How tall does my coop need to be?

[907chicken]

Im starting out with a 8X4 floor. Im going to have 6 or 8 chickens. How tall do I need to make the coop? I was thinking big enough for me to stand in there, but it would be better for the birds in the winter time to have a smaller space that would be easier for them to keep warm. Not to mention cheaper for me to build, Also we get some nasty wind, and Id rather have less building to catch onto the wind.

 

[St-Hubert]

Ours is 6' x 4' with a 4' ceiling. That's large enough for me to get into if I need to, but also low enough that the heat and cool will stay in a bit better. It doesn't get very hot or very cold here in Alabama (low single-digits to maybe 100F), so your idea of making it smaller to conserve heat might not be a bad idea.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Definitely make it tall enough to stand up in. Consider reducing the footprint and including a removable (for coop cleaning) "loft" to make up for the lost square footage. For example, if you planned on an 8x8 coop, instead build it 4x8 and include a 2x8 loft or two. Just be sure to add ramps or steps, and probably an edge to hold in shavings.

 

[patandchickens]

Whether to make it walk-in or reach-in is a personal decision. If you get super cold and windy, there are advantages to walk-in... but it *is* significantly more expensive and requires more care to make sure it won't blow over.

If you go walk-in, remember you can always enclose the area around the roost so that it holds their body heat (or the ehat from a lamp) better.

If you go with a reach-in coop: well, I don't know how cold your part of Alaska gets. If you anticipate running a heatlamp in the coop, there are some real advantages to 4' high (it's not really any much harder to heat, and it makes it MUCH easier to find a SAFE place to hang the heatlamp). OTOH if you are not going to use a heat lamp, then 3' high is plenty. I would suggest designing it so that the roost is at one end and the wintertime ventilation is at the extreme opposite end (which had better be usually-downwind). Either way, insulate well, including floor and ceiling, with insulation covered so the birds don't eat it.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[907chicken]

so you guys thing the 8x 4 is a good floor plan? Im almost wondering if I shouldnt have gone wider. 4 foot seems awfull skinny

 

[Tala]

Quote:
I guess, it depends on how you intend to clean the coop. Imagine standing inside with a rake and trying to turn around as you cleaned.....

Mine is 8ft x 8f and it's pretty comfortable to work in (I'll allow that I'm a very small person though)

 

[teach1rusl]

Well, since YOU brought it up...lol...I'd go bigger if that's an option for you. Because with where you live, if you get 8 birds they will probably spend a decent amount of time inside the coop through your winter, and that would be pretty close quarters. I love having a walk-in, because I get to enjoy my birds more...it's not just rushing out (in bad weather) to collect eggs or whatever; I keep a little fold-up chair out there and can sit with them a bit.
To help with winter cold, we built a lightweight frame (two sections) that we stapled fiberglass insulation into to create a drop-down ceiling. We just remove it in the spring. Our ceiling is already insulated, but the drop down frame doubles that plus reduces space in the coop. It's worth considering if you're doing a walk-in.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
If it is going to be walk-in height, then yes, make it as big as you can afford.

If it is going to be reach-in height, though, you don't want it any wider than 4', which is already at or just beyond the maximum you can comfortably reach (to clean, to grab a chicken, etc etc)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[churchx3]

I just finished building a 4x8 coop and put doors on both ends. This way I can open either end comfortably and clean, catch, etc. My coop is 36 inches off the ground. My walls are 4 ft high with a sloped roof. It is a perfect size for having less then 10 chickens.

 

[907chicken]

Well I ended up making it 8x6. Got the back wall on, decided on making it 7 feet tall. Im a 6 foot person. Now it looks like I have a huge coop! My wife looked out there and said "that sure is tall" I thought make it extra big for them cause they will probably spend alot of time in it during the winter