Coop configuration help

[brezbyme]

Nice and roomy. You can do a lot with that space. Take your time and consider how you wish to manage your flock. I really enjoyed configuring mine.

I highly recommend partitions. They really come in handy for protecting broodies and their chicks, managing conflicts between individuals, and helps in corralling skittish chickens when you need to handle them.

I have some time to figure out the nesting boxes but I need to move the chicks next week and they will be three weeks old then.

 

[brezbyme]

I have the slatted sides of another old baby crib that I thought I would put up for them to roost on. If I placed one horizontally, and the other like a ladder up to it from the floor, would they enjoy that more than both horizontal? Since I have a lot of space, it won't be near the nesting boxes.

 

[brezbyme]

Here's some tips on the 'height of things'....might not align with a bad back tho.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

You're going to need to cut some ventilation in there:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

It does sound like we should put a roof vent or two, as well as the windows.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have the slatted sides of another old baby crib that I thought I would put up for them to roost on. If I placed one horizontally, and the other like a ladder up to it from the floor, would they enjoy that more than both horizontal? Since I have a lot of space, it won't be near the nesting boxes.

It's amazing how fast they grow, and how much 20 birds can weigh. While you may get away with that crib side for a week or two, they will all want to be at the same height, and most likely on the same perch. So, they will essentially outgrow that faster than you can put it up. I suggest that you not spend any time configuring things "for chicks" but go straight to "configuring for hens!". The chicks will adapt to the normal accommodations for adult sized birds. They will readily perch on the adult perches you install. I suggest 2 x 4, with edges rounded/sanded, laid on the flat. Put the perches at least 15" from back wall, allow 1 l.f./bird. Aart gives good recommendations for making the best use of your vertical space. If you put nest boxes in now, cover them up until the birds are close to POL to prevent the pullets from sleeping in the boxes.

General space recommendation: 4 s.f. in coop per bird.

Ventilation: = to 10% of floor space, or 1 s.f./bird. I like to have floor level AND ceiling level vents to take advantage of natural air flow (heat rises). Soffit vents, gable vents, and windows are all helpful.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Definitely read the ventilation article Aart posted. Rule-of-thumb would be you need 20 sq ft of ventilation in their - no small amount! And Lazy Gardener got her post finished before me

X2 on the upper AND lower vents! I'd do very large end vents at the peak of the gambrel roof since you don't have eaves to vent.

I assume in OK you get a lot of wind fairly often? Depending on if the prevailing winds can change directions (at my place they do - and wildly) you may need a lot more than 20 sq ft of ventilation with each vent having the ability to be shuttered so you can alter the ventilation pattern to keep full ventilation on the leeward sides of the coop regardless of wind direction.

You'll want the roosts midway between upper and lower vents so no drafts can find the roosts.

An unshaded coop isn't a problem if the have enough shade, shelter, and predator protection in the run. Just make sure it can cool off enough in summer evenings so it's not too hot in there when it's time to roost

Oh and make sure all vents are screened to keep our predators, too I use 1/4" hardware cloth. It's not indestructible, but it's painful enough to defeat that most predators won't bother trying to deal with it. I would strongly recommend AGAINST poultry netting. It's good for keeping chickens in... and that's about it.

Good luck!

 

[brezbyme]

Definitely read the ventilation article Aart posted. Rule-of-thumb would be you need 20 sq ft of ventilation in their - no small amount! And Lazy Gardener got her post finished before me

X2 on the upper AND lower vents! I'd do very large end vents at the peak of the gambrel roof since you don't have eaves to vent.

I assume in OK you get a lot of wind fairly often? Depending on if the prevailing winds can change directions (at my place they do - and wildly) you may need a lot more than 20 sq ft of ventilation with each vent having the ability to be shuttered so you can alter the ventilation pattern to keep full ventilation on the leeward sides of the coop regardless of wind direction.

You'll want the roosts midway between upper and lower vents so no drafts can find the roosts.

An unshaded coop isn't a problem if the have enough shade, shelter, and predator protection in the run. Just make sure it can cool off enough in summer evenings so it's not too hot in there when it's time to roost

Oh and make sure all vents are screened to keep our predators, too I use 1/4" hardware cloth. It's not indestructible, but it's painful enough to defeat that most predators won't bother trying to deal with it. I would strongly recommend AGAINST poultry netting. It's good for keeping chickens in... and that's about it.

Good luck!

Yes, we get a lot of wind here except sometimes in August, the dog days of summer. The coop will be protected from the north wind by our house, for the most part. The south winds will be full on it though. Should we skip windows and put in just vents or maybe short windows higher, to allow for light and vents low?

My intent on the run is to put hardware cloth, 4 foot and partially buried, around the bottom with chicken wire enclosing the upper and top area. We have a pair of red tail hawks who live in a tree nearby so we really have to have a complete enclosure.

 

[brezbyme]

It's amazing how fast they grow, and how much 20 birds can weigh. While you may get away with that crib side for a week or two, they will all want to be at the same height, and most likely on the same perch. So, they will essentially outgrow that faster than you can put it up. I suggest that you not spend any time configuring things "for chicks" but go straight to "configuring for hens!". The chicks will adapt to the normal accommodations for adult sized birds. They will readily perch on the adult perches you install. I suggest 2 x 4, with edges rounded/sanded, laid on the flat. Put the perches at least 15" from back wall, allow 1 l.f./bird. Aart gives good recommendations for making the best use of your vertical space. If you put nest boxes in now, cover them up until the birds are close to POL to prevent the pullets from sleeping in the boxes.

General space recommendation: 4 s.f. in coop per bird.

Ventilation: = to 10% of floor space, or 1 s.f./bird. I like to have floor level AND ceiling level vents to take advantage of natural air flow (heat rises). Soffit vents, gable vents, and windows are all helpful.

I get what you're saying. I have a strong metal frame that I can attach 2x4's to that would allow for two heights on the roosts.
Good to know on the nesting boxes. Since getting the chicks in a good setup is imminently important, I'll not worry about that now.

 

[brezbyme]

Perhaps I should mention that the front double doors of the coop face east.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Yes, we get a lot of wind here except sometimes in August, the dog days of summer. The coop will be protected from the north wind by our house, for the most part. The south winds will be full on it though. Should we skip windows and put in just vents or maybe short windows higher, to allow for light and vents low?

My intent on the run is to put hardware cloth, 4 foot and partially buried, around the bottom with chicken wire enclosing the upper and top area. We have a pair of red tail hawks who live in a tree nearby so we really have to have a complete enclosure.

For the hawks, I'd just use aviary netting pulled over the top of your run fence. Cheap(ish) and easy(ish) solution to birds of prey, which we have in excess

If the winds tend to be from the north and the south, I'd orient the coop with the door to the east or the west and focus on cutting ventilation into those sides, both with upper and lower vents.

It's totally your call on the vents-versus-windows question. I had to build on a budget so my vents ARE my windows. I just open and shut different ones depending on the weather conditions. So the coop is simply lit by whatever vents are open (and the open chicken door).

Everyone has different experiences, but I know I'm not the only person with chickens who almost refuse to hang out in the coop during the day (except to lay) unless the weather is HORRIBLE. Only two days this winter did they hunker down in the coop during blizzards. On those days I don't think they lamented not having windows, they were just happy not to be outside.

However my coop is on stilts and the run has a rigid roof over that. So if they snuggle up under the coop they are remarkably well sheltered. Maybe that's why they prefer outdoors?