Help with Small coop (4 hens max) Design in North Central Texas

[txkittykat]

New to chicken world and this forum. Wanting to build our own coop for no more than 4 hens, will have them for pets and eggs. Weather is crazy here and I'm not sure what necessities my coop will need,in addition to things that will make maintenance and cleaning easier. No clue where to start, pretty overwhelmed and want to do this right...the first time.

 

[txkittykat]

Is there a checklist or some simple guide?

 

[Skylercarr]

This is my coop I'm not sure if this will help.

 

[Skylercarr]

 

[txkittykat]

Did you build or buy it? I looks nice! Does this style of coop have a name. This is what we were thinking.

 

[Skylercarr]

We built it ourself we don't really have a name for it. It took us 3 weeks to make but it was worth it. The coop is 4 by 6 feet and the run is 6 by 12. This fits 6 chickens so you can make it smaller if you wanted to use this design.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

If I only had a few hens, I'd want a coop very much like that one shown above. Nesting boxes you can open from outside the coop. Run tall enough to walk into. Lots of wire to see through. I'd have it very visible from inside my house so I could watch the birds. I'd even build in the option to open the side that points toward my house so I can see the birds when they're in the coop ... fresh air is necessary for the birds ... so with a wall of hardware cloth and shutters that open/close. PLENTY of shade and protection from the wind and driving rain and predators is all they need. Besides good food and clean water and fresh air.

Consider your neighbors when you pick the spot to put it. So often people here put their coop as far from their own home as possible, even if that means putting it right next to the neighbor's house. Consult your local guidelines.

There's a whole section of the forum on coops. Lots of great ideas and photos.

 

[txkittykat]

Are there blueprints for coops on this forum? I'm seeing a lot of pictures, however, I am a blueprint kinda gal and I'm not having any luck. I love that hen house/coop pictured above, but i have no clue what to build on the inside

 

[txkittykat]

Do you happen to have prints or plans for this?

 

[Skylercarr]

We used this YouTube video to make our chicken coop but we did some things different. It shows you step by step how to build this chicken coop.