Coop size ???

[caleng]

I am in the process of building a 4ft tall/5ft long /3.5ft wide will this be big enough for 3-4 orphingtons?

 

[imnukensc]

Yep. The generally accepted guideline is 4 sq ft per bird in the coop.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Will your feed/ water be inside or outside? Will your nests hang to the inside of outside? Will the roost be oriented on the short or long side?

 

[caleng]

I plan on having the nesting box on the outside of 3.5 side, then i was thinking I would put the roost bar on the other 3.5 side and have it higher than the nesting boxes. Food/water i think inside the coop.....???? Any suggestions?

 

[Dmontgomery]

That should work, but the roosting area might be a little tight for 4 large hens. Since you are in a cold climate they will need to snuggle up in winter though. So it's probably fine.
The coop itself is plenty big. If your run is covered there's no problem leaving food and water out there. That will free up "landing space" for when they jump down off the roosting bars or it's too cold to go out in winter.

 

[caleng]

I will not have a run, i am planning on having them range and just be in the coop at night. If i need a run it will be a easy addition to make id think. Since im up here in Minnesota I am really curious on how the winter works with chickens. Can anyone answer that inquiry?

 

[aart]

I will not have a run, i am planning on having them range and just be in the coop at night. If i need a run it will be a easy addition to make id think. Since im up here in Minnesota I am really curious on how the winter works with chickens. Can anyone answer that inquiry?

I think that's gonna be tight coop space in MN, especially with no protected run area to hang out in when the weather gets crappy and the snow gets deep.
There are days on end when my birds rarely leave the coop due to bitter cold wind and snow storms, so I have plenty of space inside coop and keep parts of the run shoveled out for nicer days because they won't tread much into deep snow.
That coop is also going to be harder to maintain in the winter weather, make sure you keep snow away from doors and such.
You'll have to stand outside and open an access door to top off feed/water(oh and how will you keep the water thawed for drinkability?), clean poops, etc.
Just some thoughts from the WaterWinterWonderland of Michigan.

 

[flyin-lowe]

The hens will likely spend long stretches inside during the winter months. I don't have any buff so I don't know how cold hardy they are.