Open Air/Open Front Coop Questions

[Ferrret]

My Boyfriend and I will be building a coop soon. We found a design we like in a book called "Fresh Air Poultry Houses" but we have a few concerns.
The coop design is an open front coop called both the Woods House and the Semi Monitor House and can be found in Chapter 8 of the book, for those who have it.

Our concern is scaling down the design. We only plan on having a maximum of a half dozen chickens so we aren't going to need a 10'x16' coop, which is the smallest design we have seen in the book. The largest we want to build a coop is 6'x8' and we aren't sure if the Woods House design will work as well in a smaller scale.
So far we have determined that the floor will be 6'x8', with the front and back walls at 4' tall. The top 2' of the front wall would be screen to allow air to get in and out. The highest point of the roof should be at or close to 6' tall, with a 1' window that we can open wide in the summer and close up during heavy rains and cold winter weather.

Would a scaled down version of this design have the same ventilation or would it be too drafty?
Are there any modifications that can be made to make a scaled down version work just as well as the full scale version from the book?

Thanks!

 

[Intheswamp]

I don't know how changing the dimensions of the colony house would affect it. It looks though that going with a 6x8 house is already changing the proportions (reducing the house dimensions by 50% would call for a 5x8 house).

Why not go with the small 6x10 house as depicted on page 130-132? This one has already been figured out and it's only 2' deeper than what you're considering.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[elmo]

Here's a good discussion of that very question.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=282991&p=1

 

[Ferrret]

A 6'x8' coop is the largest we have considered because of available space and we really don't want or need one that is bigger. The dimensions we may go with will probably be closer to 4'x8' or 4'x6'. The chickens we want to get are Bantams, and we don't want any more than 6, so having a 6'x10' coop and even a 6'x8' coop is unnecessary.
The coop will also be raised off the ground about 2' to prevent predators, provide a shaded area in the run and to allow easier access into the coop for us. Our plans include a second insulation layer in the walls and ceiling, and a tar papered and shingled roof. We have been using the Fresh Air Poultry book as a starting point for a coop design.

Our concerns are ventilation and cold weather. Being in Michigan means it gets pretty darn cold and there's quite a bit of snow. I don't want my chickens to freeze overnight because the front of the coop is too open and drafty. We also want the birds to have enough air flow to keep them healthy and dry all year around.

We want to know if a small open air coop similar to the designs in the Fresh Air Poultry book will be safe to keep hens in or be a detriment to their health.
Is there anything that should be done for an open air coop in the winter to keep the birds in good health, such as a curtain or cover for the open front, or a heat source that can be used in extreme conditions?
Should the coop be much deeper than it is wide or will that have poor air flow?
Would a square house be less effective than a rectangular house with this design?
Is there a better ventilation plan for coops in colder climates?

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

I haven't seen the book, but we built a 5' x 7 1/2' open air coop (3 sided) and have been using it for the past 1 1/2 years. It works great for us. We chose the 7 1/2' width because that was the width of the run we were planning to connect it. We started with 13 chickens and now have 20. We are still using the same coop for them, but have enlarged the run quite a bit.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=19548



Edited to add: I just noticed your location. We chose an open 3 sided coop because or our hot climate (the AZ desert). I'm not so sure a 3-sided coop, especially a smaller one, would be best for your Michigan chickens.

 

[teach1rusl]

If I recall part of that discussion from earlier, one issue with going smaller is that you lose that depth that would normally shelter the chickens from cold drafts. In a cold storm with icy winds, I'd much rather be huddled in a cave 15 feet deep than only 6 feet deep for obvious reasons. Of course I'm not a fan of open air coops except in year round warm areas.

 

[Ferrret]

I should add that I have been putting the dimensions up backwards

in W x L and not L x W.
The size that seems to be best for us so far is 4' wide by 6' deep.
Hopefully that clarification helps.

We are looking to at least start building a coop over Easter weekend, so any helpful info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MoSo]

I don't have the book, so I can't see the layout, but think of it this way: what are your materials? What dimensions do they normally come in? Plywood sheets are 4x8, dimensional lumber is nominally 2"x4" (really 1.5" x 3.5", how that's called a 2x4 I have no idea) and they come in 8', 10' and 12' lengths (plus a 92" length for building standard house walls, sized for a top sill and a bottom sill).

Lay out your design on a sheet of paper and starting cutting out sides and framing. Is there a better size to reduce waster? A sheet of CDX (C quality exterior, D quality interior plywood) in 3/4" = $35 or so, in 1/4" it's around $17. OSB is a little less. Planning for best use of plywood ends up being your pocketbook's friend. Granted usability is ultimately important, but advanced planning can save a lot of $$$.

Our 4'x6' coop (raised 2.5') cost around $275, and that was with some scrounged items, including the 1.5" foam insulation between the exterior sheathing and the interior plywood paneling for the walls, ceiling and floors.

The fencing looks to cost about that as well, unfortunately.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

I have three 3 sides coops here in Florida. In the winter it gets pretty cold here sometimes it goes down to 14 degrees. This past winter we had extended periods of cold weather. I had to put heaters in the three coops to keep the birds safe. I dont think a 3 sided coop is a very good idea up north unless you are planning on closing the fourth side in during the winter. I have heard some people on here talk about being snowed in and that their chickens can not leave their coop. How would you keep them warm in the 3 side coop.

 

[Ferrret]

Our material list so far has gotten quite large, and my BF keeps telling me not to worry about how much it will cost, that it will get done however much has to be spent.
(

Maybe it's a guy thing.)

So far it includes: plywood, OSB (or something similar), 2"x4"s, 2"x2"s, hardware cloth, vinyl/linoleum, latches, wheels, and plexiglass.
I haven't even gotten into everything it will take to feed and raise chicks and chickens.
It's going to cost several hundred dollars before we even get the chicks, but he seems dead set on doing this and I'm more than happy to help where I can (being the one who asked about getting chickens and all

).

We have chosen the 4' width because that means we can use a sheet of plywood without having to add to it width wise. We are also staying under the 8' length not only to save on available yard space but to minimize wasted boards. Scraps that are big enough will go to making the ramp in and out of the coop, a droppings board, as well as nest boxes. Any other scrap we will either find use for on other projects or use in a bonfire.

As for drawing out the plan and making sure it works by making a scale model, I have already done such a thing with the last coop design we were working with, although I used cardboard instead of paper. I am thinking about doing it again with the new design and maybe trying to find a way test the ventilation and weather proofing of the design.

I am in the mind that it never hurts to have the advice from those who have tried it before, be it coop building or sky diving.
Right now it's looking like we will get a half dozen Silkie Bantams (possibly all in the white variety, and all named Shmoo), which from what I have read are fairly winter hardy, so my only worry on a sunny December day is losing them in the snow.

I do, and will probably always, worry about windy and stormy winter nights. Snow can get pretty fierce up here thanks to the lakes and I want my chickens to be safe and as cozy as possible.