My Coop Plans - Advice Please

[Robbo]

Hello, Chicks and Ducklings settling in well. Within the next two weeks we will be setting up a coop for them.

We are using a 12ftx12ft dog kennel as the "run" I guess you would call it. I am placing a small pool in there for the ducks (messy, I know) but not big enough to harm the 2 chickens. It has grass growing and dirt patch areas. Then towards the back I plan on putting the coop. I have a fenced roof going up this week and will place tarps were they are needed. We also dug it 3" down into the ground.

I am designing it with the supplies I have and can borrow. Which is nails, crews, hammer, regular hand saw.

2 Chickens (look like hens so far) and 1 Duck (possibly 2 if we can get another buddy for him but all local places have been sold out)

Okay.. so this is just the idea... I have lots of questions below as well...



So let me explain...

- I would like it off the ground. I am thinking 3ft?

- 4ft wide, 3ft deep (question about this below because of nesting)

- Rectangle shaped, top will be flat but hang off a bit

- Front door will hinge up and clip for the day, shut and latch at night, will be pretty large, not as small as it seems in the picture

- The grey bit, on the sides, will be cut out and have chicken mesh - as top vents, on both sides. Front and back will not have it though

- Inside will have roosting bars - water - food


Questions:

1. Should I add a nest box to the back or side? Or do those nesting boxes you place inside of a coop work pretty well? I am just worried I wouldn't know how to attach it... I have never built anything in my life - this will be a first!

2. Vents... should I cut, on each side, 3 more "doors" that I cover in mesh but make just like the door so during summer, ect, I can open them up on the hot nights?

3. How "tall" should I make the actual coop part... 3ft? 4 ft?

4. Please, help! And remember I am working from the fact that I have never worked with tools or wood before. My grandpa did it all for me, haha, and he passed away sadly

 

[Robbo]

Questions...

5. Can I put stick tile on the bottom floor?

 

[Robbo]

6. Could I layer the entire inside (walls and floor) with tile so it can be a complete easy wipe down when I clean it?

 

[4 the Birds]

Checkout the COOP link at the top of this page. It has some great ideas and designs. An exterior nest box is wonderful but I don't know your construction ability. You will want a large access door on the coop to be able to get in and clean. I would not add stick tiles inside..... Instead you will want a nice thick layer of pine chips for the floor. Good Luck!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I have a similar styled tractor and there are two things I'd like to recommend.

#1 = Ventilation. Vents at the top and the bottom. One in the roof if you can manage it. If you go to the building/hardware store they'll have an assortment of vent gratings you can choose from and just cut holes in the wood for them to pop in.

#2 = Make sure there's a way for you to be able to reach into all corners of the coop. Having one side or a large panel swing down on hinges would work. It's important for you to be able to reach in there in case a bird becomes ill or injured and you need to retrieve it. I learned this the hard way.

As a prior poster recommended, check out the COOPS tab at the top of this page. There's a section for tractors and small coops that will give you many good ideas. Good Luck!

 

[Robbo]

Yep, the coop page was where I got a lot of my ideas / sizes.

I was wanting to add the stick tile for easy clean.... but I would still use the pine bedding on top like I am in their brooder...?

Thanks for the ideas and feedback! I think I will make one of the sides a complete hinged side so I can get into it when cleaning time rolls around and like you said, if they get sick or injured.

 

[aart]

Would strongly suggest you do a lot of reading about housing, predators and hardware cloth before building.

Good Luck, Have Fun!!

 

[Robbo]

I *really* like the style of this coop and it actually is what I was going for. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/rancho-chickacabra

I was curious what you all thought about the vents? Should I add one to one of the side opening doors near the top or bottom, besides the slits at the roof?

But other than that question I believe I will follow this just adding some roosting areas in it and no run, as I have that covered.

 

[TK421]

My coop is VERY similar. The placement of your nest box should be in the easiest place for you to get eggs. I recommend outside access for your eggs so you don't have to get mucky just to get eggs. I also strongly recommend one side be hinged for easy clean out. I did this, and it's great once a year (I do deep litter method). Otherwise I'd have to crawl in like a monkey though the pop door, or disassemble the whole thing.

As for height, let the math do itself. For full size birds, you need 16 inches from the roost to the ceiling at least. Your roost has to be above the nest boxes, so there's another 6-12 inches. Your nest box will have to be anchored using a 2x4, so at least 2 inches from the floor, but if you use deep litter method, this is too low. Here's what I did:

Coop 31" tall. (Mine is a,so 3x4)
External nest box 6"from floor. The nest box is 14" tall where it joins the coop.
Roost 16" from floor
Ceiling 15" from roost.

My nest box is hung on the back, and is also the door that swings open for cleaning. Trouble is that this makes the door very heavy, so I have to be careful when I clean. If I did it over again, id make the nest box attachment on a different side.

 

[Robbo]

Thank you very much, TK41, that was very helpful advice!