Building my first coop

[Cbraese]

Just got our first 10 chickens and started building our coop. Just have to finish adding some vents and then the run.

 

[DobieLover]

Just got our first 10 chickens and started building our coop. Just have to finish adding some vents and then the run.

It's cute.
You will want to change out that chicken wire for hardware cloth. Just about anything can rip through the chicken wire. Did you also secure the open space under the eaves?
What is the floor size? You need at least 3 sq feet of space per bird, 4 is much better.
You only need 2 nest boxes for 10 chickens. I would recommend removing all the partitions from one full side of boxes and two partitions from the other side and making that recovered area floor space, albeit kinda short.
How far from the wall is the roost? If it's closer than 12" the chickens will rub their tails on the wall and more liquidy poops will splatter the wall. You also want about 10-12" of roost space per bird.
It looks like you have a nice ramp leading up to the door. What is the hole in the floor for? How do you close and secure that at night?
How large of a run are you planning on?

 

[sealer39]

Beautiful coop!

 

[tralfaz]

looks great, how old are the birds now?

 

[igorsMistress]

Adorable! I'm wondering how big that is though? I have 10 hens and a rooster and they use pretty much all the roost space I have in my coop, 12 feet of it. They'll huddle in winter but like to spread out in summer.

I know some people say you only need a couple of nest boxes, but I have 4 and the girls use 3 every day, and sometimes all 4 have been used

 

[Cbraese]

It's cute.
You will want to change out that chicken wire for hardware cloth. Just about anything can rip through the chicken wire. Did you also secure the open space under the eaves?
What is the floor size? You need at least 3 sq feet of space per bird, 4 is much better.
You only need 2 nest boxes for 10 chickens. I would recommend removing all the partitions from one full side of boxes and two partitions from the other side and making that recovered area floor space, albeit kinda short.
How far from the wall is the roost? If it's closer than 12" the chickens will rub their tails on the wall and more liquidy poops will splatter the wall. You also want about 10-12" of roost space per bird.
It looks like you have a nice ramp leading up to the door. What is the hole in the floor for? How do you close and secure that at night?
How large of a run are you planning on?

Thanks for the input and great advise since I am new at this.

I already replaced wire with hard cloth and the floor hole is another ramp that can be closed and locked. Great point on the nesting boxes had not heard that before . The eve space is covered in hard cloth also and planning on a large run plus my backyard is fully fenced.

 

[aart]

It's Beautiful!

the floor hole is another ramp that can be closed and locked.

Definitely close it, forever.
What are the floor space dimensions...and height?
Nice poop board, but can you stand in there to clean it?

Oh, and...Welcome to BYC! @Cbraese
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Cbraese]

looks great, how old are the birds now?

3 weeks

 

[Cbraese]

It's Beautiful!


Definitely close it, forever.
What are the floor space dimensions...and height?
Nice poop board, but can you stand in there to clean it?

Oh, and...Welcome to BYC! @Cbraese
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2086231

Thanks I added my location. I can get to the poop board to clean it but also it comes out. Thanks for the advise. Still new at this so I am sure I will modify and change things as I learn more.

 

[aart]

Still new at this so I am sure I will modify and change things as I learn more.

Yup, Observe and Adjust. <thumbsup>
Hope you keep this thread going and let us know how it goes...and any changes you needed to make.