Check out my new SE Texas coop design. Opinions welcome

[GalvestonWader]

I guess I got a bit lazy after the birds got into their new home. Combine that with my kids sports and I just needed a break from this thing. I underestimated how much work this would be.

I had a temporary roost bar that was "good enough for now". Yesterday I finally built the permanent roost bar with poop shelf under it.

Installed some windows and made some shutters. Momma wanted it to match the house so we're doing board and batten siding.

It's still under construction. Were leaving tomorrow for a week but when we get back, all I have left to do is another roost bar/poop shelf on the other side and install the nesting boxes. I prefabbed the nest boxes last night just need to cut the hole in the coop and install it.

 

[Appalachickens]

I guess I got a bit lazy after the birds got into their new home. Combine that with my kids sports and I just needed a break from this thing. I underestimated how much work this would be.

I had a temporary roost bar that was "good enough for now". Yesterday I finally built the permanent roost bar with poop shelf under it.

Installed some windows and made some shutters. Momma wanted it to match the house so we're doing board and batten siding.

It's still under construction. Were leaving tomorrow for a week but when we get back, all I have left to do is another roost bar/poop shelf on the other side and install the nesting boxes. I prefabbed the nest boxes last night just need to cut the hole in the coop and install it.View attachment 4162015View attachment 4162016View attachment 4162017View attachment 4162020View attachment 4162021

Looks good. I totally get that about underestimating how much work a coop build would be!

 

[Brett Faverolles]

I’m in SE Texas so it’s really hot and humid 9 months out of the year. Previously had a store bought coop that I modified that served us well for 4 years but now ready to step it up and build something permanent.

Here’s a pic of my plan. The drawing is to scale. Total size is 8 x 16. The coop is 8 x 6 and somewhat an open air coop. Enclosed on 3 sides but there’s a large 4’ opening in the front. Plenty of ventilation vents all around the top of the coop obviously covered with HC.

I detailed the interior in the drawing. 2’ x 2’ storage for food ect. There are (3) nesting boxes 16” x 16” each with a ramp leading up to a shelf for them to walk on. I want to elevate the nesting boxes so I dont have to kneel down to get eggs. I’m thinking bottom of nest boxes roughly 24” off the floor

I have 2 roost bars on opposite sides. They are 16” off the wall in the drawing but I may move them to 14”. Thoughts on that? I want to put poop boards under the roost bars. Maybe tie the poop boards into the shelf in front of the nest boxes? That would put roost bars roughly 36” - 40” off the floor. Is that ok?

The attached run is 8 x 12 but it’s kinda all one unit. The whole thing will be covered with a roof, peak running long ways and a big overhang on all sides. Run is obviously covered in HW cloth and a skirt will be buried 2’ out.

Am I missing anything? I want to do this once and be done. Oh, and I’ll use treated wood on the entire frame. Not the interior of the coop (poop boards, roosts, nest boxes ect) but everything else. Anything wrong with that?

I’m open to thoughts and opinions. Y’all have been great and taught me everything I know up to this point lol.

This is really fascinating to me. I've been in east Texas (Crockett) probably a dozen times. It's almost a second home to me. Our coop designs in the northern climates are so different, and have different space requirements and probably different predators, etc.
I elevated my coop by about 2 feet so that the chickens can shelter beneath it during storms and heat, and enclosed it with 1" hardware cloth. They love it, but it maybe wouldn't work there. Also, we don't just think in terms of square footage on the floor. Different features, like multi-tiered nesting boxes and stepped roosting areas help to make the floor space seem larger. We also have to increase our birds/square feet ratio in order to keep them comfortable in winter. I can imagine that's not usually an issue where you are. Can't wait to see your finished project, complete with yard birds!

 

[Brett Faverolles]

I guess I got a bit lazy after the birds got into their new home. Combine that with my kids sports and I just needed a break from this thing. I underestimated how much work this would be.

I had a temporary roost bar that was "good enough for now". Yesterday I finally built the permanent roost bar with poop shelf under it.

Installed some windows and made some shutters. Momma wanted it to match the house so we're doing board and batten siding.

It's still under construction. Were leaving tomorrow for a week but when we get back, all I have left to do is another roost bar/poop shelf on the other side and install the nesting boxes. I prefabbed the nest boxes last night just need to cut the hole in the coop and install it.View attachment 4162015View attachment 4162016View attachment 4162017View attachment 4162020View attachment 4162021

And there it is! Looks great! Congratulations!

 

[Doodlemom63]

Progress is going slow. My kids have sports almost every day. Aaaand.... we had a storm coming a week or so ago so I threw a tarp over it because it would have standing water in there due to the pavers not allowing water to drain. Well the tarp acted like a sail and the wind blew the frame over and twisted everything up. I literally had to start over. I was so upset.

But I got over it and here is where I'm at as of last night. Built new frame and got the rafters up. Got the run wrapped with HC and almost got the coop part covered with plywood. We have a softball tourney this weekend but if I can at least get the roof on, then the girls can finally go outside while I finish all the smaller details.

View attachment 4124879

Looking good can’t wait to see the finished product! It’s going to be awesome I’m sure! Good luck on getting it dried in and the tournament!

 

[Frostette]

I guess I got a bit lazy after the birds got into their new home. Combine that with my kids sports and I just needed a break from this thing. I underestimated how much work this would be.

I had a temporary roost bar that was "good enough for now". Yesterday I finally built the permanent roost bar with poop shelf under it.

Installed some windows and made some shutters. Momma wanted it to match the house so we're doing board and batten siding.

It's still under construction. Were leaving tomorrow for a week but when we get back, all I have left to do is another roost bar/poop shelf on the other side and install the nesting boxes. I prefabbed the nest boxes last night just need to cut the hole in the coop and install it.View attachment 4162015View attachment 4162016View attachment 4162017View attachment 4162020View attachment 4162021

It looks great. Roost 16" from wall is good. They will poop on the wall. I don't use poop shelves. I hang a big sheet of plastic from the wall and continue it on the floor beneath the roost. I sweep off the poop everyday and when it gets too messy, I scrub it all. I replace the plastic about 2x a year

 

[Mother of Chaos]

It looks great. Roost 16" from wall is good. They will poop on the wall. I don't use poop shelves. I hang a big sheet of plastic from the wall and continue it on the floor beneath the roost. I sweep off the poop everyday and when it gets too messy, I scrub it all. I replace the plastic about 2x a year

What kind of plastic? Like a shower curtain liner? Something more structured?

 

[paintedChix]

It looks great. Roost 16" from wall is good. They will poop on the wall. I don't use poop shelves. I hang a big sheet of plastic from the wall and continue it on the floor beneath the roost. I sweep off the poop everyday and when it gets too messy, I scrub it all. I replace the plastic about 2x a year

Picture?

 

[Frostette]

What kind of plastic? Like a shower curtain liner? Something more structured?

Sheet of "drop cloth". I wrap the top around a 1x2 and nail that to the wall a couple feet above the roost. I have a tall coop so the roost is 4' up.