Coop wall hight???

[mowin]

Planning my coop build. Coop is going to be 4x8, peaked roof. Only want 4-6 chickens. Yeah, I've heard about chicken math, lol.

I'm stuck on wall hight. Do I go with a 8' wall or a 6' wall? I'm thinking roost might be to close to the eves with a 6' wall.
Am I over thinking this?

 

[C. Conner]

My coop is 8 feet high but if it were 6 feet I would be able to clean the cobwebs easier! Either way you will need a chicken ladder for them to get off the high roosts. There isn't enough room for them to fly off the roost. My usable coop measures about 7x8x8 (other area is screened off for storage). I have to keep the roosts low or my girls will get hurt trying to fly off.

 

[aart]

In your climate, I'd go 8x8x8 with big roof overhangs all around and open eaves/soffits.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[imnukensc]

Really doesn't make much difference IMO, but if you make 6' walls there's really no need for the roosts to be so high that it would be close to the eaves.

 

[Melky]

Planning my coop build. Coop is going to be 4x8, peaked roof. Only want 4-6 chickens. Yeah, I've heard about chicken math, lol.

I'm stuck on wall hight. Do I go with a 8' wall or a 6' wall? I'm thinking roost might be to close to the eves with a 6' wall.
Am I over thinking this?

Roosts should not be more than 30 inches from ground as at risk for keel bone injuries if higher. Place poop tray below roosts for easy cleaning. Also don’t want combs directly at ventilation height near roof for risk of frostbite when roosting. Same no ventilation, roosts or nesting boxes in drafts in front of doors or windows.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Make it high enough you can get in and walk around without having to be bent over. With a 4x8 coop you will have a little room to add a few if chicken math does get you....

 

[mowin]

Thanks for the replies. And link. For some reason I was thinking higher roosts, but after looking at the link aart posted I see I can have lower roosts.

 

[aart]

Thanks for the replies. And link. For some reason I was thinking higher roosts, but after looking at the link aart posted I see I can have lower roosts.

They will roost as high as they have available, but they don't need to roost high.

Roosts should not be more than 30 inches from ground as at risk for keel bone injuries if higher.

Sigh, I wish you would quit posting this all over....it is inaccurate or at the very least lacking in situational details.

If a bird has room, and unclipped wing feathers, to fly down from a 30+" high roost it's not going to crack their keel bone upon landing on the floor. Roost height has much to do with the size of the coop and obstacles in coop, type of bedding, etc.

 

[Melky]

They will roost as high as they have available, but they don't need to roost high.


Sigh, I wish you would quit posting this all over....it is inaccurate or at the very least lacking in situational details.

If a bird has room, and unclipped wing feathers, to fly down from a 30+" high roost it's not going to crack their keel bone upon landing on the floor. Roost height has much to do with the size of the coop and obstacles in coop, type of bedding, etc.

Aart I respectively disagree and so would poultry experts and vets who treat these conditions. While it may not have happened to you it has to others and while your experience is invaluable so would be others and their knowledge based on research. Please don’t respond to me by requesting this not to be posted because it is important information. Those who manufacture coops follow these guidelines to avoid problems that have been documented in poultry. Please respect others when posting as I respect you.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I personally like a walk-in coop too but if you can control yourself and limit it to 4 to 6 chickens a 4x8 coop will work. 4x8 is my limit before I recommend a walk-in coop. You need to be able to access all parts of inside the coop for various reasons. That starts to get challenging if you get larger than 4x8.

Your roof needs to slope enough that rainwater runs off and not into your run. Also, you do not want to gather eggs where rainwater is running off that roof onto you. With a non-walk-in coop you pretty much need to access the nests from outside. So watch where you put access points relative to the water running off the roof. In upstate NY you will need good ventilation. But in winter you don't want a cold breeze hitting the chickens on the roost. A way to handle this is to put the roosts on the higher end of your coop and leave the area under your overhang (you will have overhang, won't you) open so a breeze can pass over the chickens' heads.

To me there are two rules on roost height. First, make sure they are noticeably higher than the nests. That goes a long way of keeping them from sleeping in the nests. Second, position them where a cold breeze does not hit them in winter.