Feedback for Coop Design

[new chicken guy]

 

[cavemanrich]

I am having a difficult time making out what you drew here. Is this a building structure 10 feet by 15 feet???
Difficult to read some of the words as well. If your measurements are as written,,,,,,, they are way off in proportion to the other measurements.
Try to draw using a ruler,,,,, and make each of the foot distances, an inch on ruler drawn on paper. Then snap a picture of your plans, and repost them here.
Sorry I cant help you with this as I see it,,,,
But,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,WELCOME TO BYC.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm confused by this as well. This is a 10x15 coop or 10x15 run? Or a combo?

I can make out measurements and the words "perches" and "xylophone," but the entire right side is completely confusing to me (looks like a ton of nests with a... wall?) as well as the circles and the rectangles in center which appear to be gardens?

More important info is climate/location and how many birds you plan on having, as well as a drawing to scale (because I don't think it'll lay out the way you think, when done to scale) and maybe an elevation sketch to better visualize.

 

[saysfaa]

View attachment 3692340

I think it is pretty close to scale.

Nesting boxes along the right side are 12 inches by 12 inches. I like them a little bigger but this size works well for many people.

Ten nest boxes is more than you need for the amount of perch space in this plan. Perch space is for about ten as is floor space if the hens stay in this space all the time. For ten hens, three nest boxes will be enough.

Nest boxes "must be able to come out like cabinets for comfort" - with one pulled out to demonstrate. I don't see the advantage of that over simple doors if you want to access the nests from the outside.

"Wall to isolate nesting (resting?) area from other parts of the coop" - this just isn't necessary. If you did put one in that is solid enough to need a door through it then the hens would need space to walk between it and the nests. It would make narrow places that one hen could guard so others couldn't pass. You might consider curtains across the nest boxes instead.

The roosts are close enough together for the hens on one roosting bar to reach the hens on another roosting bar. It is better if they don't and you have space to make them further apart or to make a single long roost instead.

I can't tell how high the nests and roosts are - you will want the roosts higher than the nests so they don't roost in the nest boxes.

The door shown is too narrow for a people door. You will want one.

Why the bump outs for the food and water? My first thought is that would make the building much more difficult to build and somewhat less useable but maybe there is a reason I don't see. Having two feeders and two waterers is good. You might want the water further from the feeders - some styles of feeders and some styles of waterer would be less of a problem close together than other styles.

Before I got chickens, I thought toys like xylophones and balls would be really nice for them. I've found they do not play with toys like mammals do. They do like dust baths and "clutter" to get on/under/behind - things like stumps, chairs (upside down or on their sides is best).

You don't show ventilation - that is very important. A square foot of opening per chicken is a good minimum. I like the Prince T Woods fresh air concept - the whole end with a hardware cloth (or metal lath) screen rather than a wall.

This thread is old but still a good intro to the woods' design. I found the concept works in a more conventional shed also. Proportions (especially depth to width) matter in either case.

 

[aart]

Use graph paper for good proportions.
And print your letters more clearly.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I think it is pretty close to scale.

Nesting boxes along the right side are 12 inches by 12 inches. I like them a little bigger but this size works well for many people.

Ten nest boxes is more than you need for the amount of perch space in this plan. Perch space is for about ten as is floor space if the hens stay in this space all the time. For ten hens, three nest boxes will be enough.

Nest boxes "must be able to come out like cabinets for comfort" - with one pulled out to demonstrate. I don't see the advantage of that over simple doors if you want to access the nests from the outside.

"Wall to isolate nesting (resting?) area from other parts of the coop" - this just isn't necessary. If you did put one in that is solid enough to need a door through it then the hens would need space to walk between it and the nests. It would make narrow places that one hen could guard so others couldn't pass. You might consider curtains across the nest boxes instead.

The roosts are close enough together for the hens on one roosting bar to reach the hens on another roosting bar. It is better if they don't and you have space to make them further apart or to make a single long roost instead.

I can't tell how high the nests and roosts are - you will want the roosts higher than the nests so they don't roost in the nest boxes.

The door shown is too narrow for a people door. You will want one.

Why the bump outs for the food and water? My first thought is that would make the building much more difficult to build and somewhat less useable but maybe there is a reason I don't see. Having two feeders and two waterers is good. You might want the water further from the feeders - some styles of feeders and some styles of waterer would be less of a problem close together than other styles.

Before I got chickens, I thought toys like xylophones and balls would be really nice for them. I've found they do not play with toys like mammals do. They do like dust baths and "clutter" to get on/under/behind - things like stumps, chairs (upside down or on their sides is best).

You don't show ventilation - that is very important. A square foot of opening per chicken is a good minimum. I like the Prince T Woods fresh air concept - the whole end with a hardware cloth (or metal lath) screen rather than a wall.

This thread is old but still a good intro to the woods' design. I found the concept works in a more conventional shed also. Proportions (especially depth to width) matter in either case.

First of all welcome here this is a great place to learn. I agree with Saysfaa too many nest boxes. Mine almost always share one box and I have 3 boxes with 12 hens.
Where in general are you located? I'm in SW Neb. that helps us all knowing climate, humidity, ventilation etc.
I bought toys last year (on Black Friday) they've never once touched the xylophone! so this year I bought ME a present instead.They like perches LOTS of perches, stumps, branches, we built a permanent perch with ramp. The perches help with integration of new girls.
If this is coop/ house then how big for run? (enclosed outdoor area) or are you free ranging?
I missed how many chickens you were planning on that info would help. I have 4 short roosts/ nighttime perches and I wish I would've put up one long perch instead so my suggestion would be to think about that. Put roost higher than nest boxes that's a must.

 

[Penpal]

Get some tape, masking tape is fine. Mark out the proposed footprint with the tape in your living room, garage, or something. Measure and mark what your current plan is (reducing the number of nest boxes, for instance). This will give you an immediate visual as to what you are proposing.

As suggested above, draw it out on graph paper and use a ruler, and put in your location.

Can't wait to see what you have!