Having a hard time with Coop Dimensions... help?

[Snoogie]

Hey everyone! This is my first time doing this so any and all information and suggestions would be appreciated.

Here is the nature of my "problem": I am working with a narrow area for where I think the chickens would go. My side yard is only 6 ft wide, but is reasonably long. I was wondering if it would be possible to humanely coop 3 egg laying only hens (cochin or brahma most likely,) in an enclosure that measures 30"d x 60"w x 30"h, that is raised off the ground. They will have full run of the side yard during the day, but I'm worried the coop is both too short, and more crucially, too shallow. If this wouldn't work, what modifications would I need to make in order to refine this design?

of note: I am in Colorado, so winters are below freezing, and summers can get very very hot.


Please refer to the poorly drawn, not to scale, mspaint images I mocked up.

I will update this post with relevant information as I discover I've left it out. Thanks!

 

[BYCforlife]

Hey everyone! This is my first time doing this so any and all information and suggestions would be appreciated.

Here is the nature of my "problem": I am working with a narrow area for where I think the chickens would go. My side yard is only 6 ft wide, but is reasonably long. I was wondering if it would be possible to humanely coop 3 egg laying only hens (cochin or brahma most likely,) in an enclosure that measures 30"d x 60"w x 30"h, that is raised off the ground. They will have full run of the side yard during the day, but I'm worried the coop is both too short, and more crucially, too shallow. If this wouldn't work, what modifications would I need to make in order to refine this design?

of note: I am in Colorado, so winters are below freezing, and summers can get very very hot.


Please refer to the poorly drawn, not to scale, mspaint images I mocked up.

I will update this post with relevant information as I discover I've left it out. Thanks!

View attachment 1097328 View attachment 1097329

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Would you build a small run for them to go in? If so, that might be okay. That would be a good size, but no more than 3 hens can go in there.

 

[Snoogie]

:

Would you build a small run for them to go in? If so, that might be okay. That would be a good size, but no more than 3 hens can go in there.

Thank you for your response.

It's funny you mention that, as I was JUST looking at if runs were required. I was planning on letting them have full run of the fenced in side yard during the day which is around 6ft x 50ft. Do I still need a run if they have the access to this area? I suspect I'm missing something.

 

[BYCforlife]

It's funny you mention that, as I was JUST looking at if runs were required. I was planning on letting them have full run of the fenced in side yard during the day which is around 6ft x 50ft. Do I still need a run if they have the access to this area? I suspect I'm missing something.

How tall is the fence? If it is less than 5 feet tall the chickens may never be seen again. No, that's pretty much just a large chicken run. The run is for if you need to keep chickens out of a certain place.

 

[Alaskan]

I think that looks lovely.

I would figure out how to add lots of vents...maybe both doors could be hardware cloth for summer, and swap them out in winter for doors where only the top half is hardware cloth?

Also, carefully think through how to clean, and where to put food and water.

In Colorado that water will freeze...so think that through too.

For winter with snow...can they have a covered run area, completely secure and screened with hardware cloth? That would give you a sheltered area for feed and water that would be snow free.

 

[Snoogie]

How tall is the fence? If it is less than 5 feet tall the chickens may never be seen again. No, that's pretty much just a large chicken run. The run is for if you need to keep chickens out of a certain place.

The fence is at least 6ft tall. Out of curiosity, do people clip their chicken's wings?

What about hawks and such? How do you guard against that? ...dumb question, I am sure

ok wonderful then, so I should be good to go on the raw shape and dimensions.

 

[Alaskan]

The fence is at least 6ft tall. Out of curiosity, do people clip their chicken's wings?

What about hawks and such? How do you guard against that? ...dumb question, I am sure

ok wonderful then, so I should be good to go on the raw shape and dimensions.

Even in town there are LOTS of predators.

I would want to hardware cloth that entire side yard area...have at least part roofed. ...and then there you would have a chicken paradise!

And yes, you can clip chicken wings (trim the flight feathers), that would keep them from flying away...but wouldn't keep the predators from coming to your place for chicken dinner.

 

[BYCforlife]

The fence is at least 6ft tall. Out of curiosity, do people clip their chicken's wings?

What about hawks and such? How do you guard against that? ...dumb question, I am sure

ok wonderful then, so I should be good to go on the raw shape and dimensions.

That's a great height!

Yes, some people do. If you do, look it up. Only cut one wing, because it wrecks their flight pattern, therefore making it impossible to fly.

Hawks are terrible! That's a great question. I use baler twine or brightly colored string, spaced about 2 feet apart over my run. The hawks need a full wing spread to land, so it will keep them away. It looks kinda tidier than mesh over the top, too.

 

[Snoogie]

I think that looks lovely.


I would figure out how to add lots of vents...maybe both doors could be hardware cloth for summer, and swap them out in winter for doors where only the top half is hardware cloth?

Also, carefully think through how to clean, and where to put food and water.

In Colorado that water will freeze...so think that through too.

For winter with snow...can they have a covered run area, completely secure and screened with hardware cloth? That would give you a sheltered area for feed and water that would be snow free.

Thanks so much for your thoughtful response!

Yes, there will be vents and such, I just didn't add them in because it's MS-paint

maybe both doors could be hardware cloth for summer, and swap them out in winter for doors where only the top half is hardware cloth?

OH I like that idea, I was planning on just acrylic for that, but I like the swappable idea!

I was planning on having something like a poop pan underneath the roosts that I could take out in the morning through the barn-style doors. Thoughts on that?

Re the food and water - I was planning on having a pvc tube that served as a food hopper inside the coop along with a nipple type water feeder. I'll have to think upon how I'll keep that staying water in the winter.

yeah the enclosed run is something I'd have to add on it seems. I didn't think about it as it sounded like the side yard which is completely fenced in would do. That's a shame, but good to know, anyway. If I added the run underneath the coop, accessible via a ladder, (so sharing the exact dimensions of the coop,) would that be sufficient?

 

[Alaskan]

Exit ladder on bottom of coop....I always wonder how those work long term.... they make it more difficult to keep bedding in the coop, eat up floor space...and just...huh... Never had one myself.

Enclosing the entire area now, would be more cost and more work up front, but it would sure make a lovely coop. Also, more secure space means that you can sleep in, they can safely run about, and their poop is spread over a larger area so less stink and less cleaning. . Also, a bigger area will make it easier for you to get in there and clean.

As to feeders... I use a PVC pipe feeder that goes into a trashcan. But I have a bunch of birds. You can put the PVC tube ends on a kitty litter box for a smaller feeder. That takes up more space than just a tube...but HOW do people fill those tube's without spilling???

As to water...horizontal nippels are easier to keep thawed verses vertical ones.

As to poop and perching. .. make sure the perch is WIDE. 3.5 inches (wide side of a 2x4) is what you want. Poop trays rock.

Did I answer all of the questions?