Head Room

[Jmurcks]

Thanks!
I've not built a coop, yet so I thought I would get everyone's opinion on height.
I was thinking about 6 foot should be the minimum so I think I will still go with that!

I had thought about just buying a shed from Lowes but it just seemed too big in a way. I thought it may be hard to keep warm inside.

I am thinking a 6x6x6 more than likely. Excluding nest boxes which will be mounted on the sides.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Not necessarily -- obviously a walk-in height coop is *nice* (for all the reasons cited in previous posts, plus the temp. is stabler and you need less air exchange in relation to volume - for sure the extra height is not wasted!

) but a reach-in height, like 2-4' high, can be ventilated ok as long as it's planned for. In warm weather of course it is *good* to have open vents next to the roost (= pleasant breeze

); in cold weather you can arrange to have the roost at one end and the winter-use vents at the opposite end of the coop, as far horizontally from the roost as possible.

Pat

 

[Ldyjarhead]

Quote:
Not necessarily -- obviously a walk-in height coop is *nice* (for all the reasons cited in previous posts, plus the temp. is stabler and you need less air exchange in relation to volume - for sure the extra height is not wasted!

) but a reach-in height, like 2-4' high, can be ventilated ok as long as it's planned for. In warm weather of course it is *good* to have open vents next to the roost (= pleasant breeze

); in cold weather you can arrange to have the roost at one end and the winter-use vents at the opposite end of the coop, as far horizontally from the roost as possible.

Pat

I didn't say that any particular height wasn't tall enough, I just said that roosting and ventilation needs to be taken into consideration. IOW, just because the roof is high enough for a chicken to stand, or when perched they aren't touching the ceiling, doesn't make it tall enough if ventilation will provide a draft on them when doing so.

If you can do that with a 2' height - great!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
I used to drive through northern Alabama a lot. I found that north of Tuscaloosa, winter was more like winter and south it was less like winter. Either way, you are not likely to get the really cold weather that you have to worry much about. Mainly just keep them out of drafts. Are you considering a metal or wooden building from Lowe's? A metal building may have moisture/condensation issues but a wooden building should be fine. I've been warned about that as one of my walls is metal, but I have not seen the problem yet. We'll see if I have to change it out.

If you hang the nesting boxes high enough off the ground that the chickens can get under them, they do not take up any significant ground area. Chickens are basically ground dwelling birds so higher nesting boxes do not really enter in the calculation for area per chicken.

I believe your comment about the shed from Lowe's "just seemed to big on a way" referred to the height, not the ground area. The extra height would be mainly for your convenience. That is important. And don't short yourself on the ground area at all. You need room to put everything in there and not have them pooping in the food, water, or nests, plus leave you room to work.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Yes, you can, that is the *point*

Therefore, they are two entirely separate issues.


Pat

 

[bigoakhunter]

I built our coop with a slanted roof that goes from 6 ft to 4ft so center of roof is 5 ft. BIG MISTAKE....I am 6 ft. 1 inch tall and it is a pain to have to bend over all the time. I would never build a decent size coop again without a roof of at least 6 1/2 ft.

I can see for some backyard small sized coops or tractor types having a short roof. But for a medium to big coop you need to be able to walk around in it.

 

[Big C]

You would need some way to vent the summer heat and provide plenty of air circulation, as well to have your roosts higher than your nest boxes, then be able to clean easily.
Ours are at minimum 8ft.

 

[mightieskeeper]

I built my coop 36" off the ground. It is 3' tall. Easy to clean at my waist level. No bending over! A short coop, keeps chickens body heat more efficiently during winter.

 

[dlhunicorn]

I have four coops > all with removable roofs and floors (all floors are above the ground).
(I also have silkies which do NOT like a lot of head room nor do they perch ....I also have no preds to worry about) > In my winter coop I have an aluminium floor (I can torch it if I ever need to sterilize after an illness) which I line with cardboard (free!) top off with sand and then lowsided cardboard boxes filled with shavings .
The summer coop has a "floor" of hardwire plasticized fencing panels (again I use cardboard boxes >they are free and easily replacable )
I know this is no solution for those who have hundreds of birds and is not suitable for all situations but IF I had severe winter temps and IF I had say a barn situation or a "barn type coop" I would consider putting such a set up inside there as the birds internal temps will keep a smaller space warmer than trying to keep an adequate temp in a huge space (less draft too and it solves any damp issues from rain etc ) .... might be something to consider.

 

[gottalovemychickens]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=268718

this is my head room , all 10 feet of it !!!