Okay, so I think I've come up with my fancy new coop plan! I made a little drawing of it below, let me know what you think and give me any suggestions you may have!
Measurements:
Length: 14'
Width: 8'
Height (at ends): 6'
Height (at peak): 8'
Other details:
This is going to be a mini replica of my horse barn. I'm putting windows on each end (instead of hay doors
) for ventilation. I will also be making more ventilation underneath the eaves that will run the length of the coop. The big door you see on the end isn't actually a real door - it's just going to be painted to look like the big end aisle doors on my horse barn. There will be two pop doors on either side of the feeder that will lead out to the run.
Across from the feeder on the other long wall will be the human door and on each side of that will be the waterers. I am going to install a gutter system that will flow into rain barrels. The rain barrels will have spouts that run through the coop wall into the water containers... Not quite automatic but super easy! Any overflow from the rain barrels will be routed off to the garden which is located a few feet behind the coop.
The roosts will be mounted with a poop board underneath and the nest boxes set back under those with some overhang on the poop board (to prevent layers from getting pooped on while they're giving me eggs). I'm planning on a two story next box complex so I should be able to get 8 nest boxes on each side. I'll build in exterior access to the nest boxes for egg collection as well but that's not reflected in the drawing. The access doors will be flush with the coop wall. Right now I have A LOT of roostand nest space planned. I may end up only doing roosts/nests on one side and building shallow storage cabinets on the other side for extra food and tools. We'll make that decision during the build process I would guess.
The run will be about 16' x 20' and built out of hardware cloth and livestock fencing with netting over top to keep out those pesky hawks!
Measurements:
Length: 14'
Width: 8'
Height (at ends): 6'
Height (at peak): 8'
Other details:
This is going to be a mini replica of my horse barn. I'm putting windows on each end (instead of hay doors
Across from the feeder on the other long wall will be the human door and on each side of that will be the waterers. I am going to install a gutter system that will flow into rain barrels. The rain barrels will have spouts that run through the coop wall into the water containers... Not quite automatic but super easy! Any overflow from the rain barrels will be routed off to the garden which is located a few feet behind the coop.
The roosts will be mounted with a poop board underneath and the nest boxes set back under those with some overhang on the poop board (to prevent layers from getting pooped on while they're giving me eggs). I'm planning on a two story next box complex so I should be able to get 8 nest boxes on each side. I'll build in exterior access to the nest boxes for egg collection as well but that's not reflected in the drawing. The access doors will be flush with the coop wall. Right now I have A LOT of roostand nest space planned. I may end up only doing roosts/nests on one side and building shallow storage cabinets on the other side for extra food and tools. We'll make that decision during the build process I would guess.
The run will be about 16' x 20' and built out of hardware cloth and livestock fencing with netting over top to keep out those pesky hawks!
