Coop design

[Rodrad]

Few more questions regarding my plan for a small coop, 9-10 chickens:

- what is a good distance of the floor above the ground,
- what is the optimal height of the wall/roof above the highest roosting perch,
- winter vents, I plan one on east and one on west side, can they be at the same height in the gables?

I would appreciate all inputs.
Thanks

 

[Ted Brown]

- IMO it varies to the size of the coop, the smaller "the lower". The rule of thumb (if there is one) is YOUR access when something goes amiss (injured/dead bird, removal of debris, etc). Mine is 10' by 16' and my crawl space is 3'+ because I wanted it as covered run space.
- depends again: birds glide when they dismount they need a glide path at least the height of the roost; too high and legs can be damaged; small/young birds need easy access. My roosts are at the same level, 8" up from drop boards that are 30" above the floor.
- gables are the best vent location, above the chickens so provides ventilation without draft; yes to same level; need 1 sq ft per bird.

 

[Rodrad]

Thank you Ted for a very good input. I clear understand and will put winter vents only on the gables.

Now I am thinking to set the floor as high as my wheelbarrow is so the litter can be scooped directly in it. Possibly 2’.

Not quite sure I understand your input on the roost/perches. My initial question was regarding what is a good height of the coop with respect to the highest perch location, if that really matters (I heard that if the coop is too tall the chickens may be cold in winter?!).

I assume it will be at least 5 ft tall, so I could get in on a needed occasions. My plan is to have the nesting boxes attached to the outside wall, it will be fairly narrow (5’x8’), so the litter can be scooped out through the door plus will have a poop board which can be slid outside through the wall.

However, I have now more specific questions regarding the roost:
- what is the good design of perch plank, is the actual width of 1 3/4” (with rounded edges) ok,
- plan to have staggered perches, low one at about 18”, the second one 12” higher and 12” horizontally distanced by 12”, and being 12” from the wall, both going full width of the coop (5 ft), is that ok?

i reall appreciate your comments.

 

[Ted Brown]

Thank you Ted for a very good input. I clear understand and will put winter vents only on the gables.

Now I am thinking to set the floor as high as my wheelbarrow is so the litter can be scooped directly in it. Possibly 2’.

Not quite sure I understand your input on the roost/perches. My initial question was regarding what is a good height of the coop with respect to the highest perch location, if that really matters (I heard that if the coop is too tall the chickens may be cold in winter?!).

I assume it will be at least 5 ft tall, so I could get in on a needed occasions. My plan is to have the nesting boxes attached to the outside wall, it will be fairly narrow (5’x8’), so the litter can be scooped out through the door plus will have a poop board which can be slid outside through the wall.

However, I have now more specific questions regarding the roost:
- what is the good design of perch plank, is the actual width of 1 3/4” (with rounded edges) ok,
- plan to have staggered perches, low one at about 18”, the second one 12” higher and 12” horizontally distanced by 12”, and being 12” from the wall, both going full width of the coop (5 ft), is that ok?

i reall appreciate your comments.

1. Whatever you think will make your life easiest.
2. The inside of your coop (no artificial heat) will be uniformly cold regardless of height.
3. Most often you will see 2" by 4"s (actually 1.5" by 3.5", rounded edges) wide side up used. (There is a very good article that I will try to find and link you to).
4. Same level is best as it reduces conflict amongst the flock; BTW "roost rumble" is a normal part of settling down.

 

[Ted Brown]

http://www.yourchickens.co.uk/care-and-advice/the_perfect_perch_1_2842822

 

[Rodrad]

1. Whatever you think will make your life easiest.
2. The inside of your coop (no artificial heat) will be uniformly cold regardless of height.
3. Most often you will see 2" by 4"s (actually 1.5" by 3.5", rounded edges) wide side up used. (There is a very good article that I will try to find and link you to).
4. Same level is best as it reduces conflict amongst the flock; BTW "roost rumble" is a normal part of settling down.

Thanks again. I think your input on the perches level is a very good one, will make appropriate change in my design. I will be very interested in reading the article you mentioned.
What would be a good height of perches on the same level, how much apart from each other and how much from the wall?

 

[Ted Brown]

@Howard E is well worth listening to. Also note that wider roosts take more room; even inches can make a difference for smaller coops.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/proper-design-of-roost-bars.1197058/

Roost size is a very popular topic on BYC.

 

[Ted Brown]

What would be a good height of perches on the same level, how much apart from each other and how much from the wall?

Normally I read 12" from wall and 12" apart. If you go with drop boards don't forget that your birds will poop facing both backwards and frontwards; impact of this only matters on the width of drop board beyond the front roost.

 

[Rodrad]

@Howard E is well worth listening to. Also note that wider roots take more room; even inches can make a difference for smaller coops.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/proper-design-of-roost-bars.1197058/

Roost size is a very popular topic on BYC.

Thank you, will read it.

 

[Rodrad]

Normally I read 12" from wall and 12" apart. If you go with drop boards don't forget that your birds will poop facing both backwards and frontwards; impact of this only matters on the width of drop board beyond the front roost.

Thank you again. I didn’t know that birds would face towards close by wall!

Will spend more time by designing the roost area as well as the drop board (and how to made it easy to pull out for cleaning. Some people advise cleaning it daily).

I have one more specific question on winter ventilation, which obviously is so important. In my area winters are mild , typically daytime is in mid twenties, on occasions just at freezing point. However we have for a week at a time, several times over winter, the temp in mid to low teens (degree F). At this time I am planning to have one 24”x6” screened opening high on the gable on east side and the same size on the opposite wall. The total area is 2 ft2. My floor area is 40 ft2 and plan to have 9-10 chickens. It calculates to be 0.5 ft2 / 10 ft2 of the floor area.

Be so kind and give me your opinion on such winter ventilation for my coop.

BTW, for summer I will have additional ventilation by having 8 ft2 screened openings (2 ft2 / 10 ft2 of the floor space). So the total summer ventilation area is 2.5 ft2 / 10 ft2 of floor space OR for my 10 chickens 1 ft2/chicken ( what I hear is the rule of thumb).