely want to build it bigger than you think you need. Chickens thrive in the biggest space you can give them without crowding. Make sure it's big enough you can walk into, this is helpful for you and gives the birds plenty of ventilation. On the ventilation note, birds should roost low, ventilation in your eaves, 1/2 to 1 Sq foot vent space per bird.

Best wishes with your build, ask as many questions as needed!
 
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Welcome!

There are three things every coop must have IMO
1. Space. As much space as you can reasonably allot to your chickens. 4sq feet per bird is a common minimum requirement but more is always better. Also, if you are able to give 9 hens that much space or more it will make your coop big enough to walk into. That will make cleaning easier.
2. Ventilation. Chicken feathers are pretty good at insulating and keeping your birds warm. But not enough ventilation will cause moisture build up which can cause frostbite and mold in your coop.
3. Hardware cloth. Chicken wire is really only good at keeping chickens in, it will barely slow a predator down let alone keep them from getting to your birds. Welded wire fencing may be strong enough to stop predators from getting in, but it's also got large enough openings that they can reach through and grab your chickens.

Just about everything else about coop design is a matter of personal preference/dependant on your geographical location.
 

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