Efficient Coop Dimensions

[rhetoric]

I'm getting ready to build and I've heard some newbies (like myself) getting gently chastized for coops that are 4 3/4 by 16.2342415. Math is not my forte (or even my pianissimo) so in simple terms (or just tell me) what are the efficient dimensions are. 8X8? 10X12? Square?

And I suppose, what is the most efficient wall height?

Thanks!

 

[silkiechicken]

I find anything that is 8x8, or multiples of 4 is the most efficient. Standard wood comes in 8 foot lengths, and plywood sheets, siding, and so on, often come in 8x4. A n00b at building... so the 6 foot stud still confuses me.

 

[ChickenCop]

I can barely remember being awake in Math Class in school...But I would say build something to where you utilize all your lumber. 8x8 would be good for can get plywood or what have you in that size....if you go 10 x12 you doing a lot of extra cutting and might waste your lumber....My 2 cents.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Quote:
I didn't know I was still confusing you!?!?

OK, seriously... silkie is right (as always) that there are very efficient ways to design and build coops, but the general consensus is building based off of the standard material sizes like the 8x4 plywood sheets, etc.

I knew a guy starting out as a contractor and was going to start building a house he took his sketches to an experienced architect that change just a few dimensions that made a drastic difference in the amount of cutting and wasted materials (i.e. cost).

This was actually a really BIG part of the community project to build the perfect coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=10186

To use simple designs based on readily available materials and sizes.

 

[catfish]

I went with 40"x96" why? cause thats how wide pallets are how long two of them are.
Guess it could've been 80x48 inches too, I wanted cheap. I had lots of pallets.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

Mrs. AK-BB here...

We built an 8x8' - it's a little cramped now with 19 birds, but not bad. Now we're building a 12x20' breeders coop...

Note the common denomenator of...4! I also opted for 8' walls, and though we cut 3" off each of the 2x4x8s, that's ALL the waste we've had so far, and those will make wonderful little firestarters this summer. We're also planning the wire pens based on the common wire dimensions. Instead of cutting the wire to fit my building, I'm building to the dimensions of the wire. How easy is that?

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Best way to do things! Use dimentions that fit what you can get!

 

[paisleycj]

I got confused once I found out a 2X4 is actually 1.5 X3.5. Geez, all this stuff the lumber yard just figures we know!

 

[Dixiedoodle]

My coop will be 7x10 JUST because that was what the cement pad was, it was already here and I am going to use it! So, it will save me money in one way and We will have some waste on the lumber. BUT if I were going to build without the 'pad' I would have built 8x12 just so we would have less cuts... Dixie

 

[Must Be Losing It]

My husband built me an 8 x 12 coop (well, is still building). Its the 8x4 ft plywood component that was the common denominater for my project, as it appears to be for everyone else.