New Coop Blueprint

[CKfarm22]

Hey y’all, we want to build a new coop. I have come up with a blueprint. I need opinions on how to make it better. Anything that can be pointed out or changed is fine! Thank you!

 

[Alaskan]

Ok... my thoughts..

The perches will poop on top of the nest boxes and the nest box perch.

But... I don't think there is space to put in a poop shelf... but maybe?

How many chickens?

Doesn't New Jersey have crazy hot and humid summers? If yes, i would add 2 windows,one on either side of the perches, so they can be open in summer, create a breeze at perch level, and be closed in winter.

Do you have open eves?

 

[CKfarm22]

Ok... my thoughts..

The perches will poop on top of the nest boxes and the nest box perch.

But... I don't think there is space to put in a poop shelf... but maybe?

How many chickens?

Doesn't New Jersey have crazy hot and humid summers? If yes, i would add 2 windows,one on either side of the perches, so they can be open in summer, create a breeze at perch level, and be closed in winter.

Do you have open eves?

I don’t mind not having a poop shelf, our coop now doesn’t have one. As for summers, they can be mild and humid yes, we add a fan in the coop for when it’s crazy hot. What’re open eves?

 

[Alaskan]

I don’t mind not having a poop shelf, our coop now doesn’t have one

The nice thing about a poop shelf is since it catches the poop, the area underneath stays clean... so, the nest box, if mounted under the poop shelf, would stay clean.

As for summers, they can be mild and humid yes, we add a fan in the coop for when it’s crazy hot

Eh, the idea of having to put a fan in a coop... blah. I would want to avoid that (the dust on the fan is a fire hazard, and the electric to run the fan costs money). Putting some windows at perch level means all you need to do is open the windows to get a breeze at the perches.

What’re open eves?

Here is a photo I grabbed from the internet.

I colored in where the eves are. It is a good place to leave open, since with a roof overhang they are protected from most rain and snow, and they are up high way above perches so good for winter ventilation.

 

[CKfarm22]

The nice thing about a poop shelf is since it catches the poop, the area underneath stays clean... so, the nest box, if mounted under the poop shelf, would stay clean.



Eh, the idea of having to put a fan in a coop... blah. I would want to avoid that (the dust on the fan is a fire hazard, and the electric to run the fan costs money). Putting some windows at perch level means all you need to do is open the windows to get a breeze at the perches.


Here is a photo I grabbed from the internet.

I colored in where the eves are. It is a good place to leave open, since with a roof overhang they are protected from most rain and snow, and they are up high way above perches so good for winter ventilation.

We have a fan right now and we only turned it on when it got above 90° in the summer, we pretty much only had the windows open anyway plus the small vent we have too. Are these eves open all the way to the outside? I’ve never heard of them

 

[Alaskan]

We have a fan right now and we only turned it on when it got above 90° in the summer, we pretty much only had the windows open anyway plus the small vent we have too. Are these eves open all the way to the outside? I’ve never heard of them

Yes, open to outside.

But, when open fully to outside it is best if hardware cloth is stapled over them to keep put predators.

 

[CKfarm22]

Yes, open to outside.

But, when open fully to outside it is best if hardware cloth is stapled over them to keep put predators.

How big do they have to be?

 

[Alaskan]

How big do they have to be?

Well... eves usually are the size that they are.... because you have the framed wall...and then the roof supports sit on the framed wall.

So... if the roof supports are 18" apart, and the wood used are 2x4, then each hole is about 18" by 4".... but actually a bit smaller than that, since a 2x4 is. . uh.... actually 3.5 inches?

 

[3KillerBs]

we add a fan in the coop for when it’s crazy hot.

Is the fan rated for barn use?

If not, it's a SERIOUS fire hazard. The dust from the bedding and the feather dander is highly flammable.

Passive ventilation is best -- open up plenty of space at the top of the walls and at the gables and put in a ridge vent. That's for your 24/7/365 venting that should add up to at least 1 square foot per bird.

Then put in the windows for supplemental ventilation.

All openings covered in half inch hardware cloth for predator protection.

 

[CKfarm22]

Is the fan rated for barn use?

If not, it's a SERIOUS fire hazard. The dust from the bedding and the feather dander is highly flammable.

Passive ventilation is best -- open up plenty of space at the top of the walls and at the gables and put in a ridge vent. That's for your 24/7/365 venting that should add up to at least 1 square foot per bird.

Then put in the windows for supplemental ventilation.

All openings covered in half inch hardware cloth for predator protection.

We clean the fan everyday before it is turned on. In the pictures i posted i changed some things. Green is 4 inches of open ventilation at the top (all walls have this) Blue is a 20”x6” window. And the pink is the nesting boxes.