Building our "first" chicken coop

[jamidoge]

While this is not technically our first coop, it is the first one we've built from scratch. My wife and I purchased a small store bought coop last summer after her spur-of-the-moment purchase of 4 chicks. We started framing the "real" coop last fall but were not able to complete it before winter. Now that the MN winter is (hopefully) past, we have been working on it again in recent weeks. I have an idea of what we'd like but I'm interested in feedback from the chicken "experts"

We live in the country and predators include opossums, raccoons, and coyotes. We let the chickens roam the property during the day and lock them in the coop at night. We did lose one to an opossum one night when the store bought coop was shut but not latched well enough. Snakes are not a concern where we live. There are some small mice which are "mostly" kept at bay by our cats.

Here are a couple pictures of the 8' x 12' coop we are building.

I need to fix a couple rafters on the north (left) side of the roof to lower it a half inch or so and get the roof level. The frame being out in the elements for 6 months and stopping/starting on the project as time allows hasn't done us any favors. We have 1/2" hardware cloth we will be putting on all areas that don't currently have siding, with a door on the north (left) wall. The south side will have a "box" between the 2 southernmost 4x4's from the bottom of the siding all the way to the roof which will be insulated. There will be a ramp leading up to the "box" and nesting boxes built into the "box" on the side to the center of the building. The hardware cloth will extend up behind the exterior siding about 6" and we will add wood trim over where the hardware cloth attaches to the 2x4's and 4x4's on the exterior. Should be near impossible for anything to break into. Still debating on what to do at ground level both inside the coop and outside to prevent creatures from digging.

Suggestions are definitely welcome!

 

[aart]

Love the big roof overhangs!!
I assume eaves are open.....I used HC for soffit material.

Here's some info on anti-dig aprons.....
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[jamidoge]

Love the big roof overhangs!!
I assume eaves are open.....I used HC for soffit material.

Thanks for the compliment! Yes they are open as of now. That is a great idea!!

 

[jamidoge]

Update!

1/2" hardware cloth added

Hardware cloth stapled to the structure, then we screwed 1x4 "trim" pieces over the hardware cloth (seen in the next few pictures)

Top triangle piece of siding added on south (back) side and has been stained (not shown in pic). Some of the trim pieces over the hardware cloth have been added in this picture.

Door is framed up with 2x4's along the perimeter, 1/2" hardware cloth stapled to 2x4's, then 1x4 trim pieces screwed through the hardware cloth into the 2x4's. Will be adding a horizontal piece about 5/8 way up the door to create a square with an X pattern for the bottom part of the door. Top part will have a wooden sign, still undetermined exactly what it will say. The bracing in the corners will be removed at that point. Will be adding another latch as well. The door swings into the coop and there will be a latch on the back side of the door to latch it to a rafter while in the open position (to prevent it from blowing back and forth in the wind).

Exterior is nearly complete! Need to add the top triangle piece of siding on the front side (north), finish the door, some staining, and some finishing touches here and there. Then on to the interior. There will be an insulated box in the back 4 feet of the coop from the bottom of the siding to the roof. Nesting boxes accessible from inside the coop.

Looking for suggestions what to do on the ground inside the coop. Any ideas?

 

[aart]

Then on to the interior. There will be an insulated box in the back 4 feet of the coop from the bottom of the siding to the roof. Nesting boxes accessible from inside the coop.

Insulation is not needed in most climates and can cause more problems than it's worth....ventilation is key and can be a tricky balancing act. Good read on ventilation here:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts


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, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

Looking for suggestions what to do on the ground inside the coop. Any ideas?

To be clear on common terms for communication:
The 'coop' is the enclosed space above where they sleep, lay, and shelter from extreme weather.
The 'run' is the open area below where they hang out during most the day, if/when not free ranging.


What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[jamidoge]

Insulation is not needed in most climates and can cause more problems than it's worth....ventilation is key and can be a tricky balancing act.

Good info aart, thank you. Located in southern MN, added location to profile. To clarify, the RUN is what we're needing ideas on for the material on the ground. The COOP will be insulated (already have free insulation to use) but will have plenty of ventilation up top. Our chickens got some frostbite this last winter when it was -30 for a few days in a row even with a couple small heaters. The larger coop alone should help as well as having more chickens. But I want insulation to help keep the walls a little warmer when they are all huddled up. I will post a picture of my current idea/plan for ventilation later today.

 

[Alaskan]

Often frostbite is due to too little ventilation.

However... if you hit -30F comb points that point up and large thin wattle edges will frostbite.

Feet however shouldn't frostbite IF you have good perches and make sure that they dont step in water pans.

As to bedding in your run... mulch works well, as do leaves, grass clippings.... think huge cold compost pile...

 

[jamidoge]

Red box is where I'm planning to put vent on back (south) wall of the coop
Red line is where I'm planning to have the eaves open with 1/2" hardware cloth, with the ability to close it off during cold weather. Similar to what aart posted a picture of above ^^

Vent for top of north and south wall of coop

Green outline is the north (front) wall of coop (not built yet)
Floor of the coop will be near the bottom of the siding
Yellow is the ramp up into the coop
Blue nesting boxes
Red vent on north wall

Looking for thoughts on this plan...

 

[Alaskan]

On the north wall I would make the entire triangle top section wire.