Ok Coop?

[CrazedGirl]

I think his math is wrong... 7x10 is about right for 18 chickens. (17.5 really) and 8x8 is good for 16.

As for your hilly area bring someone in with a back hoe bobcat etc. have them grade the area and bring in the proper gravel base. It might cost a bit more now, but it won’t be falling over in a few years like mine is right now! .... another project for this summer is to fix the lean.....


Good luck and keep us posted!

I was worried my math was off! Lol The area we are now looking at putting the coop is further away from the house (sadly) but it will need the least amount of dirt removal/leveling. My husband actually has connections through work if we need to get a backhoe in there. I think it will either require us putting up a base for the coop or digging some and placing concrete slabs down. Either will work.

The builder is figuring about 2 sq ft per bird which might work for some people but 4 sq ft is generally the recommended minimum on here (especially in areas with cold/rainy climates where the birds may not want to come out of the coop at times).

Yeah, I had to rethink my math when I was told that. I don’t feel comfortable having that many in that size space.

For the 7x10, 4 windows + vents should be good as long as they aren't tiny, though if your husband is able to add more later (if needed) that's not a huge concern.

That’s what we thought; although, it would be nice to do very little work other than cleaning and enjoying the girls!

As far as your slope, depending on how sloped it is you can level the base using posts on concrete pads and beams to support the floor, or you can cut into the slope and use a retaining wall to create a stable flat area, though the coop builder probably won't do that for you, so you'll have to see about doing that yourself or hiring someone to help install the coop.

The area we have finally picked out is still within our back yard and is the least sloped out of everything except our driveway and house. Lol It would still mean making sure the base of the coop is leveled off, whether with platforms or digging and bringing in concrete slabs.

 

[aart]

It would still mean making sure the base of the coop is leveled off, whether with platforms or digging and bringing in concrete slabs.

Consider rain runoff and standing water...you want all that away from coop and run.