A-frame vs. Square coop?

[rickerra]

I too considered an A-frame type coop... but settled on a square one with a sloped, fully covered coop/run. I have snow as well to contend with.

A-frame runs... are hard to cover to keep out rain and snow. You can tarp one side of the A-frame... but the other side will still get wet or snow. You can tarp the top of the A-frame partway down the sides... but it's still not complete coverage of the run.

Just something to consider... the covering of the run part.

Here is what I ended up building. 4ft x 9.5ft... with 4ft x 4ft coop raised 20" up. Roof is 4ft high over run up to 6ft high over coop. (Awaiting warmer temps to move it out of my garage!)

Cheers!

 

[catdaddy66]

I have both types of coop. I just got a frame from a swingset and am modifying it for 20 birds. Look for the thread "The Next Generation A-Frame 2.0". I have not finished this yet but hope to in the next 2 weeks!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
A properly built square coop with an adequately-pitched roof is no weaker to snowload than an A-frame, and has one very very big ADVANTAGE over an A-frame, which is that you get more USABLE indoor floorspace for not, really, any meaningfully much more materials.

(The supposed efficiency of an A-frame evaporates if you start looking at chickenfriendly space, rather than footprint per se and narrow-airspace-near-the-top)

In cold and/or snowy areas, indoor floorspace is really something that every little bit extra COUNTS

Good luck, have fun,

Pat