Design help- first coop

[Eggstatic ChickyDoo]

Hello,
I'm designing my first coop and I'm hoping for tips and suggestions. I'm in Northern Virginia, in the mountains just North of Shenandoah National Park. The base is 6x8 and it will be on a South facing slope (window side).
I'm particularly interested in understanding more about balance between draft prevention vs. ventilation. Should I be putting baffles of some sort between the vents near the top and the roosts?
I'm trying to decide between two rooflines, one with more windows than the other. Anything else stand out about either one?

Thanks for the help!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello,
I'm designing my first coop and I'm hoping for tips and suggestions. I'm in Northern Virginia, in the mountains just North of Shenandoah National Park. The base is 6x8 and it will be on a South facing slope (window side).
I'm particularly interested in understanding more about balance between draft prevention vs. ventilation. Should I be putting baffles of some sort between the vents near the top and the roosts?
I'm trying to decide between two rooflines, one with more windows than the other. Anything else stand out about either one?

Thanks for the help!View attachment 2061674

A 48 sq ft coop will hold 12 to 14 chickens. You will only need 3 nest boxes for that many. I would modify the plan as follows. I like the two window option and yes, leave the space between the roof rafters open top and bottom.
I would also extend the roof line out on the front another 6" if possible.

 

[aart]

Nice scaled sketches!
Think about water traveling down that slope.

Excellent markup @DobieLover !

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

 

[cmom]

I think Your plan is good. I also like @DobieLover'S suggestions with one exception. Originally I had perches in front of my nest boxes but the birds did roost on them and poop in the nests boxes so I cut them off. You can have separate nest boxes or one community size. Keeping them lower discourages the birds from wanting to sleep in them then the birds tend like to be up higher on the roosts to sleep. I'm in Florida so I have a lot of ventilation in my coops. More to let the heat out. There is a lot of coops on this site for you to get ideas from. Also where you place your coop. Are you planning on free ranging or having a run/pen for the birds. There is a lot to consider. Plan well. Good luck and have fun...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/chicken-coops.12/These are my coops. They were built over many years.

 

[cmom]

Just curious, are you going to have poop boards under the roosts?

 

[DobieLover]

I think Your plan is good. I also like @DobieLover'S suggestions with one exception. Originally I had perches in front of my nest boxes but the birds did roost on them and poop in the nests boxes so I cut them off. You can have separate nest boxes or one community size. Keeping them lower discourages the birds from wanting to sleep in them then the birds tend like to be up higher on the roosts to sleep. I'm in Florida so I have a lot of ventilation in my coops. More to let the heat out. There is a lot of coops on this site for you to get ideas from. Also where you place your coop. Are you planning on free ranging or having a run/pen for the birds. There is a lot to consider. Plan well. Good luck and have fun...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/chicken-coops.12/These are my coops. They were built over many years.View attachment 2061724View attachment 2061725

In the mods I showed, the roost is over 2' higher than the landing perch to get into the nest boxes. I have something similar in my coop with 25 layers. No problem with anyone wanting to sleep on the perch or in the boxes once they fully integrated into the flock.
That being said, if the opening is large enough into the boxes, the landing perch may not be necessary.

 

[aart]

No problem with anyone wanting to sleep on the perch or in the boxes once they fully integrated into the flock.

Yup, same here.
They like the nest perch, they can 'shop' which nest they want.

 

[cmom]

These were the original nest boxes we built. Over the years I have modified this coop. I cut the perches off and the birds get in the nest boxes just fine.

 

[cmom]

These were the original nest boxes we built. Over the years I have modified this coop. I cut the perches off and the birds get in the nest boxes just fine.
View attachment 2062057View attachment 2062059

Also don't forget to put an edge on the front of the nest boxes. Some birds like to rearrange whatever you use in the nest boxes and it keeps them from scratching eggs out or from rolling out as others go in to lay their eggs. Plan well. Often times I say I wish I would have done this or that. Sometimes you can retrofit and sometimes you can't. Good luck and have fun...

 

[DobieLover]

Yup, same here.
They like the nest perch, they can 'shop' which nest they want.

Exactly.
If they can't walk up and down a perch and can't see what's going on in the box they fly up to, they may land on the lip of an occupied box and depending on the temperament of the occupant, they'll get anything from a growl to a peck in the face.
Perch in front of the boxes... do it.