Coop advice please

[Alyonnc]

Hi All,
I live in Raleigh NC and have 10 baby chicks that are 3 weeks old on Wednesday...For my coop I have taken several ideas from 3 different plans and I am trying to implement them into one. I have built the floor base and have decided to go with an 8x8 coop with an 8x24 run. My coop is in the woods. I am working on building the coop and trying to figure out vents and windows. I live on an acre and have cleared some area in the woods for this. The human door is facing NW and the pop door will open into the run and that faces SE. trying to decide which side should my nesting boxes (these will be built as an exterior box that comes off the coop so I can access the eggs by lifting the hatch) be on SW or NE and then the roost/ poop drawer will be on the opposite side. I am thinking about vents on each wall high up I am thinking 3 2”x6” on each wall that would have hardware mesh on each and would be open all year for ventilation. I need windows as well but am thinking windows on the 3 walls that the human door is not in. It this to many, too few or just right? The first photo is the land where I’ll be building the coop/run, 2nd picture is just me framing it for an idea and the final is the base of the floor. Just finishing up the hardware for the bottom and then I’ll flip it and level it and add the floor boards.
Thanks in advance for the help!

i

 

[LJ33]

considering you prob don't get that cold of temps, you can't go wrong with extra ventilation, as long as its above where they roost. You want to avoid drafts.

 

[mowin]

I'd, leave your soffits open and cover with HC.

 

[jreardon1918]

Just a small detail. The nest boxes. I would go with an access panel on the side that allows access from the side. Mine is from the top. The roof is heavy, the grand kids can't see inside. Here is a mock up of something on my todo list.

 

[perkolator]

Just a small detail. The nest boxes. I would go with an access panel on the side that allows access from the side. Mine is from the top. The roof is heavy, the grand kids can't see inside. Here is a mock up of something on my todo list.
View attachment 2112276

I agree with this too. Our old coop is like that with flip up lid and asphalt shingles - too heavy/tall for the kids and also was leaking in the rain where it hinged open and everything would get wet. I chose to build new coop with boxes inside but if I had external I’d use a door of some sort instead of flip lid

OP - is that diamond lathing you’re planning to use? Don’t think it’s too sharp?

 

[Alyonnc]

I agree with this too. Our old coop is like that with flip up lid and asphalt shingles - too heavy/tall for the kids and also was leaking in the rain where it hinged open and everything would get wet. I chose to build new coop with boxes inside but if I had external I’d use a door of some sort instead of flip lid

OP - is that diamond lathing you’re planning to use? Don’t think it’s too sharp?

Great idea. I want to put the resting boxes inside but I would rather have the room for food and water if I go that route. That is just for under the coop. I am not giving the chickens access to that but it was less expensive than hardware mesh. I am using hardware mesh everywhere else. I figured if a predator wanted to get in under the floor they were going to pay for that.

 

[imnukensc]

I'd put the nest box on the NE side. As others have said---side entrance instead of lifting lid.

 

[K0k0shka]

I'd put the nest box on the NE side. As others have said---side entrance instead of lifting lid.
View attachment 2112484

Just dropping by to say that I LOVE the sign above your nest boxes

 

[Alyonnc]

I'd put the nest box on the NE side. As others have said---side entrance instead of lifting lid.
View attachment 2112484

Love this idea...and the sign! why do you have a vent on the bottom of the coop? Aren't you afraid of drafts for your chicken?

 

[imnukensc]

Love this idea...and the sign! why do you have a vent on the bottom of the coop? Aren't you afraid of drafts for your chicken?

No. Not afraid of drafts at all. In the middle of SC ventilation is the name of the game. Pop door stays open 24/7. The entire area under my roost is 1x2 welded wire. When I was a kid many, many years ago, our chickens roosted in trees. They got a lot more than "drafts" without any ill effects.