Helpful hints for building coops

[jvls1942]

Cappy, not a clue.
guess: to keep the goats from climbing ?

 

[NY Coturnix]

I've found when coming up with the width/height if using wire try to go with the width that work with the size wire you're using. Nothing like going 30 inches and then having to either cut off a couple inches or overlap.

 

[mapurcel]

Pics inside and out of coop would help immensely here.

So we are trying to attach a run I made to the coop and have a relatively simple door my family can easily close and open. It is not easy to get to the back of the coop because of a stone wall surrounding it and rose bushes. So we are looking for something easy to close and open hopefully from inside or the side of the coop instead of having to go around.

I have bantams that are on the smaller side so I'm thinking the opening can be a cut out of the one board to the right of that vertical 2x4 support beam.

 

[jvls1942]

that section in the center of the V braces looks like where I would cut a door. It does not have to be flush with the floor. In fact if it is above the floor, the litter will not sift out of the opening and block the door's operation..
...

 

[aart]

So we are trying to attach a run I made to the coop and have a relatively simple door my family can easily close and open. It is not easy to get to the back of the coop because of a stone wall surrounding it and rose bushes. So we are looking for something easy to close and open hopefully from inside or the side of the coop instead of having to go around.

I have bantams that are on the smaller side so I'm thinking the opening can be a cut out of the one board to the right of that vertical 2x4 support beam.

What is the spacing of the battens on the outside?
Gonna be hard to make a slider with the framing inside.
Sloppy drawing, but maybe down in this corner?

Might look at my coop page for my slider pop door build
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/

 

[mapurcel]

What is the spacing of the battens on the outside?
Gonna be hard to make a slider with the framing inside.
Sloppy drawing, but maybe down in this corner?
View attachment 2219922


Might look at my coop page for my slider pop door build
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/

its about 6 inches. I found a link from a BYC member who posted to youtube a while ago. I may try to copy their method. I've always had a lock on my doors but it seems some people don't. Is there a consensus on that?

 

[3KillerBs]

I am cutting vertical boards. I think Pine. There is no siding on the coop thankfully. I was thinking of either putting in a flap or maybe a vertical sliding door with a gravity lock to make it easier. There are so many options!

My little coop has a vertical sliding door. I'm at work, but I can take detail pictures of how DH made it when I get home.

 

[aart]

I found a link from a BYC member who posted to youtube a while ago. I may try to copy their method. I've always had a lock on my doors but it seems some people don't. Is there a consensus on that?

Basic slider, pretty simple one.
Problem is the framing inside your walls would make it difficult,
you may have to remove some of the framing and not sure that's a good idea.

 

[3KillerBs]

Here are the detail photos of the exterior-mounted, vertical sliding door: It pulls open with a rope -- formerly from outside the no-longer-attached run.

I didn't open it all the way lest the chicks come pouring out, but I think you can see how it sits securely down into a groove -- offering predators no edge to grip.

Detail of the vertical track:

The ramp was formerly mounted underneath the bottom board -- screwed into the bottom framing lumber.

The door cannot be lifted free of it's frame without removing the eye that the rope runs through.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I tried a vertical sliding door once. to make it air tight in the winter, it had to be close tolerance. then the close tolerance cause it to stick when it got humid in the summer time and the wood swelled up.
make it easy on yourself, put hinges on it.
I made mine to swing up , and I raise it with a rope and pulley from outside the fence..
I added a counterbalance to make the door close tight .
you could make the door jamb out of plumb
protruding out at the bottom so the door closes at sort of a downward motion instead of hanging vertically; which never closes tightly on it's own.

They are not for a sliding door.