Layout of Coop that is 3'x10'

[Mary]

Hi. I am glad I found this forum! We are planning on setting up and framing in a small hen house in part of a 10x10 ft run in shelter. (Roof, corner posts, no solid sides yet) I can only spare about 3 to 3/12 ft by 10 ft deep of the run in so the lambs can still use the other space for a creep feeding. I want to have 4 hens at the most, and plan to attach a yard to the hen house for added leg room. With these narrow and deep dimensions, what would be the best layout? Nests on the 3' end? I want to enclose it, but put in a few windows for summer ventilation too. My kids really want nest boxes that they can access from outside, too. We'll see. Is this confusing?

 

[michellerene]

I would put the roosts at one end and the nest boxes at the other & then the waterer/feeder in the middle.

 

[Mary]

Thanks! That is what I was thinking, but wanted to be able to possibly have one end more open with a window, so that I could see them from the barn and see what was going on in the house. So I may just do that at the roost end, and somehow close up the window in cold weather. They would be ok roosting in front of a window, wouldn't they?

 

[michellerene]

Should be, as long as you have some strong wire nailed to the inside in case a large predator breaks the glass to get in.