Coop upgrade | question

[Mandee297]

So we’re going to be converting the shed in bottom Two photos into a coop for our four gals. Nest boxes on bottom, little door to get in and out and roosting poles.
Going to add ventilation with hardware cloth up top.
How many chickens could roost and nest in this if we ever wanted to add to our flock? 8 max? This is a DIY project but we want our gals to have a better setup than our rinky dink prefab coop (that they’re pictured in.)

It will be attached to their run so just laying and sleeping in it

 

[3KillerBs]

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop,
• 10 square feet in the run,
• 1 linear foot of roost,
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

How big is the shed?

For 8 hens you need:

• 32 square feet in the coop. 4'x8' is approaching the limits for a non-walk-in coop even with the access door in the middle. 6'x6' should be walk-in because even the tallest chicken-keeper won't be able to reach the far wall.
• 8 feet of roost
• 80 square feet in the run. 8'x10' is a nice looking number but, remembering the common dimensions of lumber, a roomier 8'x12' is actually easier to build. 6'x14' looks good on paper but would require a lot of weird cuts.
• 8 square feet of ventilation.
• 2-3 nest boxes.

Where are you located? Climate matters tremendously when considering chicken housing.

 

[21hens-incharge]

At just 2' front to back they won't have room to get on and off the roosts.

Maybe frame it a bit so the doors stay open thereby extending the side walls then build a new front wall and fix the roof so it is closed up.

That would double the size it is now but it would still be a tiny footprint so would not be effective for 8 birds.

 

[3KillerBs]

Hi there!
so our four girls have 150 sq feet in run (Altho they free range a half acre during day.
this shed is 2 ft. 8 in. x 4 ft. 5 in. x 6 ft.
Just thought this would be better than their current small prefab coop. They’ve been in that a year and a half now. We realized we had this in storage so wanted to repurpose. We live in New Jersey. Mild winters and summers.
.

It's probably better than the prefab, but do you get snow?

If yes, is the run covered?

If yes, if it's secure enough to leave the pop door open all the time, and if you provide a windblock on the windward sides of the run so that the chickens can go freely in an out no matter the weather then you can treat the run as part of the coop in an Open Air type arrangement.

 

[aart]

So 4x4 then.

Minimum, right?
..and in NJ they might want more space for those nasty winter storms.

 

[CluckerFamily]

At just 2' front to back they won't have room to get on and off the roosts.

Maybe frame it a bit so the doors stay open thereby extending the side walls then build a new front wall and fix the roof so it is closed up.

That would double the size it is now but it would still be a tiny footprint so would not be effective for 8 birds.

I really like this idea!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

One other thing to think about.....

Increasing flock size means having a lot of extra space in the coop as well as the run.
Chickens can be brutal to newcomers and attack relentlessly.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Floor space is super important. No matter how it's sliced the floor space of that storage locker is still just barely big enough for 2 birds.

Have you looked on your local freecycle, craigslist, facebook or other sites for free/cheap used kids playhouses (thinking a 4x6 footprint) or sheds?

Nests inside the structure further reduce the usable floor space.

 

[aart]

No way to use something like this if we modify it?

That's pretty darn small too.
You've got to be able to easily get inside to clean and examine birds.
Good roof overhangs are the best way to accommodate winter(year round) ventilation.

We live in Southern New Jersey

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Have you looked at pallet coops?
They are inexpensive/can be almost free but mean lots of labor depending on the aesthetic you want.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/10-stunning-low-cost-pallet-coops.76454/

Cattle panel hoop coops? I know you already have a run but mention these as they are reasonably easy to make and use limited lumber.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-10-hoop-coop-ideas.76490/

Have you looked through the coop pages here on BYC?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/