My small coop plans (blueprints, materials list) - How large should the entry/exit be & the nest box

[nab58]

Looks great! I'm looking forward to seeing it filled with chickens!

 

[jimmywalt]

Looks great! I'm looking forward to seeing it filled with chickens!

Thank you!

"Filled"???? We have 3 ISA browns, 1 Bantam and 1 Araucana - So 5 in there will be more than enough! Remember it's only 4 feet x 4 feet x 4 feet.

 

[aart]

"Filled"???? We have 3 ISA browns, 1 Bantam and 1 Araucana - So 5 in there will be more than enough! Remember it's only 4 feet x 4 feet x 4 feet.

Yep, that's pretty much filled! 16sqft divided by the minimum 4sqft per LF bird coop space equals 4 LF birds...so yes, it's filled + the bantam.

 

[jimmywalt]

Yep, that's pretty much filled! 16sqft divided by the minimum 4sqft per LF bird coop space equals 4 LF birds...so yes, it's filled + the bantam.

They will be nice and cozy and keep each other warm in the winter!

Let's just hope that after all this work of building the thing my neighbors don't contact the Township and then they ask me to remove it. That would really kill me!

 

[Egrant97]

Thanks for the GREAT detail in your post! Looks great and I think I will be using this post to help me build mine.

 

[jimmywalt]

Thanks for the GREAT detail in your post! Looks great and I think I will be using this post to help me build mine.

Thank you.

I'm sorry I'm slow at building. I have 25 years experience as an Account and zero at being a carpenter. So I measure everything 2 or 3 times, set up the wood to be cut, and then go back and measure a couple more times.

I'm also going to go back once this is 100% done and write down exactly what hardware I used (window bolts, door hinges, etc, etc) as well as screw lengths, wood, etc. Hopefully this will help someone else down the road.

 

[allsummedup]

Oh yes please do!

 

[pittsbirder]

A call from the twnsp that late would be aweful..i know its scary but call them now and ask. i did cuz i was worried and they were like "we dont care as long as your neighbors dont" . I actulally dont fit the twnshp ordinance cuz i cant get 25 ft from the prop lines on all sides but my neighbors dont mind.. i said if they get bothersome we have a chicken dinner..so far no complaints. my coop your size has one roost and i put a 10 inch board under it on brackets and fill it with half inch of sweet pdz to dry it and scoop it but im considering using sand and mixing it with the pdz to stretch out the cost.

 

[jimmywalt]

A call from the twnsp that late would be aweful..i know its scary but call them now and ask. i did cuz i was worried and they were like "we dont care as long as your neighbors dont" . I actulally dont fit the twnshp ordinance cuz i cant get 25 ft from the prop lines on all sides but my neighbors dont mind.. i said if they get bothersome we have a chicken dinner..so far no complaints. my coop your size has one roost and i put a 10 inch board under it on brackets and fill it with half inch of sweet pdz to dry it and scoop it but im considering using sand and mixing it with the pdz to stretch out the cost.

I've found another thread about poop boards https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621363/poop-board-convert-warning-graphic-gross-poop-pictures/20 and I will probably build one under the roost that I will install. I like the idea of sweet PDZ. Sounds like it lasts forever if you use a kitty litter scoop to pick out the poo. Also kills any smells that might be there too.

Question - My nest boxes will be external to the coop, 12 inches off the floor - How high should I make the roost? I'm thinking 24" since the front side of the coop is approx. 4 foot tall (outside dimension). I'll probably just do 1 roost the 4' width of the coop. Does that sound good?

 

[allsummedup]

Just don't make your nest boxes higher than your roost. Otherwise they will roost in the nest boxes and you'll have a ton of poop to deal with.