Coop Pics and Questions

[JackieK318]

Whew! We finally have walls. We're putting the windows in, roof on and plastic around the outside today. Thank goodness the weather in STL is beautiful this weekend! I still have to figure out how many nesting boxes and roosts. I'm thinking of having the nesting boxes on the dividing wall to my garden shed. That way I could just reach in and grab the eggs. Please give me ideas on number of nesting boxes, feeders, waterers and roosts for around 25 chickens (standards and two bantams). Chickens space is 8'x10' inside. Also, what size of a run should I build? I was thinking of 12'x12' (building is 10'x12'), but I could go bigger.

Sorry the pics are blurry - child's finger smudge on the lense...

 

[CtlisencedArborist]

Gna be a nice coop for ya guys.I am in the middle of making a second run for my guys.I made a 8*8 that has stood up to the challenge of predators so far.I am not comfortable about the free range idea until I am 100% certain that I can make something that the yutes,coons and ML arent gna get to them.

 

[justusnak]

Looking good!! For 25 chickens...all hens??....I would say 8 nest boxes. Putting them on the devider wall is a great idea. For the yard...if you can go larger, I would. Everyone says... 10 sq ft of yard per bird. So, you would need 250 sq ft. However, if they free range alot...you could get away with less. I have 34 birds in a yard that is about 15 x 40. Of course, there is NO GRASS left. But they seem to have plenty room. I cant waite to see the finished product of your coop!

 

[horsewishr]

Hey, you're gonna have the same coop/garden shed combo I've got! I love it (but I'd like to expand the chicken part and shrink the garden part

)

I only have 4 chickens, and I turned one window space into a nest box. The box hangs in the window frame and is accessible from outside the coop. I have plenty of windows, so ventilation wasn't a problem.

Here's a pic of mine:

FWIW, we didn't build ours--we just retro-fitted an existing playhouse. I'm impressed that you're building your own. If we do expand, I'll hang more nest boxes on the divider wall, like you suggest. Good idea.