8-10 chicken coop size and layout?

[Jdutton24]

Gonna keep it pretty simple basic. Im pretty handy and have miter saw circular saw and etc. I've looked and looked but want to clarify a few things. How big overall should it be?
Was thinking since it's going in under a covered back porch that about 10 feet or so off the ground, have the coop a few feet off the ground. Roosting area on right nesting area on left.

Where do they need to enter the coop? Like the roosting area?

I'm going to have the roosting area over poop board that I can slide out. Or put down linoleum and have one big door that opens so it's easier cleaning. Pine shavings in bottom?
How much ventilation and where does it need to be and what vents y'all using? Can just use hardware cloth? I'm in central Alabama. Getting chicks next week and got brooder set up so I have time to get it built.

 

[Cream and Bob]

3-5 square feet per chicken for standards 1-3 square feet per chicken for bantams. They should enter either under the perches or on a side between nesting boxes and perches. Use pine shavings straw can attract mites and cedar shavings are toxic for their respiratory system. you should have at least one window with hard wear cloth covering it for safety and some ventilation in the roof you can just use hard wear cloth.

 

[Jdutton24]

Is that the coop house itself or run included? They will be free range most of the time in our fenced in back yard

 

[rosemarythyme]

Recommended minimum 4 sq ft per standard bird inside the coop, not including nest boxes, space taken up by storage, etc. Minimum recommended ventilation of 1 sq ft per bird or 10% of floor space, whichever is greater. Best to go overboard with ventilation and have most of it up high to vent out moisture - ideal locations are just under the roofline.

The entrance (pop door) can be wherever makes sense. Sliding poop trays never work the way people intend... they're usually too heavy and unweildy once loaded with poop and bedding to do the job.

 

[aart]

Are you going to build a free standing coop under the deck ....
....or attach it to deck supports and house?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-owner-and-need-help-with-coop-design.1347360/

 

[Jdutton24]

Thinking about a free standing one that matches up to the edge per se. Use hardware cloth to fill any gaps to the porch.

 

[Jdutton24]

Actually thinking of trying to make the coop under the stairs. Like run long ways under the stairs with nesting boxes there and roof that runs perpendicular to the bottom stairs the roosting area beside that. Just not sure how that would work. I was planning on attaching a water bucket with feeders attached to the bottom then hooking up a water pipe that feed into the bucket but runs outside so it's easier watering and the same with feed.

I may just leave it as it is and not worry about it cause it's gonna be hard to close everything off so nothing can get in

 

[aart]

Thinking about a free standing one that matches up to the edge per se. Use hardware cloth to fill any gaps to the porch.

I would go free standing, then enclose around deck posts for a primary run.

 

[Jdutton24]

I would go free standing, then enclose around deck posts for a primary run.

That's what I was thinking and the coop backside would match up to edge of porch

 

[David61]

I just built a raised 4X6 foot roost box in the end of the covered armored run.