height for coop- advice?

[beginnergirl]

I am having a coop built for my 3 chickens and wonder what is a great height for the run and the coop? Looking at an "ideal" height for happy chickens. I have an Americauna, Barred Rock and SLW. Right now they are in an extra large dog kennel and seem to like being on the highest perch. Funny but one perch is only about 12" in the corner and all 3 5-6 week olds managed to fit (after a lot of commotion) instead of being on a larger lower perch. I have a lot to learn! Brand new to chickens so appreciate any help or other suggestions.

 

[kmartinez]

For that many chickens a small coop even made out of pallets and then sided with pallet wood, or waterproof board..You could honestly put it on blocks with a floor or sit it on the ground and let them turn the dirt and use straw or pine chips as the flooring. I would make sure that your run is your height or at least slanted where u can walk into it and clean the pen when you need to..My neighbor has 8 chickens with a pen he cannot walk into I watch him hunch over and squat to get around it to clean and such, that is aweful on the back..

 

[pdirt]

I agree on making a coop large enough to walk into, even if you have to hunch down a bit. In any case, you will want a coop that is about 2.5 feet taller than your highest roost. This will allow you to have ample ventilation at roof level and the vents will be high enough to not blow drafts directly on your chickens.

 

[beginnergirl]

Wow. Guess I will need to redesign it. I had no idea about ventilation. My builder said a walk in coop would cost more but it makes sense to me. Thanks!

 

[enola]

Ventilation is one of the most important things to incorporate into a hen house design.

 

[beginnergirl]

I had no idea. Thanks!!! Will try to find out more. Are we talking vents, windows or both? I live in Oregon so assumed getting the roof sealed for them to stay dry was important.

 

[enola]

Your vents can be under the overhang of your roof. You need enough air moving to suck all of the moisture out of the coop. Moist air causes frost bite and respiratory problems.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

We have vents but we also have windows and lots of them. Not only for the ventilation but for natural lighting. First time I saw a picture of a huge snake in a nesting box convinced me that there was going to be plenty of light in that coop!

As far as how tall - as tall as you can afford to make it to allow you to stand up. Our first tractor was made so that you had to hunch over to clean it out and it took forever to do as I'd have to take breaks because my back hurt so bad. And if you get a sick or hurt bird hiding in a far corner, then you've got to get back there all hunched over to get it. Don't ask me how I know.

Good luck!

 

[kmartinez]

Your vents can be under the overhang of your roof. You need enough air moving to suck all of the moisture out of the coop. Moist air causes frost bite and respiratory problems.

This right here is the perfect vent advice. My coop has a big overhang and at the top all the way around it natural vents. they really dont need to be make once u got you bottom when they lay you rafters the space will come naturally just dont block it up and secure the space with hardware cloth. u want to keep birds out they will come in and eat your chickens food..

If you are inclined i would look into pallet sheds they r easy to put up and pallets r free and they can look nice and rustic especially if u breakdown pallets and use it for siding..but i will warn u mine has one and a half walls to be sided breaking down pallets with a saw saw is a chore. but using them as whole pieces is so much easier than studding up a coop..however i not a builder so i used pallets they strong and when i joined them waaaalaaa a wall was done..quickly

 

[beginnergirl]

Will talk with the guy who is building my coop for me. He is pretty handy. Can anyone post pictures of their coop vents? Appreciate all the advice from everyone