Advantages and disadvantages please. Really need input on new coop ideas???

[newchickmomma4]

Hi all, hubby and I are planning to build a new and larger coop (to accommodate all of our girls instead of building a 2nd coop like we had originally planned). This plan will also allow us to extend our run (which is necessary).

So tonight he and I will be discussing our plans and I have two different ideas. I want to run it by "the experts" here and see what the advantages and disadvantages to both ideas will be. Ok, where the coop will be going is only 4' wide, and to allow accessibility, the coop itself can be no more than 33" deep. We can go 10-12 feet long (technically we could go up to either 15 or 16 ft but I'd really like to keep it around 10-12).

Here are my two ideas.......one of them is to make it all one long and skinny walk in coop with 3 solid walls (and adequate ventilation) with the 4th side open to the run (this would be one of the 33" walls). It would be just under 6' tall (to match our existing run).
It would have several roosts and 3 nesting boxes. It would also have either 2 or 3 windows to allow SOME light.

My other idea, which is the original concept that hubby and I had come up with is to have a 2 story coop (again 33"x 10-12'x just under 6'tall). The top 36" the full length of the coop would all be coop with roosts, nesting boxes , with 1 or 2 windows and plenty of ventilation. It would be solid wood on all 4 sides with a hole in the floor and a ramp going down into the "bottom story" which would all be run space.

What are the advantages and disadvantages to these two coop ideas? All input welcome!!!!

 

[Baileys Birds]

How many girls? Any roo's? predators?

 

[Judy]

In a warmer climate, I always feel a three sided setup is best, especially if the open side is not the windward side. Keeping them cool in summer, with ample shade and air movement, is critical, but keeping them warm in winter is basically unnecessary.

Maybe some of the setups in this thread will give you some ideas:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops/0_20

 

[newchickmomma4]

There will be 8 girls, no Roos, and predators are mostly overhead. Hawks, owls, neighborhood cats. The area is very secure from dogs (including our own) and even though the neighbors on those sides don't have dogs, secure from dogs. We have no reason to believe that we have possums or raccoons in our neighborhood but it will be secure from those as well.

 

[newchickmomma4]

In a warmer climate, I always feel a three sided setup is best, especially if the open side is not the windward side.  Keeping them cool in summer, with ample shade and air movement, is critical, but keeping them warm in winter is basically unnecessary.

Maybe some of the setups in this thread will give you some ideas:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops/0_20

We are in a very warm climate, central California. We get an average of 20 110+ days per summer, average overnight lows are 65-70 during summer but during spring/fall/winter are low 50s all the way down to high 20s with daytime highs of 40-80. For the hottest summer months I do have a fan set up in the run which will also help to circulate
The air in the coop through that one open side on the run side.

Our run is completely shaded and the open side of the coop would be into the run and it is the opposite side of the windward side.

 

[newchickmomma4]

Judy, thank you so much for directing me
To that thread. Will be doing 2 1/2 wall structure with 1 1/2 walls open ventilation space but I still have the dilemma of whether to do a single story walk in coop or do a dual story with top story being coop and bottom story being additional run space. All input welcome!!!!