First Timers Coop Design from Scratch

[Ridgerunner]

This is my brooder in the coop, pretty much set up for your temperatures. When It is below freezing when I brood out here I wrap the whole thing in plastic. That chimney to the left where the heat lamp goes still provides good ventilation. When it is below freezing I use two heat lamps for redundancy, otherwise just one. In the heat of summer I use a lower wattage heat lamp. Some people use heat plates or heating pads. I think I call what Canoe is talking about a "hover". Lots of different ways to do this.

To me the biggest issue with brooding outside is the temperature swings. I've seen it go from the mid 20's F to over 70 F within 36 hours. The brooder needs to have one spot warm enough in the coldest temperatures and a spot cool enough in the warmest temperatures. I achieve that with ventilation and distance. This brooder is 3' x 6'. I've seen frost in the far end but the end the chicks were on was toasty.

If you can show us what your coop will look like we might be able to give you specific suggestions. It would help to know how you would provide the heat, heat lamp, pad, plate, whatever. There are little tricks for each that can make them easier or safer.

 

[NewAustralorpMom]

I am sooo disappointed! I just got an email from my hatchery that I ordered chicks from that due to the whole COVID19 situation that they're canceling their 2020 season. They're going to provide a full refund, but now I won't have any chickens to put in my coop! I'm sure I could order from somewhere else, but no one else around (that I've found yet) has Black Australorps and I'm kind of stuck on them as a breed.

I'm going to keep looking, but I was pleased to have found somewhere within a 4 hour drive where my chicks wouldn't have to be shipped.

Anyone know anyone in southern Ontario breeding Australorps??? I'm sure there's a forum for breeds/chicks. I'll have a look around.

Thanks for listening. I'm so sad.

 

[NewAustralorpMom]

Ok, we're back on track!! I found another Australorp breeder and am expecting 25 day-old chicks (straight run....wish me luck) on Easter weekend!

Thanks to all of your helpful and very valuable input, we have also re-designed the coop to make it a walk-in. Our new design has 100sq/ft of coop space, 60sq/ft storage and observation lounge , and just over 250sq/ft of run space. We plan on free-ranging as much as possible on property but want them to have enough enclosed space as well. The wall between the storage area and coop will be a half wall topped with hardware cloth. I know this will mean a dusty/dirty storage area, but it'll be nice to be able to be undercover in the winter without having to go into the coop. We're also putting egg boxes on that wall so we can be inside the storage area to collect eggs.

Hopefully, we end up with enough hens to get going. I'm having nightmares of ending up with 24 roosters. I guess we'll wait and see.

This is just the first outside sketch. The coop is on the right and the run is on the left. We'll have more elevation drawings coming. The coop is 16x10 with 10x10 being dedicated chicken coop and a 6x10 storage area. The run will be the remaining 16x16 area to the left.

Again, don't hold back. You've already helped us so much!