How do I go about building a coop?

[KenCoesta]

Ok, my little chicks are about feathered out and they're rapidly out growing the brooder.
I got a few questions...

1) So now, I'm looking at some plans modifying as a I see fit.
We have 5 chicks now, we may expand to 10 later on.
The rule is 4 sq ft/bird in the coop and 10 sq ft/bird in the run, right?
Build bigger than I think we'll need, right?

2) The coop will be in the backyard which is GRASSY!
Should I till up that grass and level it off before I build?
When the grass grows back, will the weed eater/mower totally freak out my chickens?

3) What's the best way to keep grass down in the run?

4) Since I've got dogs in the back too, should I sink the fencing in the ground?
I don't know how they're going to react to the chickens.
About a foot, I guess?

5) Insulation/ventilation?
We live in East TN, so the Summers are humid and hot in the 90's.
The Winters are cold, but never really ever below zero - it does happen, tho.
So what, then?
Cross-ventilating windows and lots of hay?

6) Speaking of hay, will grass clippings do just as well?


Anything else I need to be aware of?
Thanks! ^___^

 

[Ridgerunner]

1)The rule is 4 sq ft/bird in the coop and 10 sq ft/bird in the run, right?
Build bigger than I think we'll need, right?

Right

2) The coop will be in the backyard which is GRASSY!
Should I till up that grass and level it off before I build?
When the grass grows back, will the weed eater/mower totally freak out my chickens?

No. The chickens will take care of all the grass they can get to. When I first ran my lawn mower near the run, the chickens ran into the coop, like a bunch of scared chickens. They soon learned that I run the mower so it throws small bits of green stuff in the run. Now they line the run fence when they hear the mower.

3) What's the best way to keep grass down in the run?

Allow your chickens access. They will eat it, scratch up the roots, and eat those too.

4) Since I've got dogs in the back too, should I sink the fencing in the ground?
I don't know how they're going to react to the chickens.
About a foot, I guess?

I prefer using an apron instead of burying the fencing. Take some hardware cloth or, my preference, 2" x 4" welded wire about 18" to 24" wide and lay it on the ground outside your run and coop. Using J-clips, hog rings, or maybe wire, firmly attach it to the botom wire on your run or the bottom of your coop, depending on what your run-coop looks like. You can take a couple of inches of sod up, put the wire down, then put the sod back or just lay it on top of the ground. The grass will grow through it so it will sort of disappear. The theory is that a predator goes up to the fence, starts digging and hits the wire. It does not know to back up and dig.

5) Insulation/ventilation?
We live in East TN, so the Summers are humid and hot in the 90's.
The Winters are cold, but never really ever below zero - it does happen, tho.
So what, then?
Cross-ventilating windows and lots of hay?

I was raised in the Powell Valley of East Tennessee. I kinda know the climate. I don't remember the nights, when the chickens are roosting, being quite that hot, though the 70's for a nighttime low were pretty common and it can ceertainly be humid when the wind is from the Gulf. And I do remember one spell where it stayed below zero Fahrenheit for 5 straight days and six nights. Our chicken house was not insulated or heated at all. It was sort of in a valley and among trees so the wind was not that bad. We did have some ventilation up high above the roosts but not really as much as I would now recommend. Our chickens did fine. We even had some that roosted in trees outside the coop. Even in that cold snap they all did OK. Chickens can handle really cold weather pretty well if they are not in a direct draft and the humidity is not too high. I'd worry more about your coop being too hot in the summer than too cold in the winter. This might help.

Pat’s Winter Coop Temperatures
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-winter-coop-temperatures

Pat’s Ventilation
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION

6) Speaking of hay, will grass clippings do just as well?

Not sure what you want ot use the hay or grass clippings for?

 

[newchicksnducks]

Ridgerunner did a great job of addressing your concerns. If you're wondering about what to put in nest boxes, that is a matter of personal preference. I use shavings, as I have shavings in my coop. I have heard straw is hollow and could harbor mites. I don't know about hay. Many use leaves, grass, hay, paper shavings, etc in their nest boxes. Use what works best for you and your girls

 

[KenCoesta]

Awesome advice! Thank you so much.