Coop Height--Does it Changes SqFt Requirements?

[CtyGrlwantsaFrm]

All the above advice, and I'll add that you need to consider your comfort too. Unless you are very short, you will be crouching inside coops shorter than seven or eight feet tall inside, and crawling under a raised coop isn't so fun either!
Can you just reconsider that plan and do something else?
Perfection is a Woods coop! Look it up, and there are plans available free, as I understand.
Or, get a garden shed and modify it for ventilation and windows. Both would be larger and walk-in friendly.
Mary

Unfortunately, I've already bought $400 of materials specific to the plans. Maybe enough of it would work with another plan to make it possible. I'll look that coop up now!

 

[Folly's place]

Uncut lumber can be returned to the big box stores, at least. In fact, Home Depot took back boards that were cut, and sold by the linear foot. Rework your plan now, not after you've built someting too small!
Mary

 

[Acre4Me]

We are in Southeast Texas, so heat could be a problem. We have a big shade tree near the place we wanted to put the coop, and planned to have a fan and windows,

Must provide shade all day long. That shade can move, so tree shade part of the day, shade cloth or roof another part of the day, etc. make sure you get lighter feathered breeds unless you can provide deep shade for the heavier feathered birds. Shade for their water is also important as they won’t drink hot water.

height in coop will help with coolness. Since you don’t have harsh winters, you could even make one side completely/ partially open-covered with heavy duty fencing to keep out predators, might add smaller opening HWC to keep out smaller rodents. If you make one side open, make sure birds always have a dry area of the coop, and one that will generally not be windy.

roof vents that pull air up and out (turbine style) that spin due to rising heat. Raise the roof up off of the walls using 2x4s so you have that 3.5” height open to the air (covered in HWC). Think fresh air, but no drafts on the roosting birds.

 

[CtyGrlwantsaFrm]

Uncut lumber can be returned to the big box stores, at least. In fact, Home Depot took back boards that were cut, and sold by the linear foot. Rework your plan now, not after you've built someting too small!
Mary

I've cut quite a lot of it, and bought from Lowe's. I bought the "12 chickens" plan, didn't see the dimensions until after the purchase. At that point I was skeptical, as I'd heard 3 ft per bird, but a quick Google search turned up results saying 2-3 ft is fine, so I (foolishly) proceeded... I have the most of the boards cut, and the floor framed out already. I'd be willing to take the hit if I had to, but it would be a little less costly to just extend it than go in a whole new direction, since the height would be the same.

At this point, maybe I build the 5x5 and then add a second coop connected by a run? The cost would double, but at least I could use what I already have?

The Woods coop is beautiful...I should have posted here first. Live and learn.

 

[jreardon1918]

Thanks so much for wanting to help!
Pics of my backyard, or the coop plans?

Both if you can. Even a conceptual of the coop.

 

[CtyGrlwantsaFrm]

Must provide shade all day long. That shade can move, so tree shade part of the day, shade cloth or roof another part of the day, etc. make sure you get lighter feathered breeds unless you can provide deep shade for the heavier feathered birds. Shade for their water is also important as they won’t drink hot water.

height in coop will help with coolness. Since you don’t have harsh winters, you could even make one side completely/ partially open-covered with heavy duty fencing to keep out predators, might add smaller opening HWC to keep out smaller rodents. If you make one side open, make sure birds always have a dry area of the coop, and one that will generally not be windy.

roof vents that pull air up and out (turbine style) that spin due to rising heat. Raise the roof up off of the walls using 2x4s so you have that 3.5” height open to the air (covered in HWC). Think fresh air, but no drafts on the roosting birds.

Thanks for the reply!

I had planned to roof the run too. The area we were planning to build is pretty well shaded all day. The big tree for most of the day, and the garage the rest of the day.


I thought about an open-side coop but worried about the amount of rain we get. Thoughts on that?

I'm currently using quarter inch hardware cloth for my brooder, as I was worried about the ability of rats and snakes to squeeze through tiny openings! That's what I planned to use on the coop, as well.

 

[CtyGrlwantsaFrm]

Both if you can. Even a conceptual of the coop.

This is the coop. I was going to double the size of the run.

I'll go take pics of the yard now.

 

[Acre4Me]

Google search turned up results saying 2-3 ft is fine,

2-3 ft can be fine, particularly in a warmer climate not impacted by extreme cold and snow. Your birds won’t be confined to their coop like some are in northern wintery climates.

The Woods coop

Actually, the Wood's coop design is made for colder Northern climates, and not for hot Texas climates. It works due to the air cushion it provides, yet allows for excellent ventilation in cold weather while protecting the birds from harsh winter weather and drafts. So, that is not your best option. Wildly attractive as a coop, but not really for you. I really wanted to build one, but did not bc where we put our coop is out of sight and we would not really get to see/enjoy the coop unless we were at the coop.

 

[CtyGrlwantsaFrm]

This is the view from the back porch. The space between those trees is about 24'. There is a small strip of yard behind the garage, and another small space (8'x20') on the other side of the garage. Originally we had planned to include that space as part of the run, but our neighbor has a pool right on the other side of that fence and I am concerned about any odors from the chickens that might ruin his enjoyment of his pool.

 

[CtyGrlwantsaFrm]

2-3 ft can be fine, particularly in a warmer climate not impacted by extreme cold and snow. Your birds won’t be confined to their coop like some are in northern wintery climates.



Actually, the Wood's coop design is made for colder Northern climates, and not for hot Texas climates. It works due to the air cushion it provides, yet allows for excellent ventilation in cold weather while protecting the birds from harsh winter weather and drafts. So, that is not your best option. Wildly attractive as a coop, but not really for you. I really wanted to build one, but did not bc where we put our coop is out of sight and we would not really get to see/enjoy the coop unless we were at the coop.

They will definitely have access to the outdoors 365 days a year. Other than 15 minutes of flurries one every couple years, it has only really snowed here once in the last 16 years when we got 4 inches on Christmas Eve. It's rare to get below 55* even in the middle of the winter.