Newbies coop idea

[tomdeggeater]

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g314/tomd7735/Coop2.jpg

Greetings All, Just found this forum after a long and tortuous search. Looks good, too.
Thinking about getting some chicks in the spring and have thunk up this idea for a coop. Not shown, but it will have a 2x4 wire fence for a run. I figure it should be good for 3-4 chickens.
Any suggestions?
Tom

 

[Dawn419]

Hi and Welcome!

I don't see why that design wouldn't work for just a few chickens.

Dawn

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Nice drawings, did you make those? 2x4 wire will not hold chicks in, or predators out(openings to large) however poultry wire over 2x4 wire will be a lot better. better yet use 1x3 welded wire and poultry wire or just 1/2 inch hardware cloth. Oh yea, leather belts make good hinges but they can be chewed through. Just constructive security thoughts, seems mostly coups and runs are easy to keep chickens in but hard to keep out things that harm them.

Hello & Welcome

 

[AtRendeAcres]

could work

 

[tomdeggeater]

Dawn,
Real nice setup you have there, and it looks like you're out in the country, too. I like the 2 story idea, might do that myself. Save space in a small backyard.

Tex,
Yeah, I think I'll spring for some metal hinges, even though it'll be up on blocks, there's dogs and coyotes around here in CT.
Been thinking about hinging the larger part of the roof, too, for cleaning, painting, etc.
Just drew those up yesterday on mspaint. Preliminary, still have to think it thru some more.
Thanx, Tom

 

[Dawn419]

Thanks Tom!

We moved from town about 6 years ago and love it. Our landlady has a farm behind us, there's a small Ostrich farm a few houses down from us and another neighbor has a cow pasture across the road from our frontyard. We don't have alot of flat area on almost 2 acres, had to make due with what we have!

Dawn

 

[McGoo]

Tom, the coop looks a lot like mine. I actually modified my doghouse initially.

A couple of thoughts.... if you raise the coop a little more the chickens will have a nice shady spot underneath. Also, where are you placing your laying box(es)? I extended out the side of mine and made a hinged roof with a lock above it. My chicks haven't started to lay just yet, but in the meantime the raccoon won't get them. It's a big problem in the night.

We also have a sliding draw underneath the roost and I pull out the poop that way.

Hope this helps,
McGoo:/

 

[tomdeggeater]

McGoo, Thanx for the ideas. This is still in the planning stage. Being up on concrete blocks, the coop will be 16" off the ground. If I run the chicken wire all the way around from the run in front, there'd be space under the coop, too.
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of the external nest box with a hinged lid. More room inside the coop, too.
Tom

 

[tomdeggeater]

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g314/tomd7735/Coop.jpg

Greetings All, Here's an improved plan thanx to your suggestions. I also figured out the cutting schedule and materials list. I'll have to check the prices, but it looks like about $150-200.

If you want to save a copy, just go to edit>select all, right click on image, choose 'save as' and choose where you want to save it.
(Any errors are totally my own, this is original)

Tom