Coop Height--Does it Changes SqFt Requirements?

[Folly's place]

A large covered run will be great, and make it predator proof if you can. Then, your coop can be three sided, for better air flow.
Chickens may need to be confined for weeks in any climate, because of predator visitations.
Two or three weeks if a hawk visits, for example. Big dogs, coyotes, foxes, weasels, rodents, just to mention a few examples. Plan ahead, and have fewer disasters!
Mary

 

[jreardon1918]

Speaking of hawks. We had a skirmish this morning. Our main run is covered. But they were out in the uncovered auxilary run. Our white plymouth rock hen got hit. Lost some feathers. But got away. So now they are hiding under the raised coop.

So plan for confinement. Over build. Minimums are just that.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I should be able to modify the coop size to at least 7x7 fairly easily, but I'm now I'm concerned about the run being insufficient. I could make it 12x7, but that's as wide as I can go, I think.

Maybe I could put the coop on a platform so the run could go under the coop, as well...and/or add some chicken tunnels?

Thanks for photos of your yard. I think if you can manage the 7x7 coop, that should be sufficient for coop. Raising it to allow chickens underneath does provide some area of deep shade as well as more run space, but just make sure you can also access that space, in case you get eggs laid down there, an injured bird hides down there, etc.

I also agree with some of the above posters that suggested opening up one wall (or most of it) to allow for ample air flow - partially roofing the run over that section of wall should provide the needed protection against rain, as long as it's not positioned in such a way where predominant winds could blow rain sideways into coop area.

I'd definitely prioritize expanding run over coop since you're in a hotter climate so the birds will want to stay out most of the day.

I was thinking of the increased roost space available at a higher height, versus one of those commercial coops that are like 3.5 feet tall. A 6-7' height should allow more roosting bars,

One thing to remember with raising roost bars is chickens need landing space off the bars, so the higher the bars go, the more landing space you'd need. A bar 4' up needs roughly 4' of clear floor space in front to allow chickens to land without crashing into a wall.

 

[CtyGrlwantsaFrm]

Thanks for photos of your yard. I think if you can manage the 7x7 coop, that should be sufficient for coop. Raising it to allow chickens underneath does provide some area of deep shade as well as more run space, but just make sure you can also access that space, in case you get eggs laid down there, an injured bird hides down there, etc.

I also agree with some of the above posters that suggested opening up one wall (or most of it) to allow for ample air flow - partially roofing the run over that section of wall should provide the needed protection against rain, as long as it's not positioned in such a way where predominant winds could blow rain sideways into coop area.

I'd definitely prioritize expanding run over coop since you're in a hotter climate so the birds will want to stay out most of the day.



One thing to remember with raising roost bars is chickens need landing space off the bars, so the higher the bars go, the more landing space you'd need. A bar 4' up needs roughly 4' of clear floor space in front to allow chickens to land without crashing into a wall.

Wow, thanks so much for all the time you have invested in giving me all this advice! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I wouldn't have thought about needing more landing area for higher roost bars.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Wow, thanks so much for all the time you have invested in giving me all this advice! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I wouldn't have thought about needing more landing area for higher roost bars.

Happy to help! The better you set things up now the fewer issues you'll have, and then hopefully later on you won't need to be worrying about why your chickens are attacking each other. Happy chickens = happy owners = less BYC has to suggest getting rid of birds or doing costly emergency fixes to the setup.