Do I really need these many support beams?

[Kaley]

OK, from the perspective of a person whose daughter works in and late brother-in-law worked in engineering and whose father believed that anything that couldn't be expected to last 50 years was a temporary make-do, ....

How long do you want it to last?

What kind of snow and/or wind loads do you expect it to withstand?

How big and strong is the largest predator that might challenge the walls?

I don't know if you need the doubled studs or not, but over the long term I think that skimping on materials is likely to result in costly rebuilds. I have to replace a wall on my little, Monitor Roof coop because we used a sheet of OSB after a miscut ruined the sheet of T1-11 we were going to use. We have to replace the roof because of cheap materials too -- this after only 7 years.

Now I have to add the disclaimer that my climate here in central NC is brutal on building materials -- hot, wet, and high-intensity UV. That 7 years for me might have been 15 in a cool, dry climate further north where the sun isn't as powerful.

What we have to deal with here is fairly humid heat. Largest predator would be coyote or bobcat. I’m thinking I’m just going to start with a barebones frame and add supports as needed.

 

[3KillerBs]

What we have to deal with here is fairly humid heat. Largest predator would be coyote or bobcat. I’m thinking I’m just going to start with a barebones frame and add supports as needed.

If humid heat is your issue I suggest considering a monitor roof on the coop. My little, in-town coop was never any hotter than the outside because of the excellent ventilation a monitor roof provides.

It's harder to build than a simple shed roof, but a reasonably competent handyman should be able to handle it.

 

[Kaley]

If humid heat is your issue I suggest considering a monitor roof on the coop. My little, in-town coop was never any hotter than the outside because of the excellent ventilation a monitor roof provides.

It's harder to build than a simple shed roof, but a reasonably competent handyman should be able to handle it.

You know, I think I might try that, considering it’s going to be located against a shed.

 

[3KillerBs]

You know, I think I might try that, considering it’s going to be located against a shed.

I'm surprised that more people don't use monitor roofs because the ventilation is so perfect.

 

[Folly's place]

Love it!
Another design to consider if we ever add another coop.
Mary