8 x 12 Woods coop design - plan

[cholland]

You can build it with a dirt floor. Howard E did his with an open floor so he can move it. As long as you have it on a good skid type frame it should be solid. Or if permanent you could have a cement block perimeter foundation.
Just need to make it secure from predators.

Nest boxes accessible from the outside could be done two ways. Frame the wall with a wide header like for a door. Then you could either put the entire nest box on the outside or keep the nest box inside with a rear rollout tray accessible from the outside. Just make sure water doesn't get in.

I think in a colder climate one would want the nest boxes inside. I like mine inside cause it means I walk in there everyday and interact with the flock and check on whatever.

 

[Trogdor]

Cholland ,
Thank you for posting the plans!!! Followed the plans somewhat and finished our build a few weeks back, more modifications to come. My birds are all happy, kids having a lot of fun, now just waiting till they get a bit older for some eggs.

 

[cholland]

Nice job, that looks great. I like your exterior choice.
I still need to finish the trim on mine. Then I think I'm going to paint it blue.

 

[Trogdor]

Thanks again, the plans were a big help!

Look forward to seeing it painted out, blue should be sharp!

Bit overkill but for painting I used a sprayer, it was quick work, but clean up takes a while. Good result!

 

[Mossy Dell]

This is such a great thread. My thanks to all involved. I have some thoughts and questions about the front overhang issue.

From years ago when a friend built a solar house, and some reading, I got the impression that south overhangs should be about 24". Give or take—there are ways to figure it exactly depending on your location.

Why that much? The idea is the low winter sun will flood the house. And in a true passive solar house, hit thermal mass that absorbs and releases heat at night. The overhang in summer protects the structure below and keeps the inhabitants from getting blasted with too much glare or heat. Plenty of light still, if overhang is not grossly excessive.

So my question is why not apply this principle to the Woods and other houses? With the overhang pitched so steeply above the monitor windows, isn't 1' a bare minimum in the summer? I mean, 1' seems fine on the lower roof sloping the other way but has anyone tried 2' above?

 

[WthrLady]

I have a overhang on mine and it's 24 inches wide. I use a clear panel on it in the summer and an opaque one in the summer to block the brutal summer nebraska sun. In the winter the clear panel allows for all of the sun light to heat the interior.

I could have done a permanent wood overhang, which is needed due to the insane storms we get - to keep blowing wind and snow from going in the upper windows when open - BUT the optimal size of the window to allow for winter sun, and summer shade was NOT enough to keep the driven rain and splash out.

Link to coop in my siggy. Scroll all the way down to see the most current version. (Although asphalt has been replaced with steel - darn hail.)

 

[Mossy Dell]

Neat, WthrLady, best of both worlds. Will follow your link . . .

 

[aart]

So my question is why not apply this principle to the Woods and other houses?

Good question....but I think every building should have large roof overhangs
My coop is in part of a large shed, clerestory building but not a Woods coop.
I added an 'eyebrow' overhang to the upper front, and eaves all round, when I had to reshingle it....this was done several years before chickens.
You can see it here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/

 

[Mossy Dell]

aart, I really like the little cowl you made for the overhang over the clerestory windows. To me that is key to proper shading. Do you know what a shed roof with that is called? I want to see more examples for framing ideas.

 

[aart]

aart, I really like the little cowl you made for the overhang over the clerestory windows. To me that is key to proper shading. Do you know what a shed roof with that is called? I want to see more examples for framing ideas.

It's not so much for shade as to protect to open upper windows from rainfall.
Have no idea what it would be called, but it's basically a gable roof with one really short side.
Mine was retrofitted...hmm....have drawings somewhere, would have to dig for them.