Looking for feedback on coop design!

[dvmmom]

I am planning to start on the foundation today or tomorrow, pending weather. I have a bunch of cinder blocks and large concrete pavers leftover from a previous project. I was thinking of using the cinder blocks for the foundation and the pavers for a walkway in front of the coop and run. On the sides that don't have a paver walkway, I plan to have a 24" hardware cloth skirt. Is there any point to adding hardware cloth under the pavers as well? Can I frame directly on top of the cinder blocks, or is it better to cover or fill the open cells with pavers or something else?

 

[PirateGirl]

Digging animals can easily move pavers. I watch my own dogs move the large rocks around my coop on a regular basis.

 

[dvmmom]

I think I read in one of the other threads that it was potentially problematic to put pavers on top of the skirt. Can someone explain why this is or did I misunderstand?

If it matters, these are large pavers - 15"x12"x4".

 

[aart]

I'd go bigger than 6x5 for 8 birds.
Read this article about Space:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

 

[PirateGirl]

Again, depends what kinda of predators you have. Pavers are great for landscaping, but I wouldn't count them towards predator proofing necessarily. Small critter can burrow under them, coyotes/badgers/neighborhood dogs can push them aside.

 

[dvmmom]

I really appreciate all of your feedback! Even though I only have 6 chicks, I get that chicken math is a concern and I'll probably add a chicken or two at some point as these girls get older and I prepare for the next generation. So, I went back to the drawing board last night, re-measured the location, and came up with a new plan that's about as big as I can go (I also decided to reverse the coop and run). So, now the coop itself would be 6'x6' + nesting box space and the total run is 6'x18', including the 2' tall section under the coop. So, this should be big enough to make my 6 current girls happy and would meet the minimum requirements of up to 3 more hens in the future. I have space for up to 5 12" nesting boxes, but I'm wondering if that would be a waste of space. Should I decrease it to 3? I'm also planning a hardware cloth skirt that will have pavers on top of it on the front side. I know we have raccoons and opossums and skunks in the area. I'll be starting the foundation tomorrow (have to wait on my husband to remove a couple of small trees)! Let me know what you think!

 

[aart]

Nice sketch, I just love a good scaled drawing!
Nests are too high I think.
Here's some tips on the height of things:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

 

[dvmmom]

Nice sketch, I just love a good scaled drawing!
Nests are too high I think.
Here's some tips on the height of things:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

Thanks! I love to sketch out plans - it's a lot easier to make changes on paper than it is after you start building!

This source recommends that nests be placed 18" above the floor of the coop and mine will be about 14" above the floor of the coop. So I think I'm ok there, maybe a bit low if anything since that's not including bedding, but I don't want to crowd my roosts. Do you think 5 boxes is a waste of space?

 

[aart]

The 18" is for clearance below(walking around room) under internal nests.
Since your nests are external, I'd put them just above your projected bedding depth.
For 8 birds, you only need 2 maybe 3 nests...I'd go with 3.

Thanks! I love to sketch out plans - it's a lot easier to make changes on paper than it is after you start building!

And you used pencil!! It just makes so much sense! But I'm and old drafter.

(pssst-your side views do not line up, nests at different heights)

 

[dvmmom]

The 18" is for clearance below(walking around room) under internal nests.
Since your nests are external, I'd put them just above your projected bedding depth.
For 8 birds, you only need 2 maybe 3 nests...I'd go with 3.

And you used pencil!! It just makes so much sense! But I'm and old drafter.

(pssst-your side views do not line up, nests at different heights)

Thank you for catching my mistake - now you see why I need to use pencil ! And that makes sense about the height of internal vs external nesting boxes. I'm glad I can drop them a bit lower and reduce the number - should make more space for poop boards under the roosts I'm thinking I'll put the floor of the nests about 10" above the coop floor, since I plan to try the deep litter method in the winter months. I might add an additional short roost above the pop door, but I think I'll decide on that after I start building.