Cold Country Coop Size?

[Judy]

Check out costs of 4x8 vs 8x8. You would get a lot of bang for your buck to go 8x8 instead of 4x8, especially if you put the nests inside. Outside ones are hard to predator proof or weather proof, and really, unless you'll be collecting eggs in high heels, you will probably want to go in and check on things anyway. Inside nests can be free or really cheap but outside takes some carpentry and extra materials, hinges and weatherstripping and such. Also, larger lets you store feed inside, a great convenience.

Entertaining them is often done because they are showing signs of feeling cramped, like pecking or feather picking, or worse. It's fine just for fun, of course, but not so good to plan that this might be necessary. JMO. It's hard to answer how long they will stay in the coop in winter because some flocks handle snow or wind or a cold rain better than others. If you stay with 4x8 you will need to do the kinds of things already suggested on here to weather proof the run enough that they will come out.

You don't ever need to lock them in, except maybe for a really hefty storm. Let them choose.

 

[cabincrazyone]

Quote:
Hi Ddawn, your message posted while I was typing my last. I've seen a lot of P&C's and your good advice, so I know that you two know what you're doing to be sure!

I'll see what I can do about making the coop floor bigger. I had a great idea today (sez who) perhaps I should explain. I have a back shed that's attached to the back of my stall and a half garage, and accessed by a door in the back of the garage. The shed is about 14 x 24 feet. If I build the coop inside the far end of the shed, it'll be doubly protected so to speak, and most importantly, I can access the coop without wading through the back yard snow. The run would be behind the shed (all three in a row: garage- shed-run).

I'll look into the possibility of designing the coop to extend out into the back yard (where the run will be) in order to have more sq. footage per chicken.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
IMHO it is not unreasonable to try 6.4 sq ft per chicken (indoors, plus protected run) in your climate, but I wouldn't go *less* than that and if there is any way to give them *more* it'd be well worth it.

If this will be a walk-in height coop (which I *highly* recommend for cold winter areas!) then there is not really a lot of advantage to having exterior nestboxes. You are generally better off with inside boxes mounted 16"-24" above the floor so they're not taking away any floor space from the chickens. That is easier than trying to weatherproof and predatorproof cantilevered exterior boxes; also the eggs will stay (marginally) warmer in interior rather than exterior boxes, which can be important if it is -10 F in the coop and they lay at dawn and you don't get home to collect eggs til nightfall.

Also, there are things I can do to entertain them during a "cooped up" situation, such as hanging a veggie in the middle of the room, tossing in a sealed freezer bag with peanuts and raisins inside, and other things that I've learned here at BYC.

FWIW, mine are all totally uninterested in a hanging cabbage or broccoli. Scratch scattered thinly on the litter, or hay sweepings to pick through, will keep them a *bit* more occupied, but not enough to make a large difference.

There are many things I'll just have to learn as I go along. Like, how long will they actually have to be cooped up for cold weather or snow? How will they act during these times?

You'll seldom have to KEEP them in, but how much they CHOOSE to go out is highly idiosyncratic. Some chickens are very outdoorsy, some not so much, and it is not clear to me that it depends on breed or line or 'training' or anything other than luck of the draw. But unless it is really nasty out and you just KNOW (from experience) that there is no way in heck they're going out, in which case it may make sense to keep the popdoor closed to minimize wind/snow/cold in the coop, most people have the best results from giving them at least the *opportunity* to go out every day. And there are a lot of things you can do with your run to maximize the chances (roof, windbreak, hay/straw/leaves on the ground, perches, scatter scratch out there unless you are concerned about rodents, etc)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[cabincrazyone]

Quote:
I plan to have a steep lean-to type roof, with the high end against the shed's gable end. I'll have as much overhang as I can (at least a foot) and the upper part of the walls boarded instead of running the wire all the way up to the roof. That will minimize the amount of precipitation getting into the run. (Unless it's windy ... which is all the time). I'm thinking a sheet steel roof, like the typical farm out buildings.

 

[cabincrazyone]

Quote:
Thanks again for all the info .... all those things to enhance the run are duly noted. :^)

Edited to note that it looks like I can build a 50 sq. ft. coop inside the shed with a few alterations such as throwing away my lawn mower (kidding). I'll make it work and I'm sure I won't be sorry.

Thank you all, again. :^)

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Sez me, at least. No way I would go buy a bunch of materials and build a separate building if I had this setup!

Warning: you are at risk of turning the whole shed into a coop and going over the limit of chickens!

I was a bit amazed at your city's rule about 10 sq ft, by the way. There are certainly people who keep chickens in less in their back yard. Interesting.

 

[cabincrazyone]

Again we posted at the same time. Please see my last one above you.

 

[speedy2020]

I built my with shipping box that has 3/4" plywood. The box was support by 3 piles of cement block 22' off ground to prevent wood decay. The chicken hide underneath the coop when rain, snow, or cool shade during summer. The roof can be use any roof material and 1 end is about 12" higher slope. I do painted my with Sherwin Williams both inside and outside for easy cleaning. I expect my going to last a long time.
If you are tight on money, this is the cheaper route. My is approximately 3'W x6.5'L x3H' and can hold about 20 adult chickens. I do have about 250sq run. You do not need a big coup, but do need larger run for them to run around.

 

[Tdub4chiks]

Quote:
Seriously, 20 chickens? That's less than 1 sq ft per chicken. Do they pick on each other in this situation?

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I just wanted to chip in and say that I just built a 4' x 8' coop for the babies to grow out and boy was I surprised at how small it is!!! IT ISN'T NEARLY BIG ENOUGH! Even just for growing out my babies. I am going to tear half of it down and turn it into an 8' x 8'... shoulda done that in the first place!