A-frame coop plans/suggestions

[jeremy]

I'm looking to house about 30 hens and 2 roosters when I expand my flock. So when I said the design was going to be roughly the same as the picture, I meant it.

It'll definitely be a lot longer, to fit in with the way my property is set up. And to house the amount of chickens I want to eventually have.

Something a bit more like this, (please excuse my lack of artistry and design skill- I did this with paint in like 5 minutes to try and give y'all a better idea of what's in my head.)

So what I have in mind would look like a really squatty house instead of an actual A-frame. Thanks though to Slywoody for the advice. (Again, if that is what you were talking about, that's what I was guessing.)

 

[poultrypatch]

Yes, knee wall would be good...could even put the nest boxes on them and build them outside the coop.

I'm getting some ducks in March. Been thinking A frame too. With a knee wall. I thought of taking the roof...on one side., prefer the back...and having it hinged .,..about 3 ft up from bottom edge of roof. So the part that would open would be 3 ft x the length of the roof. That way I could just lift up the hinged bottom part...would need something...such as a good support chain...to hold it up. Of course I don't think I'd want to try and lift up part of a roof that was too long and heavy. :-(( Would have shingles too. OR...perhaps roof could be devided into sections....say coop is 12 ft long....do 3 , 4 ft sections. Now I just have to "explain" my "vision" to DH so he can build it ! You REALLY didn't think I was building it did you ? Heh heh
Liz
Rochester, MA

 

[jeremy]

Again, to clarify the "knee wall"- what I attempted to draw in my illustration, is that it?

I like the idea of the section of the back wall being able to open up, it could give you access to roosts to clean out the poo board or check on the hens... just what I'm envisioning at least.

Hm.

 

[Slywoody]

That is exactly what i was trying to convey.

I would suggest that you go at least 4 feet on the height. By the way, a true A-Frame is 60 degrees. Also with the 4 ft. knee walls you would have room for a built in wall feeder and a wall to jut your nests out from. I'm basically computer illiterate and wish i wasn't. I have great ideas for ventilation and i wish i could get a pic of my wall feeder on here for you. By the way, my wall feeder holds 100# of feed with absolutely "no waste' by billing out. I would also position your coop so you can have lots of windows to the south. You could also put what is called an eyebrow window right into the roof. Chickens need lots of light. Hope this helps a little. Any more questions let me know. You are welcome to PM me also.

 

[chrissum]

Here is a download-able a-frame plan for $7.00 to look at:

http://www.self-sufficient-life.com/Keeping_Chickens/poultryhouse.htm

another example:

http://www.buildchickencoops.com/coopinsnow.htm

I've heard of people using old wooden swing sets as a frame for an a-frame coop also.

 

[patandchickens]

For whatever it's worth, in my opinion although A-frames may look "cute" and "different" in a sort of 1970s fake-swiss-chalet kind of way, they are seldom the most practical, economical or functional way to build a coop.

An A-frame does *not* use meaningfully less material than a more normal-shaped coop (box with roof) of the same chicken capacity, it is harder to keep cool in hot climates (mentioning this b/c the o.p. is in California), it is hard to work in compared to a normal shaped coop because you are always whacking your head, and it provides very little useable "up off the floor" space for roosts etc. (Also, low very slanty A-frames, as in the common ark/tractor designs you see, provide a lot less useable floor space than might *seem* to be available; that does not apply so much to walk-in height A-frames, though)

Quite honestly, if you are picking between an A-frame and a hoop coop design, the hoop coop will give you a much pleasanter working environment for yourself and much more useable roost room for the chickens. A "real" coop would be even better, though, especially in a hot climate where keeping the chickens cool is a priority. BTW notice that an A-frame with a 4' knee wall is exactly the same thing as a gable-roofed normal type coop with the walls only 4', call it what you like

JME, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Chicky Tocks]

We're building one for my Serama this weekend. I only keep 3 or 4 of these tops, so an A Frame will be ideal. I would definately put more wire on at least one side because the chickens will need sunshine. Here are some plans for something that is similar to what we're interested in, except what we build will not be a portable tractor.

http://www.villagevolunteers.org/PD...jects Library/Agriculture/Chicken_Tractor.pdf