Is traditional framing necessary?

[chickencoop57]

So I see lots of people with construction experience framing walls like they are building a house, with a sole plate and then studs perpendicular to create a space as if we were gonna be running plumbing and wiring and stuff through there. But then I see other coops on Youtube and also CarolinaCoops where they frame it not in a traditional way at all, more like run panels stuck together. Any reason I need to frame my 10ftx8ft coop like a house? attaching pics for interest and to show what I mean of the different types.
View attachment 2962256

Of course not! I don't know where you live but here in the Texas Hill Country we don't get snow but I darn sure wasn't gonna build any mansion for my chickens!! I looked on YouTube and mainly Pinterest and got some ideas. I bought 2 sheets of plyboard (one for the bottom and one for the roof and worked around it, meaning a 4'x8' lean-to coop. I do have studs at about 16" apart but I could of just put a 2x4 at the bottom , one in the middle and one at the top and run them long ways and it would worked out just as well. The coop roof has about a 6" drop on the backside, a door I can walk thru and 2 small 2'x2' windows, oh and I attached 4 nest boxes to the side. It'ss a simple coop that is literally impregnable and turned out very well. It took about a month for me to build because I made some mistakes on it but it all worked out in the end. Wish I could find my flash drive with the pics on it..

 

[chfriedmam]

OP here. Boy have I been busy building our new coop! It's taken me some time, as really no one stepped up to help from the family, even tho they all supposedly were so into the project... It is not finished. Outside needs finishing and painting and trim applied, and chunnel to run attached. But the inside is almost done. I need to install ramps to the roosting bars and some chicken wire under the roosting bars to keep the chickens off the poop trays, but other than that it is good. I had to get it livable and get my chicks out of their crowded brooder. It all worked out. I may just need even MORE windows on the south side for more cross ventilation.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2X58d7PTJoj9Fxfd6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uhicFkveECX5QFn57

 

[chickencoop57]

OP here. Boy have I been busy building our new coop! It's taken me some time, as really no one stepped up to help from the family, even tho they all supposedly were so into the project... It is not finished. Outside needs finishing and painting and trim applied, and chunnel to run attached. But the inside is almost done. I need to install ramps to the roosting bars and some chicken wire under the roosting bars to keep the chickens off the poop trays, but other than that it is good. I had to get it livable and get my chicks out of their crowded brooder. It all worked out. I may just need even MORE windows on the south side for more cross ventilation.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2X58d7PTJoj9Fxfd6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uhicFkveECX5QFn57

 

[chickencoop57]

Sorry, I think I pushed the button to soon, Lol. It looks good, almost like mine. I only have 2 windows in mine, 2'x2', and mine isn't as wide as yours. Mine is 8'x4' and 7' tall and it has a lean roof, as well but like I said, it looks good! Congratulations!

 

[NatJ]

I need to install ramps to the roosting bars

You might not need ramps-- many breeds of chickens fly well enough to get up on the roosts with no ramp.

 

[chfriedmam]

You might not need ramps-- many breeds of chickens fly well enough to get up on the roosts with no ramp.

Yeah I guess I'm more concerned with them hurting themselves flying down when they get big. A couple have made it up to the 4ft roosts already at 5wks old!

 

[chfriedmam]

Sorry, I think I pushed the button to soon, Lol. It looks good, almost like mine. I only have 2 windows in mine, 2'x2', and mine isn't as wide as yours. Mine is 8'x4' and 7' tall and it has a lean roof, as well but like I said, it looks good! Congratulations!

Well, almost every stud is 16in oc, as it turns out-horribly over built for socal...

 

[NatJ]

Yeah I guess I'm more concerned with them hurting themselves flying down when they get big. A couple have made it up to the 4ft roosts already at 5wks old!

If they have enough space to glide without hitting a wall, they will probably be fine coming down. For 4ft roosts, if you allow at least 4 feet in one direction, they will probaby come down just fine. (Possible exception for very heavy breeds, or for silkies & frizzles.)

If you do build a ramp, you might want to make it easy to remove. That way you can take it out if they never use it.

 

[chickencoop57]

As I mentioned in another post, my roost are 2"x 4"s, about 6' long, with the flat side down. They run long ways on each side of the coop and are 2' 1/2" off the floor. My chickens just fly up and down on them, no problem. Of course I do have about 8" of Pine Shavings on the floor. That also allows them to come easily.

 

[chfriedmam]

If they have enough space to glide without hitting a wall, they will probably be fine coming down. For 4ft roosts, if you allow at least 4 feet in one direction, they will probaby come down just fine. (Possible exception for very heavy breeds, or for silkies & frizzles.)

If you do build a ramp, you might want to make it easy to remove. That way you can take it out if they never use it.

Will do! I'll definitely don't want it if not needed. I'm loving the big open space