Design ideas with this starting point?! Please :)

[LinzeeBrie]

Hello! What an exciting community to become a part of! Wow! My first question... if you had this (beauty/freebie ) as a starting point, where would you go from here?! Build a peeked roof with a half floor and roosting bar? And exterior nesting boxes attached to a bottom side? Or just cover this with a flat roof, and add a more enclosed coop off the side? Perhaps using a doghouse as a starting point? We're looking to house 4 hens, and we have a very large acreage for free ranging. I'd appreciate any design ideas and suggestions you may have!

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Hmmm......what are the dimensions, get out your tape measure??

Here's a good article about Space:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

...and Ventilation:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

....and the height of things:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

What is your climate?
Adding your general geographical location is mot helpful.

 

[lazy gardener]

I think I'd build a standard walk in style coop, and perhaps add that to an end as a predator proof portion of the run. That way, you would have a good sized coop, a predator proof area so they could come and go in safety while you sleep in on a Saturday morning.

If you add your general location, it will help folks to give climate specific advice. That is too small to be either coop or run for 4 birds but it would be an incredible brooder!

 

[HenHouse4Life]

Welcome!!! I love freebies! I would be tempted to use it as a quarantine area should you ever need it for injured birds, introducing new flock members etc. .. or a brooder as previously suggested.
Climate in your area will tell more as far as further suggestions.
Four hens is a great starting point. ..we started with 4 ....3 coops later and over 20 chickens later. ... build for future "Just in case" plans lol. .. chickens are VERY addicting!
Good luck!!!!!!

 

[LinzeeBrie]

Thank you!! I'll be sprucing up this bad boy as a safe run for when nobody's supervising (short periods)...(attaching painted 1x2s on the outside so that the hc is sandwiched/secured, beefing up the latch system (caribener style), adding either a peaked or slanted roof, a 12" skirt...) in addition to a 6x6ish coop, and a 5x10 mid height run for when they're not out and about in the yard with us.