Chicken Coop Plans

[aart]

I saw this one and thought it looked really decent

https://modernfarmer.com/2015/09/how-to-build-a-chicken-coop/

Better than most.....but still lacking a few things.
Don't like this part:
"The accepted minimum sizes are 2 to 3 square feet per bird inside the coop and 4 to 5 square feet per bird in the run. However, extra space is always better"
..they say extra space, but folks who don't know better will go by those numbers.

 

[Wise Woman]

I saw those Home Depot free plans before I built, glad I stayed away from them. Anything you cannot walk into is too small. Build a shed with big overhangs, one open side just hardware cloth and windows on the other three walls, thats basically what I did, sorta...

And BIG, I figure if we ever tire of chickens I can pour a concrete floor in mine and make it an office, or tiny home.

So dirt floor is best, I am using deep litter method and plan on a once a year clean out.

Gary

I made up my own plans as well based on my available space, budget and physical limitations. So far so good! Still needs a little tweaking but not much.

Gary, I am looking forward to a tour of your coop someday!!!

 

[PirateGirl]

I based my coop on specifications outlined in Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens. It has drawings of a few different styles of coops as well as dimensions for overall square footage, roost lengths, heights, distances from walls and ceiling, ventilation, pop door size, nest box size, etc.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

We watch homestead rescue and they are always building chicken coops with chicken wire - even the ones where the homesteaders have already lost animals to predators.
The only thing they add is electric wire.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I based my coop on specifications outlined in Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens. It has drawings of a few different styles of coops as well as dimensions for overall square footage, roost lengths, heights, distances from walls and ceiling, ventilation, pop door size, nest box size, etc.

Do you have photos of your coop?

 

[moniquem]

I'm going with this site. There are lots of good free plans for coops and sheds alike. I feel like you will always have to modify something but for a first time builder/chicken keeper like me....these will have to do.

http://myoutdoorplans.com/category/chicken-coop/

 

[jthornton]

I'm going with this site. There are lots of good free plans for coops and sheds alike. I feel like you will always have to modify something but for a first time builder/chicken keeper like me....these will have to do.

http://myoutdoorplans.com/category/chicken-coop/

Just curious what plan did you pick?

Edit: I just picked one at random and they don't show any ventilation at all... no roosts either. From a how to frame a wall stand point they look good... oh and that is the best plans I've seen yet.

JT

 

[moniquem]

I'm going with this one http://myoutdoorplans.com/animals/easy-chicken-coop-plans/

These will be my modifications:
1. Nest on the side where those open doors are
2. Will make the back a door for ease of cleaning. This is also where I can put up some roosts
3. Will have to put up some vents, lots of them
4. Increase height of legs so chickens can hang out underneath coop as well as the run
5. Increase wall heights as well so I can put in plenty of vents
6. Will attach a run on the side where that little pop door is

I can only have 4 chickens where I live so this coop should be sufficient.

 

[Ohmyheart]

I just googled chicken coop images and picked something I like then based mine off of it. Just kind of wing it.

 

[PirateGirl]

Do you have photos of your coop?

I have some progress photos on instagram.

Coop is roughly 4'X5
Raised off the ground
We extended one wall panel all the way to the ground to act as a wind block, the ramp comes out of the floor behind this wall panel so when the wind blows it's not blowing right into the coop even when the drawbridge is down.
There is a small window on the least windy side.
The nest box is made of an old wine crate and is inside the coop, in theory our eggs may be less likely to freeze than an external nest box, approximately a 12" cube.
The high wall is about 3 ft. tall, the low wall is about 2 ft. tall.
Two walls are hinged and can be completely opened for easy cleaning, egg gathering, chicken catching, etc.
The roost runs the long way inside 12-18 inches from floor, wall, and ceiling. It's about 4 inches wide and 5 feet long. There is a lower roost as well that helped when they were little and they'd hop on the low one and then move to the high one. I also figured it's an extra spot if anyone isn't getting along and wants to sleep alone.
The vent runs the full length of the roof on the highest part of the roof. It's always opened and covered by some garden fencing.

This was built for 5 LF chickens. Each chicken gets 4 square feet of coop space and one foot of roost space with ample head room. There is one shared nest box. I may add a second one. The coop is raised off the ground for a few reasons, it gives a sheltered spot for the girls to hang out that is cool in the summer and protected from bad weather. It is easier to clean; since I can't walk in the coop I can pull up a trash bin or compost bin to the side (while standing, not on my hands and knees) and just sweep all the shavings into the bin. It won't get completely buried in a snow drift. The overall footprint including the run takes up less square footage in the yard because since it's raised, the coop area doubles as inside and outside square footage.



https://www.instagram.com/p/BZFT4Q0DcXSFOIZTJyqj_XAArUzUtYtpiWMfQI0/?taken-by=beththepirate

https://www.instagram.com/p/BURpvpWjxG3SxhZaNAU2XW2NxZObKiZVt9B4Y40/?taken-by=beththepirate

https://www.instagram.com/p/BS7Y0efDR84Zc1OeopAhLd11fRDQbP_TE_IWko0/?taken-by=beththepirate

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR_6vM7DSh_vmu4kS_DGkuiQJx6CvbD_Z85D1g0/?taken-by=beththepirate

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRbi2TsDlCV9LcTd6k-INpUco6gNZT0MCcy1NE0/?taken-by=beththepirate

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZq7ikCDGAkGj-rmq8iLMZ1egD_6xxHewC66fk0/?taken-by=beththepirate