200sq foot coop: can it be fetching?

[Coopscraft]

brain storming my chicken coup. My building inspector limits me to 200 sq ft for any building without permits fees and government inspired headaches. I plan to house up to 50 hens and three roosters divided into three clans. All clans will also have generous runs and rotate day range privileges. I am handy with building materials and tools. I am looking for ideas and examples of what you all have done that is particularly pleasing to the eye. I want my neighbors to like the structure.

 

[PirateGirl]

Check out the coop section for inspiration!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/chicken-coops.12/

 

[DobieLover]

brain storming my chicken coup. My building inspector limits me to 200 sq ft for any building without permits fees and government inspired headaches. I plan to house up to 50 hens and three roosters divided into three clans. All clans will also have generous runs and rotate day range privileges. I am handy with building materials and tools. I am looking for ideas and examples of what you all have done that is particularly pleasing to the eye. I want my neighbors to like the structure.

My coop is in a building that is 128 sq ft. If you picture the same general construction but using 10x20 feet and didn't include a built in brooder like I did, you could make it work. The brooder area would house more nest boxes and you could bump them out so you could access them without entering the coop.
I think it came out okay. Paint and trim go a long way to making something look good. The build article for this can be accessed through the "My Coop" link under my login information.
Granted, its a shed to coop conversion, but it wouldn't be that hard to build from the ground up.

 

[Steven Bussell]

Will your coop be 10'x20'.
If you divide this into 3 different spaces. Each space would be around a 10'x6'4"..
Have you drawn your plans up?
If you want cute. Trim and paint is the easiest way to go. Or add redwood trim or shutters.

 

[aart]

Will your coop be 10'x20'.
If you divide this into 3 different spaces. Each space would be around a 10'x6'4"..
Have you drawn your plans up?
If you want cute. Trim and paint is the easiest way to go. Or add redwood trim or shutters.

Ditto Dat!^^^

@Coopscraft are you limited in run space too?
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Coopscraft]

Will your coop be 10'x20'.
If you divide this into 3 different spaces. Each space would be around a 10'x6'4"..
Have you drawn your plans up?
If you want cute. Trim and paint is the easiest way to go. Or add redwood trim or shutters.

12x16 possibly. Also my roof can be an average of 10ft above the floor. So with a typical shed roof, for example, the max height can be 12 ft if the lower eave is 8ft.

 

[Coopscraft]

Ditto Dat!^^^

@Coopscraft are you limited in run space too?
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 1858433

Just updated my profile with climate info and location.

 

[Coopscraft]

My run space is pretty generous. I live on 1/3 acre in a 700ft^2 house so there’s not a lot of space wasted on a large house. 1000 soft run is doable and the rest of my yard will be used for day ranging.

 

[Ridgerunner]

brain storming my chicken coup. My building inspector limits me to 200 sq ft for any building without permits fees and government inspired headaches. I plan to house up to 50 hens and three roosters divided into three clans.

My first thought is "Can you build two buildings" and avoid those restrictions? 50 hens and 3 roosters in clans implies there may be some chicks in the future. I know chicks don't take up a lot of room when they are small but have you planned for integration? Or will you drop the numbers for winter? You are on the wet and thus milder side, your chickens will probably be able to go outside most days so you probably don't need as much room inside as some other people. Still, those numbers seem right on the edge and don't leave any room for storage. I know this is not your question but you mentioned it.

I understand your desire to make it attractive, why aggravate the neighbors if you can avoid it. In addition to the coops section above, drive around your neighborhood and see what others have done for inspiration. Or just use your imagination. With paint and a jigsaw to create a facade you can turn it into a wild west saloon, a pirate ship, or a field of flowers and birds. How garish or subdued do you want to go?

 

[Coopscraft]

My first thought is "Can you build two buildings" and avoid those restrictions? 50 hens and 3 roosters in clans implies there may be some chicks in the future. I know chicks don't take up a lot of room when they are small but have you planned for integration? Or will you drop the numbers for winter? You are on the wet and thus milder side, your chickens will probably be able to go outside most days so you probably don't need as much room inside as some other people. Still, those numbers seem right on the edge and don't leave any room for storage. I know this is not your question but you mentioned it.

I understand your desire to make it attractive, why aggravate the neighbors if you can avoid it. In addition to the coops section above, drive around your neighborhood and see what others have done for inspiration. Or just use your imagination. With paint and a jigsaw to create a facade you can turn it into a wild west saloon, a pirate ship, or a field of flowers and birds. How garish or subdued do you want to go?

Thanks for the good suggestions. As far as capacity, Suppose i build a “grower” shed for juveniles that are old enough to leave the brooder? I won’t be doing uncontrolled chicken math. Hens past production age, pullets that don’t meet criteria, and extra roosters will be fulfilling their destiny in a nutritious manner. The goal is to cap the laying population at 50.

Garish/subdued? Well on that point, I am thinking that if I do something a little special it might help bring me egg buyers. I can sell ungraded shell eggs on location to my hearts content. My wife suggested a lighthouse with a glowing egg instead of a beacon. I have the skills, maybe not the time.