Minimum Height for inside of coop above run

[keeptrying]

To be clear, my coop will be above the present tractor run I already have. The Tractor dimensions right now are 13' long x 8'6" wide and 42" high. I need to start designing and building the coop before we get into the Fall. The Tractor is made out of steel, thus will hold the weight of the coop well. So far I know that I will probably have a separate module for the nesting boxes (thinking 3 good size boxes for 11 chickens) attached to the coop protruding beyond the rear of the tractor. The door for the coop will be on one of the sides.
Thus at 42"high to start the base of the coop how high should I go up to make it comfortable for the chickens and accessible for myself to clean or attend to problems, and yet at the minimum height for appearance, cost of materials, and not making the structure look like a hi-rise or top heavy. Will most likely upload a pic of the run,so I can get some good suggestions. Location of the tractor is in the Chicago area, and temps at night are starting to get low. How low of temp before the chickens have to be in some sort of shelter? Thanks for any help.

 

[Judy]

They need enough height to fly up onto roosts, which are lower than nest boxes, without hitting their heads. I've never had anything shorter than a people sized coop so will leave it to you to research this section.

Chickens need some sort of shelter that they can go into, or at least under, 24/7, from day one.

 

[Orchid]

Quote:
I thought roosts were supposed to be higher than nest boxes, to discourage them from roosting in the nest boxes? Maybe I have it backwards?

The inside of my little tractor coop is about 38" high; with a 2" x 4" set on the 4" side for roosting, it gives them exactly 18" below and above it. My PR rooster is getting pretty darn big and he still fits up on the roost, and underneath it, very comfortably.

Temperature is a factor but temperature combined with wind and/or rain could really be hard on your chickens. I'd get that coop built this week if at all possible.

 

[Biddylover]

Uhhh ohhhh I too thought the roosts were supposed to be above the nests... ack! Thats how my coupe was last year, im cornfuzuled lol will wait for other responses to clairify before I start to build

 

[Schultz]

yep the roosts need to be higher than the nest boxes, probably just a typo

 

[teach1rusl]

If you're planning on your housing having roosts, then I'd say do at least 3 ft. I agree with the poster who said you'll want 18" of clearance above the roosts and same below (to allow movement). 3 ft. also gives a good sized opening for cleaning access. Unless I lived in southern CA, parts of FL, maybe AZ or a few other places, I would always want a housing available. I'd get crackin' on the housing ASAP.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
"Typo" is being nice -- it was a brain burp.

Yes, the roosts should be higher than the nest boxes, is what I MEANT to say.