How many chickens will fit? 8?

[3KillerBs]

I could add a door that opens into that under part, for easier access.

This is a good idea.

With the in-town setup I once had to send my youngest into the run with a small rake to get an egg out from under the coop.

 

[black_cat]

This is a good idea.

With the in-town setup I once had to send my youngest into the run with a small rake to get an egg out from under the coop.

Hopefully it won't come to that, but I'll make a change to the building plans to incorporate a door there.

 

[Folly's place]

We've never had them either, same reasons. Active in this context means visiting the neighbors and finding the road, and needing even more coop space.
Choose carefully, not only on looks!
I agree about the poop boards being in the way, and never thought that crawling under would be a good idea!
Mary

 

[black_cat]

We've never had them either, same reasons. Active in this context means visiting the neighbors and finding the road, and needing even more coop space.
Choose carefully, not only on looks!
I agree about the poop boards being in the way, and never thought that crawling under would be a good idea!
Mary

Crawling under will be a fact of life, because of space constraints, but what size should I make the poop boards? I know that the roosts should be at least 1' away from the wall. I was going to have the poop boards be 1' on either side of the roost.

 

[Folly's place]

Consider building bigger, because you will likely wish you had! Plywood comes in 4'x 8' sheets, and so 6' frame sizing uses a lot more cutting. How about at least 6'x 8'? Bigger?
I don't see room for poop boards as you envision them.
Mary

 

[black_cat]

Consider building bigger, because you will likely wish you had! Plywood comes in 4'x 8' sheets, and so 6' frame sizing uses a lot more cutting. How about at least 6'x 8'? Bigger?
I don't see room for poop boards as you envision them.
Mary

Believe me, I want to build bigger! Parents. If it were just me, I'd have a GIANT thing going on. Lots of chickens. 6x8' sounds wonderful! It doesn't sound wonderful to my parents, though. They also will definitely not go above 8 or 9 chickens. There won't be any chicken math after it, because my parents restrict the chickening. I'd like to use poop boards if possible, to prevent constant changing of the bedding. Is there a way to make them smaller?

 

[dct10]

I just finished my coop with virtually the same design and dimensions. Now that I'm done, I wish I could start over and make it larger. We have 12 birds as the hatchery threw in 4 extras. Now I have to figure that out. I read the formula is 3 sq/ft per bird if they will have daily access to a run. 10 sq/ft if they are always confined to the coop so I'm right on the limit. I also had to do much more cutting of lumber because I chose the odd size of 6'x6' w 4 externally attached boxes. If you were to go 8'x8' you won't regret it and you will do far less cutting. I also did the raised coop like your diagram. I now wish I would have built it lower to the ground or even on 4x4 skids so they had more upward space to roost. At least I gave them a predator-proof run of 25'x10' and covered it with poultry netting until I can build them a roof. I guess I will be building a new coop next spring because this one is just too small.

 

[dct10]

Believe me, I want to build bigger! Parents. If it were just me, I'd have a GIANT thing going on. Lots of chickens. 6x8' sounds wonderful! It doesn't sound wonderful to my parents, though. They also will definitely not go above 8 or 9 chickens. There won't be any chicken math after it, because my parents restrict the chickening. I'd like to use poop boards if possible, to prevent constant changing of the bedding. Is there a way to make them smaller?

look into the deep litter method. I'm told you only need to clean the coop once per year and the dung will compost producing heat for the winter. In my experience, they will crap everywhere...except where you want them to.

 

[21hens-incharge]

look into the deep litter method. I'm told you only need to clean the coop once per year and the dung will compost producing heat for the winter. In my experience, they will crap everywhere...except where you want them to.

Deep litter and composting are 2 different things really.
Deep litter is just deep litter......and crap builds up literally.
Composting involves moisture and ground contact so the good microbes and critters in the dirt can do their work.

Personally.....I would ditch the poop boards in a coop this size and just clean it all out at least one or twice a month.

When I had poop boards......under there in the farthest corner to access was EXACTLY where they put eggs.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

look into the deep litter method. I'm told you only need to clean the coop once per year and the dung will compost producing heat for the winter. In my experience, they will crap everywhere...except where you want them to.

I use the deep litter method. I clean it twice a year. Once before winter, and once when the snow melts in the spring. There's about six months between both cleanings.