First chicken coop build, what do you think? (Pic heavy)

[theautumnalfox]

Very beautiful coop! I'm glad you grabbed some hardware cloth. We learned not to use chicken wire the hard way when we used it to build an indoor puppy kennel. My german shepherd as a young puppy ate through it and the drywall beside it. (Luckily she didn't have any negative side effects.)

 

[David61]

Nice but I would put more than seven birds in it. I don't count the coop space as run space. 8sq x15=120sq

 

[Mamatomany123]

Coop is a bit on the small side for 15 birds. Run is way too small for 15 birds. For the run you need 10 sq ft per bird. A 7 x 8 run will only hold 5.5 birds. Coop is 4 sq ft per bird so the maximum would be 14. 15 will be fine if you expand the run by a lot.

 

[RebelEgger]

Beautiful coop! I really like that it has storage right there for easy access.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Also wanted to ask, are those measurements with the storage or spelt just the space for them? You also dont want to include nesting boxes in those measurements

 

[Artv]

Nice but I would put more than seven birds in it. I don't count the coop space as run space. 8sq x15=120sq

The birds will also be out of the coop in an electric net run area during the day. They will also have some free range when we are out...which is quite often. The enclosed run is more for bad weather rather than total confinement.

 

[Artv]

Coop is a bit on the small side for 15 birds. Run is way too small for 15 birds. For the run you need 10 sq ft per bird. A 7 x 8 run will only hold 5.5 birds. Coop is 4 sq ft per bird so the maximum would be 14. 15 will be fine if you expand the run by a lot.

I have read three to four feet per bird for the coop.... We are in a cold climate so a tad small should help with warmth in the winter. It is well ventilated and we won't be hearing it.

They will not be confined to that run... I will have an electric net run area for them as well. It is more for bad weather than confinement.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I have read three to four feet per bird for the coop.... We are in a cold climate so a tad small should help with warmth in the winter. It is well ventilated and we won't be hearing it.

They will not be confined to that run... I will have an electric net run area for them as well. It is more for bad weather than confinement.

If you're in a cold climate I would actually do more than 4 sq ft per bird. If theyll have to spend any significant amount of time in their coop due to bad weather then it's best to give them space. Some birds do fine in tight quarters. 15 birds in tight quarters may result in fights or even deaths. I only have 7 and have seen 2 of my girls chest bump then go to opposite ends of the run. They also wont sleep next to eachother. I 100% believe that me over sizing the coop and run has saved me from those 2 killing eachother.