need some help for a coop

[deerchooper]

ive been high, low and computer locked up trying to get some plans, ideas for a coop. the coop will hold 8 chickens max. from what I have found a 4'x8' floor plan would get the space needed for the chickens.

I will be moving in a month or so, so I need to be able to haul it. but that's my problem when it comes.

I was thinking of a raised floor.

what I don't know is how many nesting boxes do I need? i don't know 8 chickens= 8 boxes. I was thinking a stick out box design with small roof. what size do they need to be?

what about the roosting poles? how many and what height?

the more I read problems about everything with this and that the farther I get behind and forgetting I need a coop and work out the bugs in the same token. I have 3 chicks now but plan on getting some soon that are coop ready but only 7 weeks old.

I would like to build it this weekend, so any help would be helpful.

I have to figure in winter as well here in ohio.

terry

 

[Catfish267]

3-4 nest boxes 13"x13"x13" raise them up a foot or two off the ground
Get a 1"-2" diameter branch or pole and put it up 2 to 3 feet.

 

[chickengirl280]

The bigger the coop the better! I use a heat lamp in the winter, safe distance away, red bulb. Don't want any fires! When you move try putting the chickens in a seperate container, i suggest a large dog crate. When building screw the walls together so when you move you ca unscrew, pack up, and screw it back together at your new place. Good luck!

 

[Judy]

People usually figure one nest box for every 4 hens, but the truth is they will probably only use one. You can also make a single wider nest box, maybe 18" wide, as a communal nest. Ordinarily, front enter nests are 12" on each side, or an inch or two more, especially if they will be larger birds like Orps, or especially, Jersey Giants. It will take you a fair amount of time and figuring to build an external nest box like that, and they won't even need a nest til around 5 months, plus those tend to leak and be an easy entry spot for predators. When you do need a nest or two, many containers are suitable -- anything that is approximate nest size and opens either from the front or the top. I've yet to spend money on a nest box or build one from scratch. Plastic bins, cat litter boxes, 5 gallon pails on their side iith a lip across the lower fron to hold the litter, even cardboard boxes will do. I have an old plastic bin, open on top, with a cutout in the front that they can step over, which is popular.

They need about 10" of roost space each, so you could just put a roost across the 8' side, or two across the 4' side, either together on one end, or on opposite ends. I like the wide side of a 2x4, but a fat branch works as well. It needs to be about 6" away from the wall. I wouldn't make it very high in a narrow coop like that because they won't have the sideways room to fly down, and can injure legs jumping straight down. Sometimes epople provide a ramp but they may not use it. They will probably use a shelf, though. You might put in a small shelf about a foot off the ground, then the roost another foot or 18". Just be sure the roost is higher than the nests or they will want to sleep in the nests. It would be a lot easier to fit things in if it were 6' x 8'. Keep in mind they may stay in on snowy days, especially if there isn't a roofed run, so they will be much more content with a bit of extra floor space.

The only thing you have to do about winter is be sure there is plenty of ventilation, to allow the humidity to escape. Their feathers keep them plenty warm. A wider roost like 3.5" lets them sit on their feet and hopefully keeps them a little warmer. A roof slanted to one side with ventilation below a roof overhang on the high side is an easy way to do this. You can just leave the space between the wall top and roof open, covered with hardware cloth for predator protection if you wish.

Check out our coop section in the brown strip at the top of the page. Probably medium size would be the most useful. And here are a couple of excellent articles about ventilation and winter coop temps, written by a Canadian, plus a good post about space:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-coop-temperatures

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700308/coop-and-run-size/0_20#post_9504811

Good luck!