Debating on how to hang clean out door.

[John Sanders]

I'm going to use deep litter method. The coop will be 8x8 and 4 ft high. If I put 2 doors that open to each side, I don't think it will be secure without a brace in the middle, in the way. I'm leaning more toward splitting the door in half horizontally, in the middle and hanging lower half as the door from hinges on top of the piece. The top half will be mostly window. I'm in Alabama.

Will that work supporting the roof and back wall without a brace in the center? I've looked and looked at coops.

J

 

[eggbert420]

Build a header above the door.

 

[aart]

4' might not be tall enough for a true deep litter.
Is the coop going to be raised or on the ground?

 

[John Sanders]

4' might not be tall enough for a true deep litter.
Is the coop going to be raised or on the ground?

Raised.

 

[John Sanders]

4' might not be tall enough for a true deep litter.
Is the coop going to be raised or on the ground?

I can add a 1x6 or 1x12 around the bottom of the wall and make 4.5 or 5. Just thinking about materials.

 

[aart]

I can add a 1x6 or 1x12 around the bottom of the wall and make 4.5 or 5. Just thinking about materials.

A true composting DL works much better when in contact with the ground,
rather than in a raised coop on a floor.
Could still do DL in the run, if you're going to have one.

4-5' height on an 8x8 also might get tricky with being able to reach all parts of coop to clean, handle birds, etc. Think about going with 6-8' walls so you can walk into coop,
it's just another sheet or two of plywood, and you'll be glad you did it. With a walk-in you could put it on the ground to do the DL inside.

Just some thoughts, lots of options.

 

[John Sanders]

Gee. Thanks alot!!!! Now I have to rethink everything!!!! Just kidding. With the coop on the ground critter control may be easier. I was going to feed and water under the coop like my last one but with a covered run it won't matter. It will be a bigger pain to clean but maybe the pros outweigh the cons.

What about the wet ground? Won't that mess up the DLM?

I do need a lot of good compost.

 

[aart]

Gee. Thanks alot!!!! Now I have to rethink everything!!!!

I Know, Right!? Better to think this stuff thru before building, than after. I'm a design drafter by trade, we had a saying 'easier to fix on paper than in wood or steel.' Ther's a lot to thin about, take some times to browse thru the threads to learn more. I read here for almost a year before I started building my coop.

Well, where you put the coop in relation to any ground water or runoff is important.
DL does need some moisture, that's why it doesn't work as well on a raised coop floor,
but you don't want it to flood. With deep litter you don't really 'clean' the coop, just harvest some compost once in while. If you need a lot of good compost fast, might employ a different technique, using the chickens to help but outside the coop.
Google chickens composting, there's a ton of ways to go with that.

Critter control is actually a bit more difficult when coop is on the ground,
depending on if you will use a foundation, and what kind, to protect the wood of the coop walls, as they can dig under the walls....but anti-dig aprons can take care of that.
Here's a couple examples:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[John Sanders]

After sleeping on it, I think I will a raised coop, deep non composting litter. I have a compost pile going and this will fit right in. I guess I'm weird but I feel better with my hens off the ground with all the varmits we have. It's not real wet but it is low around here and want to keep their feets dry.

OK, back to original question. I'll build a 1 ft wall on each side and then have a 6 ft header to support the door. How's that sound?

 

[aart]

Raised coops are fine, mine is raised and I like it.
The space under my coop, tho limited for my access ease, is great.
My run does not have a solid roof to shield from sun rain snow etc.
They can dust bathe under the almost year round.

Your 4-5 height still might be a maintenance issue.
I want to be able to reach everywhere inside of the coop easily,
without crawling or even putting a hand down.
I want to be able to grab my birds off the roost at night,
using both hands, to examine them.
Extra height is good for ventilation too.

Here's my theory on the 'stack up' aspect to coop design:
Bottom of pop door is best about 8" above floor so bedding doesn't get dragged out of coop.

Nice to have bottom of nests about 18" above bedding to allow use of that floor space under them(doesn't count if your nests are mounted on outside of coop).

Roosts are best about 12" higher than nests so birds won't roost(sleep) in nests and poop in them, if you use poop boards under roosts it will also 'stretch' your floor space.

Upper venting works best as high as possible above roosts so no strong drafts hit roosts in winter...and hot/moist air and ammonia can rise and exit coop.