Coop Design: Did I screw up bad?

[djdavis75]

So we've been thinking about getting chickens, for the eggs mostly, so I decided to build a chicken coop. I originally was going to build it a bit larger than it turned out, but due to the lack of tin I had for roofing, I had to size it down a bit.

It's basically a 9' x 5' open structure with a tin roof. It's 8' tall on one end, and the tin slopes down to 6' tall on the other end. It sets on the ground, and all sides are covered with chicken wire. There is no floor. It has a door, about 2.5' wide on the 8' tall by 5' wide end of it.

On the 6' end, chickens would only have access to the bottom 2' of the structure, because what I call the laying box, is located above that area. The laying box is 2' above ground, 3' by the full width (5') of the structure. Chickens could not get on top of the laying box, because I read it could contaminate the eggs, plus there is a outside opening on the top of the box (still under the tin) to access the 4 nest boxes inside. The nest boxes are about 14" x 12" and all along the back of the 5' x 3' laying box. The laying box is about 2' tall. The laying box is totally enclosed except for about a 2' x 2' opening, with ramp, where chickens can enter/exit.

So basically the chickens will have a 9' x 5' ground accessible area, that is totally enclosed with chicken wire, and covered by tin. They would have an enclosed area, 2' above ground, that is 3' by 5' by 2' tall. This area has the back 1' divided into 4 nesting areas.

There is a roost area that 2' wide, with boards 1" thick, one located at 2' above ground, and the other at 4' above ground. These are in the outside, chicken wire enclosed/tin covered area, but not in the enclosed area (aka laying box).

So will this work at all? Will it support 5 to 7 chickens?

I don't want to get chickens and not have a suitable place for them to live.

Thanks,
David

 

[rickyarthur]

Pics would be helpfull, but yes from what you describe you should have plenty of room for 5-7 chickens.

 

[djdavis75]

It's not very pretty, but here it is...Made from some old rough cut lumber that has been setting in my barn for 10 years, some used tin, and $10 worth of used chicken wire.

 

[karlamaria]

Very nice you did good! Cuts not big so you must have just 2/3 birds?

 

[Kjf18]

Looks good. Love the rough cut lumber. My only concern is with the chicken wire and whether it will keep out predators.

KJF

 

[djdavis75]

I was planning on getting 3 hens and maybe a rooster. I see a lot of people have their roost inside, and I didn't understand this when I built it. I assumed the chickens would go in the box to sleep when it was cold. So I may have to add more enclosed space inside.

 

[Brookliner]

How cold do you get in the winter. They will want to go inside where they can keep warm and roost . You don't want them sleeping in the nest boxes.

 

[djdavis75]

It gets below freezing some, especially at night, in the winter. Most winter days generally warm above freezing, but in the dead of winter it can stay below freezing for a few days. It seldom drops below the 20's, but we can have a slightly colder night or two during the winter.

 

[Brookliner]

Mine sit on the roost tight against each other in the winter on an inside roost. Your roost should probably be inside higher than your nest boxes as they like to sleep in the highest place. The roost should be wide enough for them to sit like a 2x4 with the 4" side on top. Good luck and welcome to BYC.

 

[GhostRider65]

Looks good to me, only thing is the loops of hose for there water may give you some trouble. I would cut it down to a few feet and no loops, also the chicken wire is ok but the bottom 2/3 should be heavier, or thicker wire, so coons or something can't chew thru it..... Otherwise awsum job............
I think 2 or 3 hens and a roo should be ok, add some roosts to increase there space if they seem to pick or fight. Kim