Building a Coop???

[packinaglock]

If you go 4'X8' your lumber measurements should be easy and with little waste.

 

[La Banan]

Glad you are going to fly atter and get it done! There's a time to wait and a time to pitter patter.

jan la banan

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Because of your weather in Florida, you can make do with a lot less in the way of a coop. A really simple set-up would be three sides and a roof on top, open to an attached run. The trick is to make the whole thing predator proof. With a small run/coop area it's easy to dig down 6-8" and layer the ground underneath with sturdy chicken wire. Then bring this wire up and attach it to your bottom frame of the building. If predators dig underneath all they meet is wire.
My chickens don't spend any time in their coop except to roost during the night. Their coop (a playhouse) is up on stilts so the chickens can go under that during the day besides their run. The door is just an open passage for the hens. They come and go at will; no need to get up early and let them into the run. This is where I keep their feed/water and also another roost.
Cover the entire area with a good roof, and preferably rain gutters to drain the water away from the run. I would probably cut an opening in the back of the coop, also, that can be closed up at night if you want. During the hot humid summers, it can be left open for ventilation. Just make sure that you use hardware cloth of 1/2" or so.... the 19 gauge is pretty heavy duty. (The gauge # tells you the strength of the wire; the lower the number, the heavier the wire.)
I used 19 gauge 1" hex sized chicken wire. My hens roost in the coop every night. I've had absolutely no trouble with preds, and we have skunks, raccoons and possums in the backyard all the time.

Carla

 

[eep123]

Thanks everyone, another question... Should I insulate my coop? If so, what should I use?