Need advice for getting/building a coop and run

[KyCoop]

I of course agree with everyone about prefab coops being among other things, way too small. I think a lot of the problem is that new / future chicken owners rely on pictures from advertising that are fake and badly photo shopped. Can we help our fellow future chicken keepers by someone that has a prefab they may use as a broody hut or hospital coop and put 4-6 full size hens in there take a picture and show the TRUE size of the prefab?

 

[Krugerrand]

I of course agree with everyone about prefab coops being among other things, way too small. I think a lot of the problem is that new / future chicken owners rely on pictures from advertising that are fake and badly photo shopped. Can we help our fellow future chicken keepers by someone that has a prefab they may use as a broody hut or hospital coop and put 4-6 full size hens in there take a picture and show the TRUE size of the prefab?

@Znarf was just kind enough to do that very thing on Thursday:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/would-like-opinions-on-coop-size.1562352/

The coop is advertised as being suitable for 8 large hens.

 

[KyCoop]

And this. Some people's logic that they will only be in there to sleep. Um well , how would you like sleeping in a twin bed with your spouse and or children, outside with no air conditioning on a 90 degree night. Yep nope.

 

[chickens763]

T

Welcome to BYC. If you put your general location into your profile we can give better-targeted advice. Climate matters.

Here's some rules of thumb about prefabs:

• If it looks like a dollhouse it's only suitable for toy chickens.
• If it's measured in inches instead of feet it's too small.
• If your walk-in closet is larger than the coop-run combo you're thinking of buying think carefully about whether you have an utterly awesome closet or are looking at a seriously undersized chicken coop.
• If a man of average height can't lie down in the run and stretch out comfortably it's too small.
• If it has more nestboxes than the number of chickens it can legitimately hold the designer knew nothing about chickens' actual needs and it probably has other design flaws too.

And some general advice on chickens space needs:

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

6 hens

• 24 square feet in the coop. 4'x6' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber. If you can't walk into it, put the access door in the middle of the long side to make sure you can reach all areas of the coop because a stubborn chicken WILL press itself into/lay an egg in the back corner where you can't reach.
• 6 feet of roost
• 60 square feet in the run. 6'x10' or 8'x8'.
• 6 square feet of ventilation.
• 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice

Repecka Illustrates Coop Ventilation

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but this was very helpful. Thank you.

 

[chickens763]

Definitely need climate type info. Hot/dry? Cold/frigid/snowy? Wet/humid/hot? Etc.

What is recommended for humid/hot Deep South is different than MN, is different than HI, or CA, etc.

What type of predators are you going to be concerned about? Those who deal with bears have to build/plan differently than one who deals with other predators. You have small predators like blood-thirsty mink, or mice/rats, to agile raccoon and snakes, and canines like fox, coyotes, or dogs. And let’s not forget the aerial hunters.

Where I live it's humid, but can get pretty cold winters (coldest is -10C)
I only have to worry about hawks, I've never encountered any other predators around my area except for some housecats.

 

[chickens763]

Your location is necessary to give advice.

Just gonna say that it's pretty humid, but cold winters. Lowest we get is -10 Celsius during the winter, but can get hot summers too.

 

[3KillerBs]

Just gonna say that it's pretty humid, but cold winters. Lowest we get is -10 Celsius during the winter, but can get hot summers too.

If you can give us at least your country and the region within said country we'll be able to give you better advice.

 

[chickens763]

What are your;
1) weather conditions / location
2) construction / building skills
3) budget

You can use all kinds of salvaged materials. I waited almost a year gathering bits of treated wood, screws, old chain link to put in the ground. When i found a free 17' roof panel i built off its dimensions.
Prefabricated coops are not cost effective for what you get but if you lack the construction skills, get your skills you do have to make extra money to pay a carpenter that knows how to build acoop. It will beat that prefabricated coop hands down.

I'm not gonna say my locations climate anymore because I've said it so many times lol, but thank you for telling me this. I'll look into carpenters that can build coops. Thanks again.

 

[chickens763]

If you can give us at least your country and the region within said country we'll be able to give you better advice.

I'm in the USA, in Virginia.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm in the USA, in Virginia.

from Central NC.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

Depending on just where in the state you are, an Open Air coop might be a good option. They're easier to build than an enclosed coop because they are, in essence, a roofed run with a 3-sided shelter at the windward end. Mine is featured in the article above.

A hoop coop could also be an excellent option. They're often considered the easiest coops to build for people with limited tools and little handyman experience.

Open Air Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/jens-hens-a-southern-texas-coop.75707/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/california-living.68130/

Hoop Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/