Help with designing a walk in coop/shed

[ChookaPete]

If you do use pallets Id suggest building with the runners going vertical instead of horizontal like this dummy did (me) LOL. Dont know what I was thinking but the pallets make stronger walls when the runners are vertical.

Thank you for the tip!

 

[McChooky]

Our chickens enjoy the comfort of a dry coop with lots of bedding in the winter and have 3 windows on one side. They benefit from having as much natural light as possible.Windows helps prevent boredom too because they can see outdoors(it prevents bullying)
I use landscape fabric and feed sacks over the gaps in the run in the winter months to block wind and keep their feathers dry.

 

[1Anjl]

Update: I have pretty much finished the interior for now. I will be adding hardware cloth skirting this week to secure the coop so that I can get baby chicks. I will also add an auto chicken door, a solar light to the porch area, and nesting boxes later this spring after I get chickens. I'll need to work on securing the run a bit better before hens use that but it will also happen later this spring.
Id say all in all, not bad for using pallets, recycled roofing and mostly wood scraps I had on hand. Im happy with the outcome. Forgot to mention I will be adding 2 more larger windows later as well!

 

[McChooky]

Mix Calcium Hydroxide with Salt and Hot water to make white wash Stir frequently. 2 Coats

 

[McChooky]

Update: I have pretty much finished the interior for now. I will be adding hardware cloth skirting this week to secure the coop so that I can get baby chicks. I will also add an auto chicken door, a solar light to the porch area, and nesting boxes later this spring after I get chickens. I'll need to work on securing the run a bit better before hens use that but it will also happen later this spring.
Id say all in all, not bad for using pallets, recycled roofing and mostly wood scraps I had on hand. Im happy with the outcome. Forgot to mention I will be adding 2 more larger windows later as well!

It would cost thousands to build a coop this size out of traditional lumber! Well done!

 

[1Anjl]

Mix Calcium Hydroxide with Salt and Hot water to make white wash Stir frequently. 2 Coats

Thanks but I prefer the natural wood look

 

[1Anjl]

It would cost thousands to build a coop this size out of traditional lumber! Well done!

Thousands that I could never afford haha. Thanks. Im really happy with how it turned out!

 

[StinkyAcres]

That looks amazing! I love the rustic pallet look too.

I suggest a ramp and platform system along the walls to help the chickens get down to the lower level safely. They'll probably run into the wall if they tried to jump down.

 

[1Anjl]

That looks amazing! I love the rustic pallet look too.

I suggest a ramp and platform system along the walls to help the chickens get down to the lower level safely. They'll probably run into the wall if they tried to jump down.

I agree! Will definitely be adding a ramp once they are in that part of the coop.

 

[Lisas chicken world]

Hi, I recently built a pallet shed to use as a coop, but also feed storage, brooder area, etc. My original thought was that the coop area would be 4x8x4 ft high (and the peaked vented roof) under that area I wanted a spot for a 4x4x4 brooder and a another 4x4x4 area in case I need to separate an injured chicken. I havent built any of the interior yet, but plan to start that this weekend. However now I have questions....

Should I add windows? ( I have some here that I can use) I currently have no electricity in the coop so no interior light.

Is there enough ventilation? My winds come from the north and I closed the off the north side from floor to ceiling. there is 18" vented on front top and the whole south side top is vented 12" on the tall side.

I wanted the main coop in the upper level so that it would be easier for me to clean it out (wheel barrel inside shed) so I planned on putting the coop on the upper left side of the door and then having the brooder area and quarantine area under that. But that means their pop door will be about 5 feet off the ground. Will chickens go up a 5 ft ramp to get inside their coop?

I planned to build the interior wall with huge doors covered in hardware cloth. would that be too drafty? should I build solid wall/door on the interior?

Would you add electricity to the coop? I didnt think I would need/want electricity there but now I am second guessing. I wont be using a heater in the coop, besides a light what other reasons would I need electricity out there?

Also how many standard size chickens would fit in a 4x8x4 coop?

Im open to any and all suggestions. I have had chickens before, but its been quite a while so I am relearning as fast as I can! LOL View attachment 4040644View attachment 4040645

I have put together a few coops this year- I would def add more windows and natural light to mine - I also would really enjoy the ease of an occasional light when needed - I have added some solar lighting to the coops with no elecrticity - I dont like it as well as I do the electrical ones but it works. I have a timer set for a light to come on for 2 hours into the night so they can get roosted easily - as my little ones wait til its too late and were sleeping on the floor of coops