Modifying coop to fit around tree?

[TeePants]

Hey y’all. I am building a coop from plans I bought online Here.

The problem is the plan wants you to have a fairly large roof overhang, but I can’t do that because the coop/run is going to fit very snugly around our magnolia tree.

The tree leans to the right because our tiny yard used to have three massive trees that blocked the sunlight. Because of this, I’m already having to modify it so that the door is inset by one foot to accommodate the tree trunk leaning into the coop space.

However, this means I don’t think I can do more than a few inches of overhang. I also suspect I’ll need to put a gutter on the back of the lean-to roof so that it’s not just pouring water onto my back fence.

Anyone ever have to deal with this? I’ve never built a roof with polycarbonate panels and I don’t want to screw up!

I am worried that without an overhang it won’t be possible to leave the roof as open as it is in the plan as water would come in, but if I ditch the plan then I have to figure out how to attach the roof on my own.

 

[GodLovesU]

I have a tree in my run, and I just put netting around the tree.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I have those plans! I'm using them as inspiration for a tiny coop build. As for the tree, when are you starting your build? If it's later in the season and the tree goes dormant, you could try relocating it. Now for the roof runoff, I've had a surprising amount of luck with placing a thickly mulched plant bed to catch the water. I'm talking 6+ inches of mulch and LOTS of low profile perennials/shrubs. The front of our run used to flood, but not anymore!

 

[TeePants]

I have those plans! I'm using them as inspiration for a tiny coop build. As for the tree, when are you starting your build? If it's later in the season and the tree goes dormant, you could try relocating it. Now for the roof runoff, I've had a surprising amount of luck with placing a thickly mulched plant bed to catch the water. I'm talking 6+ inches of mulch and LOTS of low profile perennials/shrubs. The front of our run used to flood, but not anymore!

I don’t know if we could move this one, it’s pretty tall! I am building right now, haha. This photo is old; the area behind the tree is completely cleared and full of 2x4s!

 

[TeePants]

I have a tree in my run, and I just put netting around the tree.

I considered this but the main issue is that it would come up through the roof, which I don’t really understand how to compensate for! We are on the west coast on a migratory pathway so I want the run fully roofed.

 

[TeePants]

Well, we got caught by rain, but nearly all the run frame is primed, and about half the siding for the coop portion is done too. The plywood is partially cut and under a tarp.

Still debating if I want to do an exterior nest box or just have the nest boxes inside the main coop. The coop footprint is a bit small (3ftx5ft) and we ordered four chicks (they’re all silky/EE crosses from MPC, who says they average 3lb, so they shouldn’t be too big).

That and I need to pick an auto door. I think we are going to go with Run Chicken because they seem easy to install and at this point I want a break.

Still really worried that there won’t be enough roof overhang to keep the coop sufficiently dry, but I guess we will deal with that if and when it happens - I am definitely not able to utilize the full 8ft of the polycarbonate panels as the plans want me to, as our tree is in the way! I decided to trim them back carefully and just have a few inches of overhang on each side. I’m hoping the tree being literally on top of it and the proximity to the fence will mean it stays relatively dry anyway. I don’t remember it being an issue for our quail when we had them in a smaller pen in the same spot!

Our yard is such a tight space that I’ll have to attach the hardware cloth and the exterior siding for the coop before putting the panels of the run together. Oh well! It’s been nice to have a break painting instead of hammering 2x4s or cutting things down to size.