Coop design... I finally decided!

[Hillsvale]

Thanks GSIM

The roof overhang just has the wood siding, three feet in the front, one foot in the back... there are cracks between the boards now and I assume will open a bit more when they dry out from all the snow. I intend on putting in a ceiling inside and insulating the ceiling but the ventilation would be similar to that of the soffits in a house... I plan on putting in an attic hatch to open in the summer (with wire over to stop the roosting there...) I may end up putting in some holes into the coop in the south and east sides with a sliding door to close off then its stormy... this is why I am building now rather than wait so I can learn about what to expect and adjust the everything I can now and tweek in the various seasons. The birds will come in the spring so summer may prove a challenge as last year temps went up in the 90's which is unusual for us! I may end up having to put up awnings or glaze the outside windows to bouce the summer sun back.

My challenge now is because I added so many windows (I actually eliminated one which is where I will put the nesting boxes) and I need to plan the roosts which I think may have to be the ladder type, they will have a view!! and I want to keep the feed indoors (in a home made feeder out of PVC) and need to add a waterer location to accomodate the auto waterer that the gentleman whom I bought the windows and doors from generously donated to the cause!

Learning.... learning...

 

[Hillsvale]

neighbours...

one next door (an acre away) sees all the improvements since the summer... they are getting the lamb and goat near them and she has indicated she loves fresh eggs and baking (she delivered fresh warm rolls last weekend), chickens out back about 100' or so from the house, piglets past them.... in back of us is about 85 acres of trees owned by an estate of which 1 of the 5 "children" lives on the other side of us about an acre away... he is a bit of a recluse I am told. The only other person is the prior owners cousin across the way, he bales us out of sticky (OK, stuck!

) situations... he has already showed interest in our production.

We can hear a heritage farmers animals mooing and baaing, he also kennels dogs and raises border collies ... he is about a km up the road and will be our supplier of critters big and small .... he has also traned my border collie (sort of..)

Most propery owners around here have in excess of 50 acres... I have 2.5 and am hoping to but in back of me from the estate...

Just to cover my butt of course, I contacted the municipality and I can have what I want, where I want.. and no one can say squat about it, but of course we are ever vigilant to keep the neighbours happy, thereby the planned bribery of eggs etc!

No to mention that the neighbour closest to us doesn't have a lot of money so I do intend on bribing them with a nice big turkey come the fall as they always seem
to have company and I am sure would appreciate it and I love to make people happy..

eta... darn my spelling is bad tonight!!

 

[Farmer Benjii]

yayy

its pretty

for you

)
I noticed that you can grow plants on the side (

), you could grow some veggies for your boys and girls

 

[Hillsvale]

thanks FB... yes we could plant some veggies for the critters.. the fenced in run will be a bout 50 x 60 so there is lots of room

 

[Hillsvale]

OK, so today (thinking it was Sunday thereby the mill not being opened) I used the last scraps of wood I had about to make the nesting box...

it is 15" deep, 44" wide and 18" high at the opening going up to 25 inched in back to make sure there was enough slope to stop the chickens from roosting on there. The back is currently open but will be fixed onto the wall thereby closing in the back... it will be about 24 inches off the ground.

My question is.... I initially designed the box the have three sections and can still do so depending on comments I receive... I did this because so many of you said the chickens just share the same box. So do you think I should seperate into 3 seperate boxes or leave as is?

Also do I need to put a ramp up or can they get into the box without?

Thanks for the feedback

 

[abChicken]

Hi i like your set up. I have always put a board 6 or eight inches in front of my
nests for them to stand on b4 they go in the nest. I dont have any ladder.
I would devide the nest even tho they may only use one,just my thinking.

 

[LynneP]

I haven't used a common box though many do- so I those folks will comment. If you decided to divide the space it can be done, nice to see it's an option should you change your mind. I see you are deciding how to mount the nest boxes- would suggest about a foot off the floor, and you may want to add a perch in the front ( or not, it's one of those judgment calls). You'll be sheathing the back, right? Try to avoid a gap between the window and the nest box- maybe that's not the spot? It's because hens are drawn to light and you don't want one stuck/injured back there...When the hens want to nest they are less comfortable than at any other time of day so keeping the nests low is a bonus. Now if you think your bedding will bring the entrance to a foot, then you've nailed it! They will be very comfortable and feel safe in those boxes...

 

[Hillsvale]

hi all and thanks for the feedback,

Linda... the nesting boxes fix in right next to the west window... they will be able to see out the east and south windows while in the boxes... its the west window that you see.... boxes will fit snuggly against the wall (when there is one) so no one will injure themelves.

Given popular belief I will subdivide with allowances to remove if it seems popular with the girls... and add a board on the front for easier access. I did intend on deep litter method and was planning on putting the boxes about 1.5 feet off the ground... level with the windows around the coop (I kept the low for the girls and boy (s) to see out)

 

[gsim]

Quote:
In my case chooks just jump up the 2 ft to their nests. I have a walkboard that they rarely use. I thought it might be better when they get older (like me Ha-ha-ha). When I posted earlier about recommendations, I never thought of winters up there. The ceiling with insulation is a good idea. However in something that small, could be that just some insulation bats in between top rafters and then covered with paneling or some such thing would be better. That way summertime ventilation could be accessed easier regarding opening it up more for warm months. Full-time soffit vents via a space between the two soffit boards is an easy and cheap way to achieve full time ventilation. A ventilated cupola would be cool too and could be closed off in wintertime from inside.

 

[Hillsvale]

yes winters here are an issue as evidenced by the impromptu snow storm going on outside!!

... walls and ceiling will be insulated with bat and vapour barrier covered with OSB for certain and an attach hatch will be there for summer for added ventaltion though the three windows and venting window in the door should be suffice. The interior of the coop is 8x8 with 7 foot head room and am very comfortable that everyone will be cozy.