My coop! Please help with suggestions...

[cowhoss]

So my BF, Grandma and Grandpa and I started construction on my chicken coop a couple of weeks ago. We started with concrete blocks for the base then 2 x 6 for the floor covered in plywood. Then we built walls and covered them in OSB. The coop is 12 x 16 (yes I got a little excited and made it rather large) and I wanted outside access nest boxes. I plan on insulating the coop and putting up old barn wood for the siding. So help would be nice. What do you guys think would be a good way to make the nest boxes? I wanted 8 nest boxes so I made a 10 foot opening in the side.

This picture is construction on the walls

This is a front view. It is 8 ft on the high end and 6 ft on the short end. You can see the hole we made for the nest boxes. I made the window for ventilation that can be coverd up if the girls don't like the light.

This is a view from the inside.

Side view. I am making a 4x12 storage area on this wall.

Back wall. This is the side where the run will go. I haven't cut the pop doors yet.

View from the inside looking towards where the storage area is.

So I have looked over a lot of the coops on the site but I am still having trouble constructing the outside access nest boxes. My opening is so large I was thinking of making a couple of openings so I dont have just one large door. I wouldn't want the girls to fly out while I am collecting eggs! The opening is 10 ft long and I want to make 8 boxes. So maybe 3 doors (3 boxes, 3 boxes and 2 boxes) What do you guys think? Any suggestions would be great before I do too much and can't turn back!

Things to do
1. Finish roof (we are covering it with leftover metal from our barn)
2. construct nest boxes
3. make inside wall for storage area
4. install insulation
5. cover with OSB
6. Paint interior
7. cover vent areas
8. cut pop doors
9. cover outsides with siding
10. cover floors with vinyl

 

[humm-n-cluck ranch]

holy smokes is that a coop or a house

I love it

I am shooting for more ventelation but it gets HOT here so they will forsure need it. What a nice job you are doing!

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Awesome coop! Definitely want to add some ventilation under the eaves. Wish I could have gone that big

...alas, I'm building in the front of my property...no place to hide from code enforcement.

That's a great size service area too.

 

[indianporfavor]

i sure wish i had a coop that big. there is so much potential there, you are doing a great job. cant wait to see it complete

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Awesome!

Will you come build me one, too? I could use a henhouse that big.

 

[cowhoss]

Thanks so much guys! My Grandpa keeps telling me "its just a chicken coop!" but I want to make sure my girls are happy and safe! He nicknamed it "The Chicken Ritz." Almost 3/4th of the materials we had laying around the farm (including the window that is an extra from our house). I got the nails and other things form the habitat restore. Only some extra 2x4s and 2x6s came from Lows. For the ventilation around the eves would you guys put actual vents or just cover it with chicken wire?

 

[indianporfavor]

in my opinion, i really think its a matter of preference.
Chicken wire would be inexpensive and would meet the needs you had, but the real vents would probably be better looking. A plus to vents might be that you could possible close the vent when it was too cold out? not sure if that is smart to close the vents but sounds good to me

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
1/4" to 1/2" hardware cloth over soffit vents...you need some permanent ventilation to vent out moisture and only in the most severest weather should you ever close them. Hardware cloth you won't have to worry about predators climbing in...with chickenwire you might want to sleep lightly.

The wall that the nestbox cutout is in appears to be a load bearing wall...be sure you have adequate support within the opening to handle the load and any perceived load (snow?).

Best wishes,
Ed

ETA: Operable vents will not ventilate as well as open screening.

 

[cowhoss]

Quote:
1/4" to 1/2" hardware cloth over soffit vents...you need some permanent ventilation to vent out moisture and only in the most severest weather should you ever close them. Hardware cloth you won't have to worry about predators climbing in...with chickenwire you might want to sleep lightly.

The wall that the nestbox cutout is in appears to be a load bearing wall...be sure you have adequate support within the opening to handle the load and any perceived load (snow?).

Best wishes,
Ed

ETA: Operable vents will not ventilate as well as open screening.

Thanks for the ventilation tips! Im going out to purchase some hardware cloth for the openings right now

The nest box wall has a modified cripple in it for extra support so hopefully that will be enough for the load.