Newbie trying to build a coop....ncoop....need feedback please

[trkrueger1]

This is my first time to post and I'm excited to be a part of this community. I have completely jump into the big deep end of raising chickens. I currently have 10 baby chicks in a brooder in my house. We have decided to build our own chicken coop in the backyard. It is going to be 6 feet by 8 feet with 6 feet tall in the front and five feet in the back. Here are my plans for the coop. We do live in North Texas where it gets really hot so I've tried to include venting and also covers for Windows to decrease sunlight heating up the inside of the coop. The last page you see posted are my ideas. I need to put something down in the chicken run area to help with mud control in to cover up some different uneven ground. I'm thinking of buying massive bulk mulch from the recycling place in the city. Inside the coop I'm going to do pine larger shavings and then I am building a poop box that I will use pdz. Any feedback or suggestions I really appreciate it. I have spent probably at least 20 hours looking at Coop's and designing this one. Thanks

 

[wyoDreamer]

I didn't look very closely to the drawings - they seem well thought out and clearly drawn. Looks like a nice design.

The only thing that stands out to me is the nest box lid. If you hinge it at the front like that, any rain that hits the side of the building will run down the wall and into the coop. There really isn't any good way to seal it like that. Here in Wisconsin, I would imagine that the lid would form icicles inside the coop and possibly freeze down. It should probably be hinged at the shed wall and lift up. That way, you can also peek inside and see if any chickens (or other surprises) are in the nest boxes before you open it all the way. It doesn't take but a chain with a hook on the end to hold the top up for you while you collect eggs.

 

[trkrueger1]

I didn't look very closely to the drawings - they seem well thought out and clearly drawn. Looks like a nice design.

The only thing that stands out to me is the nest box lid. If you hinge it at the front like that, any rain that hits the side of the building will run down the wall and into the coop. There really isn't any good way to seal it like that. Here in Wisconsin, I would imagine that the lid would form icicles inside the coop and possibly freeze down. It should probably be hinged at the shed wall and lift up. That way, you can also peek inside and see if any chickens (or other surprises) are in the nest boxes before you open it all the way. It doesn't take but a chain with a hook on the end to hold the top up for you while you collect eggs.

Thank you for the input! My thought on the side latch is it would be easier to clean (placing kitty litter boxes in the nests for easy cleaning too) and allows access to top and bottom row of nests....otherwise I would have to collect eggs from within. Good point with the rain though!

 

[JDN]

https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/nd727-15-1.pdf

If you want a plan with a bill of materials, use that link.

We all tend to overcustomize or over engineer. Or overbuild and overspend. I'd do that link, since it sounds like what you're going to do anyway, and face the coop southwest, and leave the windows hardware cloth rather than glass.

 

[trkrueger1]

This is Great! Thank you!

 

[Starwise]

I second wyoDreamer, you don't want any water get access into the nesting boxes. I would have the roof overhang enough so that it gives complete rain coverage.
For the perches, you can also use 2x4 flat side down. I quickly ran a router with a 1/2" radius bit on both edges to make it a little smoother for their toes. Our girls love them, it does not need to be a round beam. Flat wider perch is better especially during the cold so they can keep their toes warm while sleeping.
+1 for the vinyl floor, I can't begin to tell how much easier it is to scrape off some sticky piles...
I sprinkle some diatomaceous earth inside the coop every time I clean it, weekly or so. Some on the run too, especially dust bathing spots and where I see them laying down.
Nesting boxes don't seem to get near as dirty as the rest of the coop. I've been changing the bedding in them only about every 4-6 weeks and even then just to give them a freshener, not because they were really dirty.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I missed that it was the front that was swinging down, I thought it was the roof. It makes more sense with the front swinging down with a two story nest box area. If you let the roof overhang a little and have a small spacer along the roof edge, you will be fine for weather tightness.
I have a shelf of 3 nest boxes stacked on another set of nest boxes - like you have planned. My chickens will not use the bottom 3; and they insist on all laying in the same nest box, just not the same nest box every day.

 

[imnukensc]

If you're going to stay at 10 birds, I'd reduce the number of nest boxes to 3 or 4, make them larger than 12x12, and keep them on the same level. You have a nice design, well thought out design!