first coop design. Give me tips/suggestions!!

[kmatt87]

http://poultry.purinamills.com/NUTRITIONMANAGEMENT/HenHouseHutchDesign/default.aspx


if you were to use this building plan, what would you add or change?

We're already planning on increasing the size a bit but other then that i'm not sure what i what to add/change. This will be our first coop.

I have 7 large birds right now.

 

[Judy]

You have 7 right now, meaning you hope or plan to get more? I'm guessing from where you live, they will not want to go outdoors some days because of heavy snow. Honestly, I would build a similar slant roof design, but an 8' X 8' walkin coop. And you won't have to try to weatherproof and predatorproof external nest boxes that way; you can build them out of scraps, use old dresser drawers or 5 gallon buckets, etc. The materials called for there are plenty heavy for a much larger coop and actually wouldn't be a lot more. The roof does not look like it has enough slant for snow country, either. If you never have over 7 hens, this gives room to store feed and such inside, and gives them floor space for indoor days. Many people who start with a small coop regret it within the first months. That's a lot of expense and work for something you might later want only for a brooder or broody coop or something similar.

If you use metal for the roof, which I would, you don't need to go to the expense of thick plywood just to take up the nail length. You can use 1x4 cross pieces or even bend the tips over.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I live in the Colorado mountains West of Colorado Springs, so we may have similar snow to where you are. My chickens wanted out of their coop every day during the winter, but the main chicken run, which is 6'X9", plus the 4'X8' under the coop itself has a roof over it so very little snow comes into the run. In my opinion, the plan you posted seems on the small side for 7 large breed chickens. Otherwise, it looks pretty nicely thought out.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

On second look...is there adequate ventilation?

 

[kmatt87]

i decided not to go with that coop for this round. I'm keeping the blueprints for possible future coops though. thanks for the suggestions everyone