Large Coop Design - Feedback?

[BaaKaaawk]

This is a relatively large coop I intend to build next year. It will be in the middle of a 3 acre field on a unique property so I figured why not make a statement with it. Any feedback on the general design?

There will be 2 rows of 4 nesting boxes. One side will have the entrance, the other a 2.5' service door, and the last side a flat board (or two) for silkies / ground nesters. The rest are different levels of roosts. May take one or two off the nesting box side.

This is in NC, and I've built a bunch of coops in this climate before and always do wire bottoms with screen in the tops for air flow. Doesn't get much below 20 degrees here ever and pretty mild winters, so cold has not been an issue, nor snow. Thanks!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Love the layout how many birds in it what is the actually coop dimensions

 

[BaaKaaawk]

Love the layout how many birds in it what is the actually coop dimensions

Thanks! I currently have around 30 (many different breeds) so the plan would be around that many, maybe less. Coop dimensions are roughly 6x6 wide and then up to 10' tall, but various widths based on the design.

If I take "roost feet" - this would have 33' of roost space, plus another 8' of flat roost space... and then of course some hens always sleep in your boxes. So I think enough space.

 

[pennyJo1960]

If you have that many might want to lower the top add in more square feet put hardware cloth around as skirting ? your drawer for clean out might be too much for one to handle

 

[BaaKaaawk]

If you have that many might want to lower the top add in more square feet put hardware cloth around as skirting ? your drawer for clean out might be too much for one to handle

I have a built-in father-in-law who doesn't mind raking out the coop. Agreed on the wire though I'll put that all around for sure. I was toying with more SF as well, but I don't want it to go too big. I need to keep the walls under a sheet of plywood and normal studs (4x8) to keep my construction solid for the siding and all the trim I plan to do (I'm going to go wild on the trim!).

Maybe I'll need to downsize my flock some. I'm always up and down. I'll likely lose a lot of birds in this location to hawks. I'll keep my dog out there but a big open field is just asking for trouble and I can't throw up a lot of netting. I'll likely do a netted top area where I have their food and all so at least they are protected in that space.

 

[ValerieJ]

It's a beautiful design, but I think too small for 30 birds. They need 4sf per bird floor space I think, and my experience is that's not enough for my birds. I haven't tried stacking quite as much as you do. And, as you say, you've built many coops before, so you know more what your birds need than I do.

 

[harice4806]

Regardless of vertical height you're looking at a 36 sq ft space. Can comfortably house 9 birds at 4 sq ft per bird. If they will free range except at night that's fine however in extremely inclement weather you're looking at severe crowding leading to pecking/fights and bacteria/sickness breeding ground with around 30 birds. Just my opinion though. Others may say differently.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

It's a beautiful design, but I think too small for 30 birds. They need 4sf per bird floor space I think, and my experience is that's not enough for my birds. I haven't tried stacking quite as much as you do. And, as you say, you've built many coops before, so you know more what your birds need than I do.

Regardless of vertical height you're looking at a 36 sq ft space. Can comfortably house 9 birds at 4 sq ft per bird. If they will free range except at night that's fine however in extremely inclement weather you're looking at severe crowding leading to pecking/fights and bacteria/sickness breeding ground with around 30 birds. Just my opinion though. Others may say differently.

Yep, fully understood and agreed! These birds will be out in 3 acres all day long so housing in here will only be for over-nighting (aka true coop). It may be too tight still even then, so I guess I will have to see and adjust properly.

I do currently "stack" my roosts today and it works well so I am well under 4sf but "3d space-wise" they have lots of room, but I have found a lot of chickens go in my nesting boxes at night too... so possibly overcrowded.

Maybe I have to go even BIGGER lol. Chicken math getting the best of me for sure.

 

[rosemarythyme]

While this is cute, I feel you're sacrificing usability for the sake of "cute." 30 birds in 6x6 (36 sq ft) is far too tight IMO and you're inviting health and behavioral issues. Even in an area with mild weather you may still have days where the chickens don't want to come out for some reason.

Better bang for your buck AND far easier to maintain would be a walk in height shed which you can paint or decorate as you like to make it eyecatching. I'd scrap the idea of elevating it, just put it on the ground or a concrete pad and would aim for something closer to 8x16 since that minimizes cutting of materials while still giving you ample room for the flock. Even if you intend to use this only at night time that still gives you the option of flexing the space and adding in some storage space, brooding or isolation space, easier integration, etc.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

Here's a

While this is cute, I feel you're sacrificing usability for the sake of "cute." 30 birds in 6x6 (36 sq ft) is far too tight IMO and you're inviting health and behavioral issues. Even in an area with mild weather you may still have days where the chickens don't want to come out for some reason.

Better bang for your buck AND far easier to maintain would be a walk in height shed which you can paint or decorate as you like to make it eyecatching. I'd scrap the idea of elevating it, just put it on the ground or a concrete pad and would aim for something closer to 8x16 since that minimizes cutting of materials while still giving you ample room for the flock. Even if you intend to use this only at night time that still gives you the option of flexing the space and adding in some storage space, brooding or isolation space, easier integration, etc.

I am 100% going for "cute" yes. I have a pretty cool coop now, and have had some other great ones. Where this will be will have 30K drive by cars daily (it's outside an 1840 home on a busy stretch of road with about 5 acres). Trying to get others interested in chickening and have a pretty coop.

I agree, probably going to be too tight for 30- but the amount of actual space in there to roost is far greater than it may seem. This is a scale picture- and each of these roosts is 6' long, so that's a whole lot of roosting space.