Building small coop, need advice

[Chantele]

Hello all!

We are going to be building a small coop this weekend and I need a little advice..

We are looking to build a coop that is 3'x3', will be about 1' from the ground, and have a 4-5 ft run attached.

We are only looking to have 3 hens (would love to have more, but right now 3 will have to do!)

Is it necessary to have a roosting bar in the coop?
Should the bottom of the coop be wire, so the droppings fall through, or is wood okay?
The roof of the coop will be flat not slanted. Is this acceptable?
Our plan is to have a small "window" on top, and on the door made of wire to vent and provide light. We plan on covering this with plexiglass in the winter. Is this acceptable?
Our winters are mild (live near Raleigh, NC). Since the coop will be small, I'm afraid to keep a heat lamp in it? If no heat lamp, what do we do to keep them warm? (I'm not looking to BBQ the chickens - Just looking to eat their tasty eggs!)

We are trying to keep this "adventure" simple and cheap..Any advice you can give me would be great, since we are new to this!!

Chantele

 

[Braclin]

Quote:
Is there a Habitat Re-Store near you? They have alot of supplies for cheap cheap.
You do need a roost.
A slight slant on your roof would be better to shed water.
You could use a ceramic light outlet with a regular bulb for heat and light. cheap
if you use wood bottom id cover it with the cheap linoleum tiles you can get at the dollar store for easier cleaning.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Good for you, building your own coop Chantele!

Can you make the coop any larger? 4' X 4' would be better and maybe easier (depending on your materials). I would also try to elevate your coop higher off the ground so that your birds can utilize the space below (1' would be a bit cramped underneath). I would also try to make the run 4' X 8' (and maybe this includes the coop, if you elevate it higher). The general rule of thumb is 4' sq per bird for coop space and 10'sq for run space. Your birds will appreciate a roost. I would also think about connecting and accessing the nest box from the outside to maximize the interior space. I'd make the floor wood. You probably should have at least some pitch to the roof so that water will run off in the direction that you want it too. Ventilation is good, read this thorough treatment: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION Don't worry about heating your coop in the winter, your birds will make enough heat of their own to keep warm. Look on Craig'slist for any structure or materials that might be used for your construction. Don't hesitate to ask questions along the way. Lots of folks will offer you opinions. Good luck.

 

[teach1rusl]

Totally agree about the 4 x 4 - gives your birds more space without waste of material (8ft 2 x 4s). And do slant the roof toward the back...if need be (constructionally challenged), build a cube and then add a triangle frame on top???
I also agree that elevating it is a great idea...once more - why waste material?? Make four 24" legs from an 8ft. 2x4. Your back will love you for it...squatting down to clean will get old quickly. A simple way to elevate is to build a square "table" and simply set your housing on top.
As for your wired door covered with plexiglass...is there other ventilation??? Because even in cold weather you want some decent ventilation in there....
Happy building!

 

[elmo]

I agree with the other suggestions. Try if possible to give your chickens at least 4 square feet per bird of space inside the coop, plus 10 square feet per bird of run outdoors. This will help you avoid pecking problems from overcrowded birds later as well as make your job keeping the space clean enough for health much easier.

For the coop, try to build at least 1 square foot of vent space ber bird. Ventilation is extremely important for the health of chickens. Here's a great page that explains the subject excellently:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION

Most standard size chickens actually handle cold quite well because they come with down insulation (it's really excessive heat that's more of a problem). While you probably won't need to provide supplemental heat for the winter, do be sure to think about how hot your coop is likely to get in the summer. In summer sun, a closed coop can turn into an oven, and that really is dangerous to chickens.

About the wire floor idea: chicken poop is actually quite large and tends to catch on wire floors rather than fall through, unless you pick wire with very large openings (and then that's a predator risk).

 

[kichohana]

Chantele,

Hi neighbor! I'm just outside Raleigh in Smithfield! First of all:

As far as size, 4x4 is better. Lumber comes mostly in 8' lengths, and easier to cut in half. Same goes for any siding/plywood - 4x8 sheet is easier to cut in half. Keep things in 2' increments. I know you only plan on 3 birds, but make sure you give them enough room, like Elmo said - at least 4 square feet per bird of space inside the coop, plus 10 square feet per bird of run outdoors. Check out the Habitat for Humanity off Capital Blvd. for "cheep" building materials. Craigslist is also a great resource for freebies/recyclables. Ask any neighbors of they have any scrap lumber you can "take off their hands."

If you are getting full size birds (not bantams or silkies), do not worry about heating you coop in our climate. The birds are extremely hardy and will be fine in our climate. They put out a lot of heat and humidity. You will need ventilation so it doesn't get too humid in the coop.

The girls will need a roost, a simple 2x4 turned 4" side up is perfect. The width is easier on their feet for gripping and it gives them something to "sit" on at night when they sleep. Also in the winter they can cover their feet with their feathers and avoid frostbite. Our climate is mild, but it does hit freezing here.

The other posts here have already given you excellent information. I suggest you browse the small coops pages to get ideas. I spent months coming up with ideas for my coop before we started building it. This website is an awesome resource - better than any durn Wikipedia!