New to BYC and this is my Design

[GKindred]

I am not sure of the height of your coop but you will be most happy with one that you can get into without hunching or crawling too much.

I like the design of roost bars on one side and the boxes on the other; Yet, the nest boxes almost look higher than the roosts (they may roost on the nest box edges). The mechanical roof idea is interesting but I would much prefer a fixed roof with vents up high on all sides of the walls that have flaps. This way you can close off and open ventilation according to weather conditions.

Sounds very interesting!

Firstly, welcome along mate, can always pick the other Aussies as we call them 'chooks' lol.

So, what may I add? The nest boxes, I like more than not enough. I have 6 for about 12 girls (building flock now) I have mine wired off. If I have too many, I will keep them wired off and use them for dry storage of thinks like ACV or extra straw. Perhaps you can make your center divider removable, one large communal layer area and some smaller individual ones, see what the girls like.

Personally, I would not have a raised roof, either open eves with mesh, or closed upper area with vents (mesh with wood panels or slotted vents) Just more things that can go wrong down the track.

Floor, I love the slide out tray idea, I had seen another member make a long gutter system that I really liked too. For the rest of the area the girls will need traction to move about, but you also want something that is durable and easy to clean. Some use deep litter, I use clean playground sand, others use a base of lino. Very least, you could paint it and scatter some sand about for grip. If your painting, go up the wall s a bit too, as somehow, they get that mess all over the place!

Mobility, you mentioned you want to move the coop from time to time. Give the mobility some thought. I have seen some that are just picked up by a group of people. Others are a little more fancy. My main coop is stationary built inside a run, but I have a smaller mobile coop that I fitted some old BBQ wheels to at one end on a swivel.

What materials are you thinking of using?

The base frame that the coop will actually be bolted to, is a standard cattle fence panel.
Then the main frame will be 70x35 MP10 timber.
The outside will be cladded with 90x12 recycled pallet timber.
All painted in a coat or two of exterior house paint.
The trays and exterior access panels will probably be made from the same stuff, or 6mm OSB Braceboard.

I will post some more pics once the design is near final draft.

Thanks your feedback!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Sounds great, love your material choices too. Pallets are a great source of free material.

I live close to a industrial area. A short drive often yields a stack of pallets, sometimes I get the long crate sorts that have ply siding and big thick gluts on the underside. Would pay a fortune for that at Bunning's and here are people throwing them out! A few nails and a quick plane or sand and it's done!

I look forward to following along your build.