Can you build a hoop coop with only 1 cattle panel?

[Cosmickitty]

I’m only looking at getting 2-3 chickens, the hoop coops are neat but look a lot bigger than what I need. I can’t find any plans that aren’t 2 panels wide. Is it not a good design for a smaller coop?

 

[3KillerBs]

I’m only looking at getting 2-3 chickens, the hoop coops are neat but look a lot bigger than what I need. I can’t find any plans that aren’t 2 panels wide. Is it not a good design for a smaller coop?

Welcome to BYC You can shrink the plans to one-panel if you want to, but it's always good to have extra space. Was there a particular plan you were looking at?

4x4 is about the smallest a coop should ever be because when you go any smaller there's no place for food and water.

What are your plans for a run?

 

[Cosmickitty]

Welcome to BYC You can shrink the plans to one-panel if you want to, but it's always good to have extra space. Was there a particular plan you were looking at?

4x4 is about the smallest a coop should ever be because when you go any smaller there's no place for food and water.

What are your plans for a run?

I don’t have one yet, just trying to figure out the best design. Most of them seem designed for 10+ chickens. My backyard isn’t huge

 

[Tervuren]

Yes! I have a cattle panel coop and run. It’s all connected into one structure, but the coop portion is 4ft by 8ft and about 6ft tall. I have 5 pullets in there and they seem happy. It’s walk in and easy to clean.

 

[Mtn Cur]

Doesn't seem like much of a life for the chickens

 

[Tervuren]

Doesn't seem like much of a life for the chickens

You don’t keep them in there all the time lol. Mine has the same dimensions as a normal coop. I like it because I can make it open air in the summer and cover it up in the winter. First year with chickens but seems to be going well so far.

 

[Cosmickitty]

Doesn't seem like much of a life for the chickens

Why? I read 5 sq ft of coop per chicken and 10 sq ft of run

 

[3KillerBs]

To help you visualize, 4 square feet of coop is the size of my doormat:

Three times this is about the size of a standard pallet.

10 Square feet is the size of a standard, bath-shower insert -- one of the small ones you can barely shower in:

Three times this is about the size of a queen mattress.

So if you think of a pallet next to a queen mattress that's what you'll need for coop and run for 3 chickens.

A single-panel hoop coop would be the size of my Little Monitor Coop -- 4'x4' (but a little taller in the center.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/

Here it is set up as a brooder. See how much room the feed and water takes even for baby chicks?

I don't know of anyone who ever regretted building a coop a little larger instead of a little smaller.

 

[mowin]

I don’t have one yet, just trying to figure out the best design. Most of them seem designed for 10+ chickens. My backyard isn’t huge

However, those coop that advertise 10 birds, are actually able to hold 2-3. Most prefabricated coops are poor quality also.

 

[Cosmickitty]

However, those coop that advertise 10 birds, are actually able to hold 2-3. Most prefabricated coops are poor quality also.

Yeah I was originally looking at prefab ones but they seem to be basically a waste of money. But my carpentry skills aren’t great. Plus most of the designs I see are basically big boxes. I live in a subtropical region, my winter is usually 40-50 degrees. I feel like a solid coop is going to cook my chickens in the summer