Coop Design help needed...

[crono1000]

Hey everybody! I'm new to this (as in, I'll have my first pullets in a few weeks) and obviously need to build a coop. As of right now, I have a 4x4x8 wooden box that is closed on all but one long side. I have taken ideas from this wonderful forum and I intend on adding an external laying area onto one side as well as raising it roughly two feet off the ground and using the area below as a small fenced-in run. I want to make sure I set this up correctly, so any advice or design ideas would be greatly appreciated I also have no problem with cutting out some of the walls of this "box" so no idea is off limits. Thank you.

I will upload a picture of the box in its current state - it was previously used as a coop, but I assume much is missing from the inside as there is nothing but an empty shell for me to work with.

 

[crono1000]

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[crono1000]

No ideas huh? Well, at least the rest of the forum has good information I can make use of.

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[oldchickenlady]

OK, first of all you need to know how much space is needed per chicken. The average rule is 4 sq feet per bird in the coop and 10 sq feet per bird in the run. Are you talking about just having a 4x8 run underneath the coop? If that is the case you only have room for 3 chickens, unless they are going to be bantams. Chickens require space and room or they can become very stressed and start pecking each other...to the point of drawing blood! I hate to see people advertise tiny chicken tractors that should hold no more than 2 or 3 birds as being big enough for 8-10.

Second of all, get rid of the chicken wire on the front of the coop and put heavy duty hardware cloth or 1x2 welded wire on it. Chicken wire will not keep out any predators, it only keeps chickens in! Raccoons, opossums, and even skunks can rip through chicken wire like paper, not to mention dogs. Another consideration is where the coop will be located. What is your climate like? It should not be sitting out in the sun all the time, as chickens don't deal with extreme heat very well. They can take cold very well, but not heat.

Last but not least...before you get your chicks/chickens, read, read, read! This website is a treasure trove of information! Use it! You also need to think about where you will have your feeder, it needs to be protected from weather so your feed doesn't get wet and spoil. Check out the coop design pages, and look at the pictures. You can get great ideas for your coop and run by looking at others. Also, if you have any questions concerning a particular issue, type it into the search box on the home page and it will bring up past discussions on that subject. You can learn a lot from other people's mistakes!

You have a great start to a chicken coop and run, it just needs some modifications to make it a great coop. Like a 2x4 roost pole (for full size chickens) as chickens don't grip with their feet as well as other birds and it also helps to keep their feet warm in winter if they are flat. Some way to clean it out periodically is also a consideration. Well, the list goes on...so check out this site for all the info you can find! Good luck!

 

[SixChickFlock]

I am new to this, too. I started with a 4'X2.5' X3'h box much like yours... For growing mine from chicks to pullets. As they grew, they became increasingly anxious to leave the coop... Waiting at the door like little velociraptors. Two weeks ago they moved into a new 75sf covered run, 25sf of that is below the floor of the 40sf house I'm building. This morning they had that cooped up look again when I came out to greet them.

My current design is a modified Wichita Cabin Coop. The egg collecting end of the hen house is located inside my garage/workshop sorta to keep the coop warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer... But mostly so I don't freeze or get drenched on those bad weather days. Hopefully my comfort will be my hens comfort.

Anyway, build or modify your coop so it is easy for you to do your chicken maintenance. The 1/2 inch hardware cloth is easier to work with than chicken wire, for me, and more secure I hear.

Good luck!!! I hope you have as much fun as I have researching designs and finding what works for you.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

Hi! It looks like a great start. If it was me I would raise it up about 2 feet off the floor and add outside nesting boxes, like you said. I would tear off the chicken wire front and replace it with hardware cloth, and a large human door so you can easily clean everything out/ replace bedding, etc. You might also consider your climate. If you live in a hot climate you might add a window on one side to help with air flow in the summer heat. One that you can close up in winter will be ideal. I'd also add a ledge across the front to hold bedding in. And you might consider a waterproof roof- maybe one slanted away from the open front. Place it in your yard where winds won't blow into the front and ideally where sun won't hit the front too much.

 

[crono1000]

Ok... So first off, thanks for the tips. After taking this pic, I immediately tore off all that chicken wire. It was old and torn anyways (probably from a predator during its previous ownership). Also, I live in MA for those wondering about climate. As for the run, I plan on having the underneath of the coop as part of the run, while also having an area open to the sun as well. That way there is shady and sunny areas for them, as well as inside the coop. My plan is to build a removable wall that is made of a frame and the better wire everybody here keeps talking about. I may end up laminating the floor as well, so as to make clean up easier. I was thinking big branches for perching, but the flat 2x4 idea sounds good especially due to our cold winters. I intend to have 6-8 birds at all times by the way.

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[crono1000]

Oh... I also will be adding a roof to it. And from what I've heard, the windows should face south. Is that true? I'm getting conflicting ideas on whether the chickens like sun or not.

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[CrazyChickGirl]

Chickens love sun when it's cool. When it's really hot they need shade though. It sounds like you know what you are doing and have some great ideas

 

[crono1000]

I've put enough research into it for sure. Not to mention, I've been listening to "The Survival Podcast for years and have gained knowledge from that along the way as well. But making sure everything is built right is different than just knowing how to. Experience is what makes a difference. So gaining knowledge from others mistakes and triumphs is my goal. But I think I almoat know enough to do it right the first time. Hopefully haha

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