Need to build a coop/run. Looking for help

[aart]

its going to be one heck of a learning curve

It most certainly is...like getting a sip of water out of a fire hose..haha!
...and you'll be under pressure to build the coop cause those tiny chickies will get big fast and you'll want them out of the house.

So since your dad encouraged you to get more than 6, will he help you build a coop?
I'd guess so, as I also guess you're a minor still living with your your folks?
Build a large shed(10x10) with good 12" roof overhangs and open soffits.
Much easier to find decent shed plans online than decent coop plans(most are jut as badly designed as the prefab coops).

 

[jthornton]

That's a pretty nice one...but...with a some digging I discover that it's in California.
Central Pennsylvania is a way different climate.

For 16 birds I wouldn't go smaller than a 100sqft for the coop in winter...
...unless you've got a large and weather proof run(solid roof and wind/snow blocked walls).

I like that one too, for 16 birds in a snowy area would you build a 16' x 8' as the minimum size hoop coop?

JT

 

[aart]

I like that one too, for 16 birds in a snowy area would you build a 16' x 8' as the minimum size hoop coop?

JT

That could work.
Would need a good solid roof on the whole thing,
with good overhang for external nests,
and some siding on most of it.

@Blooie has a harsh winter climate hoop coop...or maybe it's just the run?
Either way, livestock hoops can make a decent basic structure,
but they'd need serious fortifying for winds and snow loads.

 

[Blooie]

It's just the run, @aart. It's worked fantastic for us and as much as I hate to disagree with my good friend, we DIDN'T fortify it. It handled heavy snow loads and our balmy 60mph winds beautifully, and I think that's because it wasn't framed and braced and fortified to within an inch of its life........rather than having any rigidity to fight the winds and snow, it flexed with them. We never made a single repair to it ever.

 

[moniquem]

Jeez, that is a lot of snow

 

[Blooie]

Just winter near Yellowstone Park!

 

[jthornton]

I have to agree with both of you, if the roof material sheds snow easily then much less support is needed. However on the other hand if you use something like corrugated roofing run side ways I could see a huge pile up of snow on that and would need sufficient support to handle the snow load. While I don't get much snow where I currently live I was born and raised in Alaska in the mountains outside of Anchorage. I've seen snow up to the roof of our house.

JT

 

[townchicks]

Hi Summerlynn. As someone who does use a pre-made, mail-order coop, I thought I'd chime in here. My coop works for me, only because I have had only two chickens, and I live in California, in an area that doesn't get snow. The coop I bought was "designed" to hold up to 4 large fowl, was perfect for my two. It came with an attached run, and a disclaimer that the run was not intended for full time confinement. LOL, they got that right! If I am 30 seconds late getting out to let them into their yard, they are running back and forth screaming and banging their beaks on the wire! There is no way I could ever leave them in there and go away for even one night. Now I have acquired a third chicken, that was a stray, and (after quarantine and a vet check, don't yell at me folks), I am trying to integrate her into the flock. Suddenly, my cute little coop and run is too small! They all get along well in the yard, where the new girl can run away, but I don't think that is going to work in the small run where she can be trapped. So, I am going to try my hand at building a new coop and run. Bottom line, listen to these guys, get a shed, attach a large run to it, and make it as big as you possibly can. Chicken math is real. You already have a fairly large group, but you might want to get more. Certainly if you plan to leave them for a "vacation", you will need lots of space. I don't think pre-made even comes that big. Good luck, and have fun.

 

[SummerLynn]

It most certainly is...like getting a sip of water out of a fire hose..haha!
...and you'll be under pressure to build the coop cause those tiny chickies will get big fast and you'll want them out of the house.

So since your dad encouraged you to get more than 6, will he help you build a coop?
I'd guess so, as I also guess you're a minor still living with your your folks?
Build a large shed(10x10) with good 12" roof overhangs and open soffits.
Much easier to find decent shed plans online than decent coop plans(most are jut as badly designed as the prefab coops).

LOL yes my dad WILL help me, however I'm 31 and have a home of my own I asked his opinion on amount of chicks because he was a farm boy.

 

[aart]

we DIDN'T fortify it.

Aren't there like 3 layers of stuff over the panels...do you have a build thread or article?