Coop Design Points for Chicken Health

[kathlynr8]

Hot wire for bears....and dogs.
Electric fencing can protect coop, run and/or pasture area.
Woods coop with protected pasture.

Not sure you want chickens in the horse barn, chickens produce a lot of dust and I've read that it could be detrimental to horses.

Plan your coop and run for access, and snow load, in winter.

These things may have already been mentioned,
I did not read all the posts before replying

 

[kathlynr8]

yes, that was what I was thinking - too much dust in the horse barn for me while working in there.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How big is the horse barn? Can you carve out a corner with solid walls on the inside to help with the dust and a pop door leading to a run outside. That could make your building a lot simpler and give you a nice place for storing things, like feed. My set-up is something like that and it's really convenient to be able to do a lot of stuff in the dry when it is raining.

Store feed in a metal container like a metal garbage can with kid to keep mice, rats, possum, raccoons, and such from chewing through a plastic container.

Yeah, I missed dogs, they are probably the biggest risk you will face. A strong fence will stop dogs but electricity is the best protection against a determined bear.

 

[aart]

Solid walling off a coop within a barn is an option, might decrease your ventilation options tho. It being in a corner of the building would help that aspect.

@kathlynr8 could you add your location to your profile?
Really helps with a lot of suggestions.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Aart, first sentence in the first post, Vermont. But yes, in the profile it is always available.

 

[kathlynr8]

This coop is very inspirational and beautifully made.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-mid-life-crisis-coop.47761/

 

[lazy gardener]

Hot wire won't work if it's covered with snow! But, bears hopefully will be in snoozeville then. Agreed, a woods coop with soil floor would be a fantastic coop. I've lusted after that design for years. Even toying with designing a shed coop with add on CP woods front section... just because I can. Not that I need such a thing, but b/c I like to design and build.

 

[kathlynr8]

One thing I wonder about in the coop is that they cant get away if a predator does get through my electric fence etc.. any thoughts on this?? Has anyone ever built a tree house coop or a very tall tall coop? Just curious..

 

[kathlynr8]

I like the idea of them being able to roost super high - that seems normal and safe for them..inconvenient for people - so I see why the coops aren't designed as such.. but just toying with ideas here..

 

[lazy gardener]

Very high roosting can be problematic for some LF birds. Their bodies become too heavy to easily reach the perches, they need a extra long runway for take off and landing (much bigger coop) and those landings can be very hard on their feet and joints. Also, don't be lulled into complacency by thinking that a high roost will protect your girls from predation. Coons, possums, rats, mice (yes, even mice can prey on chickens at night by nipping their feathers for nesting material) mink, weasel are also capable climbers. The coop you last showed was very pretty, but not predator proof (chicken wire over the windows.)

And you raise a valid point about the safety factor: are birds safe in an enclosed run, where a predator may be able to find his way in? Picking off chickens in such a case would be like catching fish in a fish bowl. Are chickens more or less safe in free range where they at least have an opportunity to run and hide? Only the flock owner can assess his situation, his risk tolerance and make the decisions that are most right for her.