Beginner Coop Designs?

[junior67]

Yes, especially if the human access to nests is outside the coop.

Here's some thoughts on heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

Thanks! will look and yes human access is from outside. poor boards will be 18" off bottom of the coop and roosts 8" above that. so figured boxes around 12" or so but that would be about 6' off bedding so wasn't sure if too low to the floor.

 

[3KillerBs]

can the nest boxes be a few inches above the shavings/floor or should they be higher than that?

Yes. This is what mine look like:

 

[rosemarythyme]

can the nest boxes be a few inches above the shavings/floor or should they be higher than that?

Yup. Mine are sitting on scrap wood legs (not visible as they're also black) that elevate the nests about 3" off the floor.

 

[snyper82]

I played with sketch-up a little and made a lean-too design. I expect it'll be easier, less expensive, and quicker to build. I really like the monitor roof design, but I don't think I have the building skills to make it well. This seems more suited to my skill set.

I made this from scratch and used the actual dimensions of the lumber.

What changes should be made, and any tips to keep costs down (other then getting wood from FB and CL, which I plan to do)?

 

[junior67]

I played with sketch-up a little and made a lean-too design. I expect it'll be easier, less expensive, and quicker to build. I really like the monitor roof design, but I don't think I have the building skills to make it well. This seems more suited to my skill set.

I made this from scratch and used the actual dimensions of the lumber.

What changes should be made, and any tips to keep costs down (other then getting wood from FB and CL, which I plan to do)?

WOW no advice but I am impressed with your drawings!!!!!!!!!! WISH I had half of those skills it would probably have made it much easier for my husband to picture what I had in my mind for our coop. HAAHAA. Good thing we have been together almost 25 yrs so he understand what I am trying to say/describe or who knows what I would have gotten.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I played with sketch-up a little and made a lean-too design. I expect it'll be easier, less expensive, and quicker to build. I really like the monitor roof design, but I don't think I have the building skills to make it well. This seems more suited to my skill set.

I made this from scratch and used the actual dimensions of the lumber.

What changes should be made, and any tips to keep costs down (other then getting wood from FB and CL, which I plan to do)?

I forget if there is a size constraint or not. I find myself wondering if there is a reason you aren't building a 4x8 structure you can actually walk into.

I would be putting the 4' end board inside the long boards. Cut to 45" of course.
While awesome that you sloped the roof, with that short of a span and not being in an extreme snow area you don't need a 16" drop over 4' in width.
A 6" drop is plenty. It may allow for shorter rafters making the cut offs a more usable length for other projects.

 

[snyper82]

I forget if there is a size constraint or not. I find myself wondering if there is a reason you aren't building a 4x8 structure you can actually walk into.

I would be putting the 4' end board inside the long boards. Cut to 45" of course.
While awesome that you sloped the roof, with that short of a span and not being in an extreme snow area you don't need a 16" drop over 4' in width.
A 6" drop is plenty. It may allow for shorter rafters making the cut offs a more usable length for other projects.

Yea, not a builder so I didn't know about the roof slope being too much.

It's simple enough to make it 4x8, takes some of the math out, but won't it be too big?
my "legal" limit is 6 chickens; 5 hens + 1 rooster, but I'm fudging that to 6 hens no rooster

 

[snyper82]

WOW no advice but I am impressed with your drawings!!!!!!!!!! WISH I had half of those skills it would probably have made it much easier for my husband to picture what I had in my mind for our coop. HAAHAA. Good thing we have been together almost 25 yrs so he understand what I am trying to say/describe or who knows what I would have gotten.

Thanks!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yea, not a builder so I didn't know about the roof slope being too much.

It's simple enough to make it 4x8, takes some of the math out, but won't it be too big?
my "legal" limit is 6 chickens; 5 hens + 1 rooster, but I'm fudging that to 6 hens no rooster

You can have it steep if you like a steep roof. I prefer less for wind to grab. A 6" drop would be about as shallow as I would want. Go with what feels right for your area though.

As to to big....it really is just a foot longer than your drawing. I have never had a bird complain about to much space. Plenty of issues arise with to tight of a space.

Less math=easier in my book.

Your neighbors will thank you for sticking to all hens.

 

[Krugerrand]

Yea, not a builder so I didn't know about the roof slope being too much.

It's simple enough to make it 4x8, takes some of the math out, but won't it be too big?
my "legal" limit is 6 chickens; 5 hens + 1 rooster, but I'm fudging that to 6 hens no rooster

You can always claim one hen self-identifies as a rooster.