coop design questions

[junior67]

This is basically the coop we are planning on building. it is 4x8. We are going to have a run coming off one of the 8' sides. The run will be a covered 8x10 run (may add on an uncovered section but need to lay it out in the space we are planning on putting it to see how much room). My question is where should I put the windows, door to get in it for us, and the nest box since one of the 8' sides will be facing a covered run. Planning on putting wire covered only windows up in the peak of the roof on both sides for ventilation and then under the eves will be all open covered with wire for more ventilation. But want windows for light and also that can be opened in the summer when it is hotter out. one 4' side will be about 8-10' way from a 6ft fence.

 

[aart]

Think it is more the wire cutters that was the worst.

I found sheet metal shears to work best on HC...
.....way better than any of the half dozen wire cutters I have.
And I have this edge bender to fold over the pointy parts.

 

[jreardon1918]

Thank you. The windows will be able to be closed and will only be used for ventilation/air during the hotter months. We have a 6ft fence around our back yard and the coop will be close to it on one side so it doesn't get very windy back there. I have never noticed they winds mainly blowing in one direction here they seem to come from all over. Thanks for info on directions the windows face I didn't even think of that.

We have the same coop. We located the attached to the front. It is functional and prevents rain and snow from getting in the open windows. We always leave the windows open as I think the design needs more ventilation. The whole back of our coop opens to allow for easy clean out. Which we do a couple times per year.

 

[junior67]

not sure why all of this is on this thread. I know what I have set aside for the coop and run and it is more than enough for both. My husband has great carpentry skills so not worried about that at all. We have a fenced in yard so with supervision the chickens can run there but I also have dogs so that is why they can't free range all the time unless we divide the yard in half which we have talked about. But I always try to give my pets at least the recommended space or bigger. I have a large cage for 1 parakeet (not the tiny little ones), a dwarf hamster is in a 40 gal tank, when we had guinea pigs they were in a 5'x3' wire cage that we built. So all this being said the coop will either be 4x8 or 8x8 just need to see on what my husband feels is best and the run will be 8x10 covered and most likely some extra that will be uncovered. The nest boxes will be on the outside of the coop so that isn't even included in the 4x8. I am not putting my coop "in" my run but instead will be attached to it. We are still trying to figure out if we will raise it 2' or not if so then they also have that area under the coop that they can use as part of their run.

All that said this argument is a mute point on this post. I have done my research for what is the min for happy healthy birds and that is what I will follow if not more. Same as I have done for any other pet that we have owned.

 

[aart]

Its why a dog will dig right next to the fence, instead of several feet away, and why they dig the bare minimum to slip undrr a fence,rather than deep down and tunneling.

Most animals will do this.
Why it's best to have apron closer to surface.

 

[junior67]

Started the coop build.

 

[junior67]

A few pictures of the progress. Still need to cut in windows, vents, nest box hole. But it is coming along.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks. How do you know if it is too much air movement for a summer day? I mean if we had a storm I wouldn't have it open or our cooler summer days. But it will be like right around their head area if not lower so not even like just a tiny bit over them but right on them. I don't want them getting chilled or hurt them even in the summer when it is warm by having too much.

If the ribbon (in my previously mentioned test) is fluttering noticeably, then that's a lot of air movement. Slight fluttering is just fine.

Just because a window or vent is right next to a roost doesn't mean it'll be an issue. My top roost is sandwiched between two windows and both are open 99% of the time, through rain, snow, windstorms. The only time they get closed if we get a windstorm with rain/snow blowing directly in the direction of the windows as that can drive precipitation into the coop, however generally our winds blow from the south, which has no windows.

 

[junior67]

Good move!
It looks like there is no overhang at all.
You'll also be glad when standing on the porch in the rain.
Will the run roof be a direct extension of the coop roof?

I swear we put a small overhang on it but looked today when we were working on it and there isn't. We did shimmy the front back a bit so we can put the plywood from the run on the very edge of the coop so yes they will be a direct extension and all shingled as one.

Where we are putting the fly rafter I won't have to go on that side at all. The run comes off the other side where the human door and chicken door is so that will be completely covered. now getting eggs in the rain may stink a bit since the nesting box hangs out further than the 12" overhang above it. haahaa. But glad we figured out that for ventilation since we will add 3 sq ft of ventilation with that part of the wall open, well guess a bit less since it was going to have louvered vents which would have added some. But I will now have 6.22 sq ft in the gables, around 4ish in the soffits. And I believe the window closest to the doors on each side can be left open but don't have to be now since I have the 10 sq ft of ventilation and have 10 chickens now. I can't remember what the windows add but it was a decent amt as well if I leave them open.

 

[junior67]

Gables are cute and fly rafter done. Now to start to cover with hardware cloth, then frame them inside since that can be done with rain. With no windows open there is about 11sq ft of ventilation. 2 windows away from roost make it a bit over 14. If all are open it is about 17.5.