Designing a coop for 2-3 RIR hens!

[QuackerOats]

I am designing and building a coop for 2-3 Rhode Island Red hens. For a visual, the coop will look something like this - https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26162 I really like this design.

The run would be about 6 1/2 feet by 4 feet, and 6 feet tall. With a 2 feet space in between the ground and the coop. ( Referring to the cave-like space under the coop. ) The coop would be 2 1/2 by 4 feet. It could be a maximum of 4 feet high. The coop would be equipped with an internal nesting box, food/water containers, and the roost - plus a possible poop board. Can I fit all of that plus 2-3 chickens inside the coop?

It will be covered with 1/2" hardware cloth all around. I was planning on covering the ground with a few inches of sand for easy cleaning and drainage.

The chickens will be allowed out to free range for 1-2 hours a day or whenever I am outside.

How big should the coop door be for the chickens to use?

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

This is my first coop.

-QuackerOats

 

[BarredBuff]

I would make the coop a 3 by 4. and increase the run a few feet.
Space Requirements
Inside the Coop= 4 Square Feet per Bird(When I built my coop I tried to give each bird 3 sq feet)
In the Run= 10 Square feet per Bird (I think that is a little much I did not follow that requirement when I built my coop)
Hope this Helps!

 

[teach1rusl]

Maybe for two birds, not three, especially if your nest box and other things are inside, because anything you put inside the coop takes away from living space. So if you have a 12"x12" nest box, you need to deduct one sq. foot from your inside dimension...same with feeder or waterer if they take up floor/living space. Three birds need about 12 sq. feet, and your proposed coop is quite a bit off (especially w/nest box).
Now, if you are in a year round warm weather area that doesn't get winters, you might be able to do three birds, if for certain they would only be inside to sleep. How about a 4 x 4 coop??? Most building material comes in 8 ft. lengths, so there would be no wasted materials.

 

[SC_Hugh]

I have three hens: their coop is 4'x7' (28 sq. ft.) with a 4'x15' (60 sq ft.) run. It is twice the minimum and it isn't big.

I am building a 4'x4' vacation coop with a small tractor run (4'x6') that will attach or detach (pics to follow).

 

[NellaBean]

I have been working on a little 2x4 coop for a trio of bantams......one of my RIR hens went in there yesterday while the doors were open and it is definitely too small for multiple standard birds...there is just no room for them to get away from each other. 3x4 would probably be okay for 2 or 3 large fowl. I wouldn't go any smaller than that.

 

[QuackerOats]

Thanks for all of your replies. They have helped me a lot.

I've done some re-thinking and heres my new plan.

Run - 6 Feet tall. 8 feet by 5 feet - gives 40 square feet.

Coop - 2 feet off the ground above the run. 3 feet by 5 feet. Nesting box on the outside this time to save space inside.

I would make the coop a 4' by 4', but I think I would really like to have run space to fit a 1-2 humans inside comfortably occasionally. I live in the suburbs, without a fenced in yard. There will probably be times when it isn't safe for the chickens to be free ranging with me, but I still want to be with them. (Maybe my neighbours have company outside and would like to avoid a potential chicken visit?

)

We get cold winters here. The lowest average is about 23F. But it commonly gets colder in the teens sometimes. With a few feet of snow each year.

What do you think?