I need HELP!! please

[ellijaychickens]

Im new to chickens and I'm in process of building a coop. I have a shed Im kinda adding to to make a coop. They will have open access to plenty of yard but would a coop about 28" wide x 8'long by 3-4' tall be sufficient for between 6-10 birds? Just for them at night? Im also going to build nest boxes out of the side of it..

 

[ellijaychickens]

And also is it okay if it's about 40" off the ground? I don't have alot of $$ to spend so I'm trying to use as much framing that's already there as possible

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Im new to chickens and I'm in process of building a coop. I have a shed Im kinda adding to to make a coop. They will have open access to plenty of yard but would a coop about 28" wide x 8'long by 3-4' tall be sufficient for between 6-10 birds? Just for them at night? Im also going to build nest boxes out of the side of it..

28" wide x 8' long will give you a floor space of a little over 18 square feet -- that is not much room for 10 birds, and would be cozy for 6. You mention you are adding to a shed to make the coop - how large is the shed itself and are you looking at sectioning off the size you listed above? Wondering if there is existing structure available that you could use to increase the size of the coop to better accommodate the flock you want. I, personally, prefer a coop with more height - 3-4 feet would be sufficient, but if possible to go with more vertical interior space as well as more floor space that would be the way I would go.

 

[ellijaychickens]

I could go to a 3' x 8' floor and one side would be 3' tall and at other end of the 8' it would be 4' tall

 

[PapaChaz]

I could go to a 3' x 8' floor and one side would be 3' tall and at other end of the 8' it would be 4' tall

ok not sure if you meant for the roofline to drain the whole 8' length? and on ONE side, it's high on one end but not the other side? so one high corner? that's kind of confusing? sorry, I'm not trying to pick but I just tried to picture it the way you described it and it isn't working for me, LOL

I do agree that 28" wide x 8' long is not enough room for 10 chickens. 6 feet wide by 8 ft is 24 square ft. IF they only stay in there at night to roost, you'll be ok. Where are your nests going to be? feeder? water? cold enough for any length of time in the winter they'll have to stay inside for days/weeks at a time? then that's no where near big enough.

if at all possible, make it at least 4 by 8. Make one wall 3' tall and the other wall 4' tall, and you'll have a lean to roof. One sheet of decking for the floor, 1 sheet of decking will do the 3ft wall with enough left over to do the ends, one sheet will do the 4 ft wall with enough left over to do nest boxes..........


there's a way to make it work. also, there was a real good thread a few weeks back about building a coop and saving money on the materials. Shop around. If you're going to one of the big box building stores, ask if they have a place where they keep anything that's damaged/warped material they sell at a discount. I bought enough 2x4x16's to completely frame out my coop for $51, because they were warped and twisted. The chickens don't seem to mind.......craigslist is another good source, habitat stores sometimes will have cheaper materials. Find out if anyone around is tearing a building down.....there are definitely sources to get materials that are way sufficient for a chicken coop

and yes it's ok for it to be 40" off the ground, find a board and make a ramp. It doesn't have to go all the way to the ground, you can make it short and have it sit on a block or something. My chickens RARELY go up from the end, almost always hopping up on it from the side.....

 

[ellijaychickens]

One more question.. Can I have a coop on top of another coop?? Like have one a few inches off the ground and then build another one on top of it? I just have very little floor space to work with...

 

[enola]

What ever you decide on, make sure it is easy to get in and out of for cleaning. Keeping a coop clean is VERY important. The easier it is too clean, the more you are going to enjoy your chickens.

 

[Chicken Cabins]

Are you getting bantams or laying hens?

 

[ellijaychickens]

Laying hens more than likely welsummers

 

[Chicken Cabins]

Seams a little tight. What if it's raining outside or snow or Ice. Where Will they go?