Lots of great coop ideas in the BYC Coop Gallery. Has contact info for the builder so you can contact them for info. Where are you in Northern Cali? My 'ol stompin' ground. If below the snow line, maybe think of something cute like a converted Little Tykes Playhouse? See gallery and craigslist. You need 4 sq. ft. per bird in the coop. If below the snow line, 3 sq. ft. will do. The run need 10 sq. ft. per bird so your run dimensions look good for a 6-8 bird coop.
Do yourself a favor and build a stand up run. Nothing worse than crawling
thru poop in a low run to catch a bird. It's easy:
1. Take 2x4's and make 5ft. wide by 6 ft. tall chicken wire covered panels. Screw the panels together with 3 inch coated decking screws.Put in a horizontal stabilizing 2x4 at 1/2 way up. ( again 3 inch coated decking screws).
2. Now carriage bolt the panels together ( 4 1/2 inch carriage bolts with washers and nuts) or use 3 1/2 inch coated deck screws alternating sides of the uprights you are screwing together. ( 3 inch is not long enough)
3. Set then up using 4x4 for the corners. ( 4 inch carriage bolts with nuts and washers) Where I live in PA this just sets
on the ground and does not need any foundation
in the ground. Thus it is a temporary structure ad does not need a building permit.
4. Make a simple door for inside one of the panels using a smaller chicken wire covered panel. Hang it with gate hinges from your local big box store. and a sliding bolt which had holes for a lock if you need one later.
5. Now put some 2x4 cross beams over the run and roof it with chicken wire.
6. Go to your local store and buy a tarp of the right size to roof the run. Leaving a couple of inches overhang on each side. Now buy a couple of packets of those bungee cords with the red balls on one end. (
Walmart). carefully stretch the tarp over the roof of the run. measure down the side posts as far as needed and put in a heavy nail or C hook in the uprights. Now thread the bungee thru the grommets and around the nail. This will hold the tarp down against the roof. But the bungees will give the tarp enough "give so it doesn't rip and blow away I the wind.
Take a look ahead of time.. If there are not grommets where you will need them, buy a simple grommeting kit from Harbor Freight
7. Additional idea. if you are not wanting to fasten the chicken wire down with a bazillion fence staples, try this.
Get 1x2's ( not plywood) and cut to length to fit perimeters of panels. Tack the wire down so it is taut. Then place the 1x2's over the edges of the wire and screw them down fastening all to the edges of the panels. Use 2 1/2 inch coated deck screws. you will be screwing into the 2 inch edge of the 2x4 panels.
Best,
Karen in western PA, USA
