Helpful hints for building coops

[3KillerBs]

but if you ever quit raising chickens, you will end up with a nice play house, or garden shed. and it will last for the rest of your life.

We figure that if we ever stop keeping chickens Neuchickenstein will make an excellent picnic pavillion/summerhouse.

 

[saysfaa]

If you would like, I can give you some good ideas on how a coop should be built. warning, it is not cheap. but if you ever quit raising chickens, you will end up with a nice play house, or garden shed. and it will last for the rest of your life.

I'm interested in any ideas you would be willing to share. I may be building another coop in a few months. And certainly expecting to build shelter for garden equipment as soon as I can get to it.

 

[jvls1942]

Minimum footprint: 8ft x 12 ft
Concrete floor.
one row of concrete block on the concrete slab all around the perimeter.
leave a gap for a 3 foot wide door.
made a 4 inch sill under the door.
make the door swing inward. (in snow country)
make the sill plate with treated lumber.
stud the walls 16" on center.
Pitch the roof towards a wall that the door is not at.
Use ribbed metal roofing.
put a window on each of the three walls that the door is not on.
window that open are best.
INSIDE:
If you can afford it, insulate the walls.
cover the insulation with paneling or boards.
hang the egg nests on the wall about 2 feet above the floor.
put the roosts across the 8 foot span.
two roosts, hung on the walls so you can remove them for cleaning the coop if you want to.
I put the lower roost about 16 inches high and 12 inches away from the wall.
the next roost is about 12 to 16 inches higher and 2 feet from the wall..
you will appreciate this arrangement when you have to shovel the litter from the floor.
If you have access to electricity.
put at least one ceiling light in. two is better.
a receptacle or two.
make sure you have adequate breaker.
In winter you might want to heat the water, or add a heater.
DO NOT use heat bulbs. They sometimes throw sparks when they get broken or burn out. then say goodbye to your coop. besides they do not last long anyway. use a ceramic heater.
provide plenty of ventilation.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I am so glad that you were not disappointed with it.
do you have a clay pit on your property ?
don't forget to put your mark on the bottom. so in a hundred years from now antiques road show will know it was made by you ..

No clay pit. Yes, i do sign and date all pieces.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Minimum footprint: 8ft x 12 ft
Concrete floor.
one row of concrete block on the concrete slab all around the perimeter.
leave a gap for a 3 foot wide door.
made a 4 inch sill under the door.
make the door swing inward. (in snow country)
make the sill plate with treated lumber.
stud the walls 16" on center.
Pitch the roof towards a wall that the door is not at.
Use ribbed metal roofing.
put a window on each of the three walls that the door is not on.
window that open are best.
INSIDE:
If you can afford it, insulate the walls.
cover the insulation with paneling or boards.
hang the egg nests on the wall about 2 feet above the floor.
put the roosts across the 8 foot span.
two roosts, hung on the walls so you can remove them for cleaning the coop if you want to.
I put the lower roost about 16 inches high and 12 inches away from the wall.
the next roost is about 12 to 16 inches higher and 2 feet from the wall..
you will appreciate this arrangement when you have to shovel the litter from the floor.
If you have access to electricity.
put at least one ceiling light in. two is better.
a receptacle or two.
make sure you have adequate breaker.
In winter you might want to heat the water, or add a heater.
DO NOT use heat bulbs. They sometimes throw sparks when they get broken or burn out. then say goodbye to your coop. besides they do not last long anyway. use a ceramic heater.
provide plenty of ventilation.

Awesome list, Jim!

 

[jvls1942]

Awesome list, Jim!

thanks, that is how my main coop is built.
plus I have chick brooders built in above the wall to wall nests.
my ultimate coop would have an overhead door so I could drive the tractor loader in to clean out the litter. that will never happen anymore. since I am too old.

 

[saysfaa]

Thank you!

 

[CapricornFarm]

My kiln is home, now to make space in the workshop for it!

 

[jvls1942]

My kiln is home, now to make space in the workshop for it!
View attachment 3144906

I know nothing about kilns, but I would say that is a nice one. You could probably cook a pizza in no time flat.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I know nothing about kilns, but I would say that is a nice one. You could probably cook a pizza in no time flat.

Turn it to ash as well!