New to coop building and chickens in general - some questions

[JohnBinTN]

Hello everyone. I'm a first time chicken coop builder, and I'm half winging it and half getting some tips from Google. Here's what I started with:

For reference, the dog pen is 12x24. This is where I am now in the construction phase:

Total chicken run area (including the area under the hen house platform) is 8x16, open run 8x12, and hen house platform 4x8. I plan on making the run area a sloped roof, 7-ish feet on the tall side, and 6-ish feet on the shorter side. The hen house will be a conventional peaked roof "house" to match the dog house in the background.

I have some fairly basic questions that I'd like to get some opinions on before I begin framing the house... We plan on having 10 chickens, "standard size" classic chickens. 3 or 6 nest boxes? To me, a 4x8 floorplan for chickens seems large - would I be better off reducing the size of the house? The reason I ask is for cleaning reasons... Trying to get some ideas for cleaning options for a 4x8 footprint house. A galvanized slide out tray that size is out of our budget. I'd also like to get some ventilation ideas for this size of a house (4-foot walls with a 6-foot peak). I'm thinking gable vents with shutters, but that's all I got - ideas very welcome and appreciated.

My carpentry skills are intermediate to advanced, and AC power is available if that makes a difference. Looking for critiques, hints, ideas, whatever you got for a chicken coop project at this stage.

Thanks for any constructive input/answers!

John and Christina

P.S. The door posts are plumb. The one on the right looks wacky, but it's perfectly plumb!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome again! I'm going to rain a bit on this design here.
It's too small!!! At least four sq. ft. per bird, and that's tight, bigger is better.
Walk-in coops and runs are best by far. Build a dig-proof perimeter, and have it on dirt.
How will you crawl under it to retrieve a bird, or eggs, or critters?
The best coop design is the Woods coop, which looks harder to build, at least to me as a not so good carpenter.
Second best is a walk-in shed design, with lots of extra ventilation, especially on the south and east sides, all covered in hardware cloth.
For ten birds, 48 to 50+ sq. ft. of coop, and 100+ sq. ft. of run, at least. And then 'chicken math' will strike, and you will somehow acquire more birds, and need more space.
Mary

 

[JohnBinTN]

Welcome again! I'm going to rain a bit on this design here.
It's too small!!! At least four sq. ft. per bird, and that's tight, bigger is better.
Walk-in coops and runs are best by far. Build a dig-proof perimeter, and have it on dirt.
How will you crawl under it to retrieve a bird, or eggs, or critters?
The best coop design is the Woods coop, which looks harder to build, at least to me as a not so good carpenter.
Second best is a walk-in shed design, with lots of extra ventilation, especially on the south and east sides, all covered in hardware cloth.
For ten birds, 48 to 50+ sq. ft. of coop, and 100+ sq. ft. of run, at least. And then 'chicken math' will strike, and you will somehow acquire more birds, and need more space.
Mary

So I have the run space, but small on the house... Unfortunate. I have the 4x8 to work with currently, but could re-purpose the dog pen and house if needed and connect it all together. Hopefully they will get along on the space I have available right now. The nesting boxes will be hanging off one side of the house, so are not included in the 4x8 space. It will, however, have two roosting bars on the opposite side of the nest boxes.

It's a learning experience, definitely. If crowding presents a problem, we have chicken friends that can adopt the overflow.

 

[rosemarythyme]

4x8 is a little tight for 10 birds but if that's what you have to work with, maximize the space as much as you can (i.e. feeders outside, nest boxes sticking out). I think 3 nest boxes is sufficient for 10 hens, if you really want to overachieve make it 4. They should be 12"x12"x12" at minimum, mine are 14.5" cubed. Roost space, you want ideally about 12" per bird though they'll pack in tighter than that, so 8-10" should be ok.

Ventilation is important, whether hot or colder climate. For the number of birds you want at least 10 sq ft of windows and vents (gable, ridge, soffit, under eave).

As far as cleaning I wouldn't bother with a slide out tray, that works for caged birds maybe and usually not that well. Will the coop actually be high enough for you to climb into? Depending on the layout maybe you could do a clean out hatch behind or near the roost area, and just use a rake to reach in and rake out used bedding.

 

[JohnBinTN]

4x8 is a little tight for 10 birds but if that's what you have to work with, maximize the space as much as you can (i.e. feeders outside, nest boxes sticking out). I think 3 nest boxes is sufficient for 10 hens, if you really want to overachieve make it 4. They should be 12"x12"x12" at minimum, mine are 14.5" cubed. Roost space, you want ideally about 12" per bird though they'll pack in tighter than that, so 8-10" should be ok.

Ventilation is important, whether hot or colder climate. For the number of birds you want at least 10 sq ft of windows and vents (gable, ridge, soffit, under eave).

As far as cleaning I wouldn't bother with a slide out tray, that works for caged birds maybe and usually not that well. Will the coop actually be high enough for you to climb into? Depending on the layout maybe you could do a clean out hatch behind or near the roost area, and just use a rake to reach in and rake out used bedding.

Rosemary,

Thanks for your input. I had already planned on gable and under eave vents. Soffit venting is a good idea, with a little more work, but I'll consider it. I'll be insulating and sheetrocking the inside (maybe even paint it!) Barn door opening on the roost side was my current plan, but the slide out pan thing is such an attractive option! They want alot of $$ to fabricate one that size, though. It's raised 30" of the ground, so not a bad height to rake out. Initially we were going to do those vinyl stick-on tiles, but I've since changed my mind and will be doing a tight grout line ceramic tile for the flooring. It has a 3/4" exterior plywood base, as I figured the droppings will make their way through the gaps in the vinyl and permeate the wood.

I'm not opposed to opening up the dog run for chickens (probably will, as the dogs have never used it - they like the people house). They're right next to each other, so connecting the two is not an issue. The dog house is only 16" off the ground, so not sure how that would work out as a secondary coop.

This is fun stuff (the building, etc.) for me. Wish I had more time to work on it. I'll get it done on time and over budget, just like all my other projects.

 

[Folly's place]

The slide- out pan will likely be a total bust; to big and difficult to manage. Bedding on the floor will work much better instead. It will be more comfortable too, and the birds like to dig around in it. Many people use a sheet of vinyl flooring, or deck paint, or something like that, over the plywood, not ceramic tile. Less expensive, and less likely to crack on the seams.
Have a big window opening, or two, for ventilation, and light in there.
Mary

 

[rosemarythyme]

I had already planned on gable and under eave vents. Soffit venting is a good idea, with a little more work, but I'll consider it. I'll be insulating and sheetrocking the inside (maybe even paint it!) Barn door opening on the roost side was my current plan, but the slide out pan thing is such an attractive option! They want alot of $$ to fabricate one that size, though. It's raised 30" of the ground, so not a bad height to rake out. Initially we were going to do those vinyl stick-on tiles, but I've since changed my mind and will be doing a tight grout line ceramic tile for the flooring. It has a 3/4" exterior plywood base, as I figured the droppings will make their way through the gaps in the vinyl and permeate the wood.

I'm not opposed to opening up the dog run for chickens (probably will, as the dogs have never used it - they like the people house). They're right next to each other, so connecting the two is not an issue. The dog house is only 16" off the ground, so not sure how that would work out as a secondary coop.

Definitely add at least one window (doesn't have to be a proper window like you'd have in your house, just an opening with wire mesh over it is fine - or awning style is fantastic if you want the option of closing it in the worst weather). Windows add air flow and natural light, which makes a huge difference in your birds wanting to go in at night.

Yeah I'd axe the slide out tray. Save the money for something else.

Another option for the floor is a waterproof coating like Black Jack #57, which is what I use, though my coop is relatively new so I can't swear it'll hold up over years, though some members here have had it in their coop for years.

Maybe the dog house could hold food or water? I like having one feeder inside just in case it's rainy. It would offer a little more floor space, if nothing else.

 

[JohnBinTN]

Thanks Rosemary and Mary!

Will definitely have at least one window (was thinking one plexiglass, the other just hardware cloth), and they will be shuttered.

My concern is about the dog house... Will they not try to nest in there? If I could connect the two together, that would be awesome! I suppose I could add a nesting box to the dog house... Do two nesting areas work with one flock of birds?

Dead set on the tile, though. Looks so nice if someone peaks in (the dog house is ceramic tile), and I'm pro with grout! (lol) It will be lined with pine bedding, anyways.

I'm gonna take pictures along the way as I build this monstrosity and I'll try to post some here along the way.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My concern is about the dog house... Will they not try to nest in there? If I could connect the two together, that would be awesome! I suppose I could add a nesting box to the dog house... Do two nesting areas work with one flock of birds?

Dead set on the tile, though. Looks so nice if someone peaks in (the dog house is ceramic tile), and I'm pro with grout! (lol) It will be lined with pine bedding, anyways.

If the dog house is connected so it's part of the coop the chickens will go back to the main side to lay, shouldn't be an issue.

Since you know how to tile I'm sure that'll work fine, just for most of us that's over our heads. By some miracle I managed to build my own nest box and roost, but that's as far as my construction skills go.

 

[PetesChicks]

The dog house would make a great broody box, or separation area for if someone needs to be locked up. When not being used like that, I’m sure they will appreciate it as an area to get out of the rain. As for laying in there, who knows. I just thought I had a girl, my best layer, stop laying. From 6-7 eggs a week, to nothing for 5 straight days. On the sixth day, I found all her eggs in the litter under the ramp to the coop. She’s still laying as much as always, just hiding them on me.

As far as the size of the coop, if you haven’t gotten much more done from your picture, I’d say start over. Lose the elevation, and double the size to 8x8. Keep it the same height you were planning on, and without the 2’ under the coop you’ll have a nice walk-in with 6’ walls. It sounds like you have the skills for it, and once chicken math hits you will be thankful. My first coop was elevated, with a door I had to reach through to do anything, and I hate it. The coop I have now is a 10x16 shed, with the first 5-6’ for me and a wire wall & door separating my side from the girls. It’s nice being able to walk right in to check on them and care for them.