coop design

[UPgirlRockHound]

I was wondering what the suguested height for a coop should be, because i am raseing ckincken for the first time and i am convertint my shed into a coop and i wasn't shure wether I needed a top or covering of the area of the coop out side and also how hight the nesting boxes should be and weather or not to have a perch for the birds.

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Welcome to BYC and the chicken maddness!

Have you looked at the coop section of this site? It will give you lots of ideas of what design will serve you best.

The inside height of your coop is a personal preference. We made ours tall enough for us to be able to stand up in it comfortable w/ out bonking our heads on the ceiling. It also depends on what kind breeds & how many chickens you plan to house.

I think the recommendation is to place nest about 2 feet off the floor and put at least a 4" lip on it so eggs won't roll out. We also placed roost bar in front of the nests to help them hop up to the boxes. You should plan on providing at least one nest box for every 4 chickens.

We placed our roost for sleeping higher than the nest boxes to discourage them from sleeping in the nest boxes, so we won't get poopy eggs. We also have a shelf to catch droppings at night and clean it daily.

Hope this helps!

 

[UPgirlRockHound]

I have decided that i would like to have 10 chickens and that i would want the breed to be buff orpingtons but i am unshure of weather or not to have all females or mostly females and a cuple of males? what would be best for bedding and do i need a celing?

 

[LoneCowboy]

Only need one rooster probably. 2 would probably fight.

I like to use pine shavings for my bedding. Smells good and easy to clean.

You should have a roof on it to protect them from the weather. Are you building this inside the shed? Converting only a part of it or the whole thing? You will need 40 sq ft. of room for that many chickens. So that would be about 8' x 5' coop. Make it as high as it needs to be to easily clean it and get in to do whatever you need to.

 

[Cheryl]

Welcome! Is M.I. Michigan? If you have an option, tall enough so if you need to get into the coop you don't hit your head! Pine shaves for bedding...and I believe one rooster for 8 - 10 hens is what is recommended. Lots of answers here, look up what you want in the index or ask another question...they always seem to get answered....I would cover your outside area if you have creatures that want at your chickens!

 

[ChickenCop]

Didnt someone mention not long ago about having 2 roosters so the hens can get a rest from the just 1 rooster pestering them all the time? That allows the 2 roosters to pester each other. Maybe i saw that in a book or magazine...Just a thought.

 

[UPgirlRockHound]

I have a 12' by 8' shed and i plan to have a hole in the side of the shed like a cat door and an outside part about 10' by 8'. that is what i have purchased enough material for. yes i am in michigan. i live by the woods and i have racoons, and all of thoses pests. we have cold winters and i am worried about the chickens dieing of coldness!

 

[Wildsky]

Mmmmmm do you have any pic's of your shed - I'm sure we'd have TONS of suggestions.

 

[HenHaven]

In reference to your signature line........Do you ever worry that you are skating on thin ice?

 

[DuckLady]

*UPgirlRockHound* :

I have a 12' by 8' shed and i plan to have a hole in the side of the shed like a cat door and an outside part about 10' by 8'. that is what i have purchased enough material for. yes i am in michigan. i live by the woods and i have racoons, and all of thoses pests. we have cold winters and i am worried about the chickens dieing of coldness!

That sounds like a good size coop and run. You can always run a heat lamp out to them if it gets too cold. I would worry about the raccoons though. They can tear up a chicken like an alligator can.​