How to plan for a coop

[PhlyinPheBee]

Hi there. I was wondering if anyone has a coop that is 6 feet wide and 8 to 10 feet long?? I have 20 hens that have about a 1500 foot yard. I am stumped on how to design the inside. I know I need about 16 feet of roost. My gals all like to fight over the top roost so I am not going to do the ladder thing.

Any tips would be great. It will a project done in stages for $$ since I am buying the house I have been renting for 5 years!!!!!!!!

 

[Omran]

First of all congratulation on buying the house, that's great news.

seconed, I am a guy who does every thing with one thing on mind (keep it simple) I really found out: that when I plan and get all this compleceted plans and Ideas, man can ge lost so quickly, so most of the time I just go and start doing what I am wantng to build by just starting on the floor and then the rest comes easy, most ppl thinks that's I am a little crazy by doing that, but hey I don't get stressed and get what I want at the end.

Look at the BYC coop section and choose a coop or a structure, and then start on important things like( floor, preditors proof, drainage) and then the walls will come, you almost done.

I know that I am not much help, but I like to assure everybody,that You can do it.

Omran.

 

[ChickieNikki]

Quote:
this is mine, in progress. 6x10, 4' front wall, 6'9" back wall.

i'm considering using an 8' ladder for a roost along the back wall.

pm me or email if you need anything!! i'm new at this, but i'm happy to help if i can!

 

[Omran]

ChickieNikki, That's a beautiful coop

 

[annek]

This is the roost I am going to be putting in my coop. Mine is 7x7 so I can't do a ladder thing either. I think it is a fantastic design.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=91143

 

[PhlyinPheBee]

Quote:
THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I have been looking for that post!!!!!!!!! I have the trays already but did not remember how it was built!!!

I think I have drawn out the plan. I will have 2 8 foot roost one under the other. That way I can save on space. With the trays being under the upper roost!!!!! No poop on the ones below. With my luck all 20 birds will roost on the top one.

Thanks again.

 

[annek]

You are welcome. I am changing the design a little since my coop is pretty narrow. I am going to make the trays pull out the wide way instead of the short way and am going to put two side by side but may vary the height. I am also going to try to hang the water from one of them with a tray under it to catch any spilled water. Don't know if it is going to work yet. But I will post when I have tried it out.

 

[patandchickens]

I have pens roughly that size (the indoor part I mean), if that helps. I do not put nearly as many birds in there as most people so I just use a single roost down one side; but for the numbers you describe it would work just fine to either run a single roost around 2 or 3 sides, or two parallel roosts down one long side.

Exactly which way to go just kind of depends on other details (will you use droppings boards, how high you want the roost, etc) (in a northern climate I'd add 'and whether you may want to put a lamp or insulated hover over the roost' but that does not apply to your climate

)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat