I am about to embark on raising chickens for eggs/meat for the first time. I am planning to build a coop next week, and wanted to see if I can get some input on my coop plans?
I have ordered 18 birds, of various breeds, and plan to build a coop 6' x 8 feet. It is designed to be 2 feet off the ground with a ramp descending so the ladies can leave at their leisure (once the trap door is opened in the am), and can be closed at night to prevent unwanted guests...we live in the country complete with bears, bobcats, coons, skinks, mink, fishers and weasels... not to mention my own 2 sweet terrors (OOPS! I mean Terriers!
)
The building itself will be 4 feet high with the nest boxes (8) on one end with outside doors that can be raised to allow for egg collecting and cleaning out of the nests. (without climbing in the coop!) The roosts will go the length of it, and through this site I JUST learned that neither of them should be lower than the nesting boxes! (THANK YOU!!) I will have a couple of windows on the front, and 2 vents on each end, as well as built into the Gambrel style roof with a cupola on top...all with 1/4 inch wire securely on place to avoid weasel visits.
The end opposite the nest boxes will have a large door that will allow for complete cleaning of the inside, and a smaller door built in to allow me to open/close the trap door (for the ramp) without opening the big door....
There will also be a 8 x 15 fenced in yard attached (with a wire "roof" because we also have lots of hawks and owls!) to allow plenty of room to scratch, hunt bugs and just spread out...
So there it is...any suggestions/warnings/ideas??
I was going to paint it barn red with white trim, but I am now thinking pink and purple just might suit me better! Why be so serious??!!
I have ordered 18 birds, of various breeds, and plan to build a coop 6' x 8 feet. It is designed to be 2 feet off the ground with a ramp descending so the ladies can leave at their leisure (once the trap door is opened in the am), and can be closed at night to prevent unwanted guests...we live in the country complete with bears, bobcats, coons, skinks, mink, fishers and weasels... not to mention my own 2 sweet terrors (OOPS! I mean Terriers!
The building itself will be 4 feet high with the nest boxes (8) on one end with outside doors that can be raised to allow for egg collecting and cleaning out of the nests. (without climbing in the coop!) The roosts will go the length of it, and through this site I JUST learned that neither of them should be lower than the nesting boxes! (THANK YOU!!) I will have a couple of windows on the front, and 2 vents on each end, as well as built into the Gambrel style roof with a cupola on top...all with 1/4 inch wire securely on place to avoid weasel visits.
The end opposite the nest boxes will have a large door that will allow for complete cleaning of the inside, and a smaller door built in to allow me to open/close the trap door (for the ramp) without opening the big door....
There will also be a 8 x 15 fenced in yard attached (with a wire "roof" because we also have lots of hawks and owls!) to allow plenty of room to scratch, hunt bugs and just spread out...
So there it is...any suggestions/warnings/ideas??
I was going to paint it barn red with white trim, but I am now thinking pink and purple just might suit me better! Why be so serious??!!
