New to it all - Need advice on construction

[thejaxx]

Greetings all.

I've been procrastinating for the past few years on building a coop and getting some chickens. Now I'm going to do it.

I have a little shed attached to our garage. Currently I use it as my yard tool shed, but I think it would make an excellent coop.

It already has a hatch that I just need to unsecure (has a few 2x4's nailing it shut) and build the enclosure for them to run around in.

The plan is as follows:

This is the shed -


It is 136 inches deep (from door to that far wall), 46 inches wide and 78 inches high at the lowest point (on the left sidee there). That roof is the green opaque roofing, so allows light in as you can see.

The window there on the right is the garage. I was thinking of removing the window and using it for the nesting boxes. The window is 46 inches wide and 24 inches high. There is nothing keeping me from putting the box there.

This room also has electricity so I can put a heater during the winter.

This is the hatch.


It is 2ft by 2ft and hinged. So if I need to close it, I can.

This is a pic of the exterior.

I was going to build the enclosure there. I can go out about 4-6 feet from the wall and then come towards where I'm taking the pic from. Just not sure how I am going to build that as of yet.

So that's it! Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[Judy]

Where are you? Chicken coops very rarely need heat, but chickens have a hard time in the summer and can actually die at 100 degrees. They require good shade and good breeze. Heat can actually cause them undue distress: when the power goes out, they are acclimated to a warmer space and can find themselves dealing with the cold weather they are designed for.

If that setup were where I live, I would turn most of the outside, large wall into open space, perhaps connecting to a run, or else covered with hardware cloth and fencing for predator protection. If you have heavy winters, you will need to figure out how to get good ventilation (about 1 sq ft per bird) to a high place in the coop so that their humidity and ammonia can exchange out. It ay be you will need the garage window for ventilation.

You can add your (general) location to your postbit in your profile; makes answering lots of questions easier.

 

[thejaxx]

I'm in Seattle. The winters here can get bitter on some days or weeks at a time. I was looking at the heat for the water so it doesn't freeze. Maybe a heat lamp as well?

This past winter we had a week and half where temps didn't get above freezing. Two years ago we had a week where lows got into single digits and highs into 20's. In both cases there were reports of chickens having died from the extreme cold.

The enclosure I was wanting to use as the area for them to roost. I was going to build a chicken wired fenced area outside where they could go in and out of that small door pictured. That way they got fresh air, etc. That wall you were talking about removing is a north facing wall, so no sun would shine into it.

For ventilation, I could cut a space in the upper area of the far wall or above the big door and put in a vent with a fan to draw air.

 

[Folly's place]

Chicken wire WILL NOT protect your birds from predators! Think hardware cloth. Your shed is great; add large vents at the top side and end, and a large window in the door, all covered with hardware cloth. The nest boxes need to be two to three feet off the ground, max. That window looks too high to me, although nest boxes through the wall under it would work. I'm in Michigan; that wasn't cold! The northern exposure will help with shade in summer, very important when it's warm. Many people use dog run chain link for the run, covered with netting. It isn't secure at night, but will keep dogs, etc out. Mary

 

[thejaxx]

If I'm understanding, I want a window in the roosting area? Which is the tool shed currently? Or is the vents at the top and the light from the roof good.

 

[Folly's place]

Wide open as possible in all but the coldest weather. Maybe plastic covering part of the windows in winter. Summer breezes are good; freezing rain and wind directly on them is not good. Mary

 

[thejaxx]

Thank you for that advice. The wood will not be that hard to remove in that door and I can easily put some hardware cloth on it. With the light that comes in from the ceiling and the door, do you suggest hanging anything over the nesting boxes? I understand they prefer darkness?

Another issue I just realized, it seems wasps love to build their nests in there. I am always killing them off or knocking down the nest before it gets going. Do I have anything to worry about with them and chickens?

 

[thejaxx]

Have started some work on it. Put the vent in and took out the upper panel on the front door and covered that with screen and hardware cloth.

I started to put the poop board in with a roost above. The bottom roost is about 3.5 to 4 ft off the floor, top one is about 5. Are those okay heights?

Also, is it okay to put a nesting box below the roost/poop board area? I was planning on doing a three bottom / two top configuration.

 

[jetdog]

Looks good the nestboxs under the roost will be fine it will save some space, depending on how many hens you get you'll only need 1 box for every 3 hens.

 

[4 the Birds]

Have started some work on it. Put the vent in and took out the upper panel on the front door and covered that with screen and hardware cloth.

I started to put the poop board in with a roost above. The bottom roost is about 3.5 to 4 ft off the floor, top one is about 5. Are those okay heights?

Also, is it okay to put a nesting box below the roost/poop board area? I was planning on doing a three bottom / two top configuration.

Personally, I would remove the 5 ft high roost bar and place two bars about 6 to 12 inches above the poop board and about 12 to 18 inches apart. I would also add a ramp up to the bars or poop board so that the birds do not need to flap or fly to get up (flying creates ALOT of dust!). Mine walk up the ramp to the bars and just hop down. Lowering the upper bar will also keep drafts off of the birds from your upper vents. Upper vents can be large and create plenty of them. Cover them with hardware cloth and add a hinged flap on the outside so that you can crack them open, fully open them, or close the ones upwind of storm events. Windows are great for natural light! My birds love to sit on the roost bars in front of the windows. Nest boxes are fine under the poop boards.