City coops

[Nikki Biron Throm]

We are building a coop for 4 chickens this weekend. City regulations are ‘24 square feet, coop and run included’. We have a very nice chicken officer who will let us use our existing dog kennel as the run, however, I don’t want to push my limits too much.
We were planning on building a 4’x4’ coop. When insulated and framed out, in order to have a 4’x4’ inner dimensions, the coop would need to be 4’8”x4’x8” outer dimensions...I don’t want to give the chicken officer a heart attack when she comes to approve my coop, SO..

My question is: do I build a coop with inner dimensions of 4’x4’, do I make one with OUTER DIMENSIONS 4’x4’ ( which then gives me 3’4”x3’4” inner dimensions), or do I spilt the difference? Coop will be tall enough for either ladder style roosts or roosts on multiple walls. Nesting boxes are external.

 

[Gooseface]

Why do you have to insulate it?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Oh dear....24 square feet total? That's nuts!
Twenty-four square feet is barely enough run space for 2 birds.

I would build for the birds comfort. I would build a 4x6 coop. You can meet the 24 square foot in footprint fashion by fencing in below it.
Seriously I would.

A 4x4 is not big enough for multiple roosts at all regardless of how tall it is.

Are you in an extremely cold environment with temps far below zero for weeks on end?
With proper venting insulation is ineffective and unnecessary.

 

[Gooseface]

I would build for the birds comfort. I would build a 4x6 coop. Seriously I would.

With proper venting insulation is ineffective and unnecessary.

4x6 elevated with run space under it....that won’t take up any more of a footprint and allow your birds the same amount of run space.

I would imagine insulation will also look really tempting for bedding of vermin in a city setting too. Don’t insulate. Just ventilate well.

 

[Nikki Biron Throm]

Why do you have to insulate it?

We live in central WI. Winter temps drop below 0 quite often!

 

[Gooseface]

I live in western NY, over 100” of snow a year. No insulation.

 

[Nikki Biron Throm]

I should clarify: because she’s allowing us to use our existing dog run, the Run itself will be 5’x15’. We have to get city approval for that, but shouldn’t be an issue. I’m more concerned with winter and chicken comfort.

 

[Nikki Biron Throm]

I live in western NY, over 100” of snow a year. No insulation.

Really?!?! How big is your coop and how many chickens do you have? Does it stay warm enough??

 

[Nikki Biron Throm]

Oh dear....24 square feet total? That's nuts!
Twenty-four square feet is barely enough run space for 2 birds.

I would build for the birds comfort. I would build a 4x6 coop. You can meet the 24 square foot in footprint fashion by fencing in below it.
Seriously I would.

A 4x4 is not big enough for multiple roosts at all regardless of how tall it is.

Are you in an extremely cold environment with temps far below zero for weeks on end?
With proper venting insulation is ineffective and unnecessary.

Yes. We’re in central WI. Insulation would be sandwiched in between the plywood. Where the coop will be gets a crosswind.

 

[RobertaD1]

Really?!?! How big is your coop and how many chickens do you have? Does it stay warm enough??

Really... Chicken are really cold weather creatures! We've gone below zero for weeks on end... they were fine. No insulation! These birds would rather it be cold... than hot.