Coop under construction ~ Anything I should be thinking about?

[MagistraTn]

Right side is the henhouse (8’x16’) & left side is a garden/storage shed. The “windows” on the coop side will be hardware cloth with awning type shutters. 2x6 roof will be open air (with hwc) soffits. There will be a 24’x16’ attached run, with Fort Knox predator proofing. 18” footer for diggers, strong, typical run framing with hwc & secure latching. The side you’re seeing is roughly eastern exposure, with prevailing winds from the southwest.there will be a human door & an automatic pop door from hen house to run. The shed has two locking storm doors, from outside & from run. I also plan to have a “chicken moat” around my xl kitchen garden. The idea is a double fence system will keep away the deer (fear of entanglement) and provide a narrow passage for them to explore my garden scraps and visit us by the back patio. I’ve found this is a good way to deter aerial predators , and if not I can string some flags across as well. Additional pop door for the flock to go into the moat and/or other long, narrow, rotating pasture areas. The nesting boxes will open to the shed area for easy access.

Anyhow, thanks for any input on added security or ease for the chicken tenders.

 

[cavemanrich]

Looks like you did research well. I will follow along with your progress, and answer any questions that arise.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Looking good! So glad to see someone who really researched coop requirements BEFORE building. In TN, ventilation will be very important (which it sounds like you've considered).

How many chickens?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Can't wait to see more progress photos of this, especially the moat!

 

[MagistraTn]

@ChickyCh00k we currently have 11 hens and 2 roosters. Would like a few more hens, but my one hen that went broody ate all her eggs 2 weeks in

I’m glad I’m on track. Does anyone have advice on designs for nesting boxes? I’m thinking something like this: that I can access from the shed side. I probably need a sit of a plan for my builder with sizes. I think he can just build them between the studs? 5 is probably enough, even if I get up to 25 hens.

It seems like the run will be built from white oak 4x4’s as they are cheaper than douglas fir and he doesn’t think pine will hold up. Here’re a few more progress pics

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Better luck next time with the broody!

You'll just want to stay mindful of numbers (attempting to make sure there's at least 4 sq ft./bird in the coop). In an 8x16, I probably wouldn't do more than 25 (even though you could *technically* put 32 birds in it with the 4 sq ft rule).

For the nest boxes, the only advice I have is to make sure they are lower than the roosts. You also don't want them too high so as to protect hens' feet when they jump down (and heavier birds will have a more difficult time). Hopefully someone else can chime in about the actual design (I don't have any experience with that part). I have 4 nest boxes for 19 hens and they all want to use the same one!

 

[cavemanrich]

For the nest boxes, the only advice I have is to make sure they are lower than the roosts. You also don't want them too high so as to protect hens' feet when they jump down (and heavier birds will have a more difficult time). Hopefully someone else can chime in about the actual design (I don't have any experience with that part). I have 4 nest boxes for 19 hens and they all want to use the same one!

X2
Generally, nest-boxes don't need to be more than 18 inches off the floor. This is so when hen is finished,, the jump down is not far.
Also Height of box needs to be high enough for hen to stand up during expressing the egg. Yes,, they do stand for that part.

And another hint/idea/solution.
If you have an egg eater hen,, You may have to consider chicken soup as solution. Egg eating is a hard habit to break.

 

[Sefirothe]

If this is your pop door, you may want to ask your builder to raise it up a couple more inches. Otherwise they are going to drag and kick bedding out and block a door if you are putting one in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

View attachment 4222376
If this is your pop door, you may want to ask your builder to raise it up a couple more inches. Otherwise they are going to drag and kick bedding out and block a door if you are putting one in.

x2, it's too bad it's framed and everything, but I would've placed it so the bottom was sitting on the horizontal beam above the concrete blocks.