Inherited coop needs help

[aart]

The bird dust issue is good to know - thank you! Perhaps we will convert the whole shed. It would be easier to do if we had the garage cleared out and could set up storage and a workbench in there, it's currently filled with many boxes from our move that still haven't been unpacked, and we can't really go through them until we get our new garage doors installed and they no longer have to be piled up. I hope that's soon!

We're in the Sacramento California area, Folsom to be precise. We get a lot of sun, many days over 100, and no snow but do see freezing temperatures.

The plan from my latest post would give us ~36 sq ft of floor space in the coop. The current plan for the run will give us about 150 sq feet of run. We have 8 chicks, but don't know yet if there's a rooster we won't be able to keep.

You're going to need beaucoup ventilation at those temps with that metal roof that looks to be in full sun. A fan might help, especially if it cools off at night. Definitely open up both sides of that cupola, with enough breeze it should change the air in the coop significantly. Adding top hinged windows would be a good plan too.

36sqft is good for about 3-4 birds, but the narrowness(~36"?) can be real problem when laying out nests, roosts, etc, once you get all the accouterments installed the birds might not have much room to jump/fly down from the roosts without crashing into something. Making your run with a solid roof and predator proof mesh all around and with an anti-dig apron would make a good open air type space for your 8 birds. They'll probably want to roost out in the run area.

This might all be good incentive to get that garage/work shop squared away before winter so the whole shed can be cooped out. It's a very cool little shed and will make a great coop. I love the large roof overhangs, will help with protecting windows and venting so that can stay open during rains.

 

[MommaBeth]

Oh wow! I know the 4 sq ft per bird was a suggested minimum but I didn't realize that I'd need twice the space for it to actually be good enough. If we have all 8 birds the new plan gives us 4.5 sq ft per bird. To be clear though, it will no longer be only 31" wide; that was the measurement of the initial weird set up that I took apart. We're expanding it to be 5' wide, and the length is 7' 4". I did hope that giving them a generous run and allowing them to frequently free range in the overall yard with us would be helpful though. But our new plan is way too small, huh?

 

[Mace Gill]

Oh wow! I know the 4 sq ft per bird was a suggested minimum but I didn't realize that I'd need twice the space for it to actually be good enough. If we have all 8 birds the new plan gives us 4.5 sq ft per bird. To be clear though, it will no longer be only 31" wide; that was the measurement of the initial weird set up that I took apart. We're expanding it to be 5' wide, and the length is 7' 4". I did hope that giving them a generous run and allowing them to frequently free range in the overall yard with us would be helpful though. But our new plan is way too small, huh?

That's fine for eight birds, provided you have enough roost space as well. The run space and foraging is not a replacement for coop space, but if they have limited forage, they'll want as much run space as you can get.

 

[Cryss]

As for nesting boxes, I have 3 options. First is installing outside accessible under the window stacked on top of each other, but then the door would only swing out 90 degrees.

I know this is an old thread. I'm adding my thought here just in case someone else has a similar situation (and because I couldn't resist adding this thought).
Change the swing of the door by moving the hinges to the right hand side. Then you can build on that exterior nest area.