Hen House Plan

[Kellyk126]

Hi all! I drew this today and wanted to get some feedback. I have 5 hens and a 8x16 run this house will go in. I live in Northern California so cold isn’t a big concern but heat is.

The labeling is a little misleading...the hen house is 4’x6’.

 

[cavemanrich]

Looks good.
Just curious about the shade available to the run,,,,, since heat is a factor for your chickens. You can get by with the inexpensive tarps, since your run is not that big, and one tarp can cover it totally. It also keeps chickens dry. I'm sure you must have heard the term " madder than a wet hen"
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[jthornton]

You should put your location in your profile as you know weather makes a difference in answers.

I built a raised coop and hate it, the chickens don't mind but maintenance is not fun. One day I'll replace it with a walk in coop. Mine is 4' x 5' and there is only room for my 8 RIR hens to roost in there. I have food, water and the nest box in the covered run. Make sure you have easy access to the roosting area for cleanup. The roost should be 14" or more from the wall to minimize poop sticking to the wall. Sweet PDZ or similar under the roost makes daily cleanup a 30 second job.



Make large overhangs on the roof and have plenty of ventilation.

If your planning a conventional nest box you need a large lip on the open end to minimize the material you use to line the nest box from being scratched out. Chickens stand up when laying the egg so make it plenty tall and make sure the roost is well above the nest box. I made a roll out nest box so I get clean eggs.

JT

 

[Kellyk126]

Looks good.
Just curious about the shade available to the run,,,,, since heat is a factor for your chickens. You can get by with the inexpensive tarps, since your run is not that big, and one tarp can cover it totally. It also keeps chickens dry. I'm sure you must have heard the term " madder than a wet hen"
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Good question! The run is covered in corrugated metal roofing.