Bantam Coop Designs, Need help choosing! :)

[ducks_rcool329]

Okay, So I'm building a coop for 5-9 Bantam Chickens (Japanese and Milli D'Uccle). The coop itself is the same in both, but I need help choosing which run design works best. Thanks!

The demsions of the coop is 4ftx8ftx4ft tall and off the ground by 1 foot.

This run is 7ft wide by 12ft long (including coop) and 8ft tall
In this one, the space underneath the coop will be part of the run
Also, the end of the hutch that is not enclosed would be hinged and could be used as a door for cleaning? or perhaps a way to let them free range?

And this run is 12ft long, by 12ft wide (Just broken up so it will go around a pond that is in the way)

 

[georgiagail]

I'd go with the first one because...

1. A 7 foot wide by 12 foot long would be easier to cover (I'm going to assuming you plan on covering this).

and

2. We're planning the same thing (a coop for bantams) and our will be a bit narrower (5 feet since it's going between two trees) but 15 feet long.

Again, it will be easier for us to cover a longer, narrower, wider one using the same technique we did for our "big chick" coop:

Gail

 

[ducks_rcool329]

Tanks, and I am planning on coving it, and putting hardwire cloth on the bottom.

 

[chuckzoo]

Quote:
I like your roof, what is it covered with?

 

[ducks_rcool329]

Quote:
I like your roof, what is it covered with?

I was wondering that my self?

 

[georgiagail]

3/4" PVC pipe placed every 3 feet and held in place with these:

Then covered with hardward cloth attached to the pipe with zip ties:

Gail

 

[chicmom]

Looks good, I personally would just go with the first, simple rectangle shaped run.

One thing I wanted to mention, (from my own experience).....I have a coop and run, also with that space underneath, and I literally have to crawl down on my hands and knees to clean that......Perhaps you could make the back fencing (underneath behind) a sort of gate that you could open to make it easier to rake out, so you won't have kneel down in the run where the chicken poop is....

I wish I had done that with mine......

Wonderful pics! Lucky chickens!

 

[Captain Carrot]

Nice plans, I'd also go with the first plan, looks much easier.

Why do you need it to be that tall though? Unless you or someone in your household is really tall, then a run of five feet with a covering like Gails over the top will give you plenty of head room and save money on covering the sides of the run.

A small door at the back of the run, under the house is a must. I recently built a small coop and run for some chickens which is also raised. I added the door and this is where the birds feed. Keeping the feeders under the house keeps it dry and the door makes it super easy to refill the feeders.

 

[ducks_rcool329]

Quote:
Our duck coop is 8ft tall, and I am planning to attach the run to the exist coop to save on lumber and wire. The picture shows how I plan to do it

The Chicken Coop alone: