Opinions on this coop?

[NatJ]

Are there any similar plans anyone knows of that will accommodate 15-20 chickens? This is our first coop btw so if anyone sees anything we’re not consider...we really appreciate everyone’s feedback an opinion!

A common estimate is 4 square feet of space per chicken inside the coop (sheltered area), and 10 square feet per chicken in the run (fenced area outdoors).

The largest of those tractor coops is 8 x 10 feet at the base.
If you treat the base area as the run, that would give 10 square feet each for 8 chickens.
For 8 chickens, the coop (sheltered area) should be 32 square feet.
I cannot find any dimensions for that upper area, so I can't tell if it's big enough or not.

So I'd figure the largest of those tractors as holding 8 chickens or less, not 15-20.

Using your shed sounds like a MUCH better option.

 

[Alaskan]

How many goats were you hoping for? And were you going to milk them?

That red building in one of the photos that screams barn... is that also a potential location of animals?

With goats you will want a stupidly large amount of hay storage space...


6x12 for 20 chickens gives you a little less than 4 square feet of indoor space.

I would take a tape measure to that building, see what you have exactly.

 

[Ann Perkhens]

How many goats were you hoping for? And were you going to milk them?

That red building in one of the photos that screams barn... is that also a potential location of animals?

With goats you will want a stupidly large amount of hay storage space...


6x12 for 20 chickens gives you a little less than 4 square feet of indoor space.

I would take a tape measure to that building, see what you have exactly.

We’re hoping to do 2 Nigerian dwarf goats. As of right now we have no immediate plans to purchase goats, but it’s definitely something we will want to do in the next 3 years I’d think.

The red building is in fact a cinderblock barn, it used to house horses. My husband would like to convert it to a woodworking studio, however. There is a “attic” that could keep plenty of hay, however. And there’s the giant woodshed that could also house hay...
Whoever lived here before us had a thing for out buildings.

 

[Ann Perkhens]

I saw the outbuilding, its got as lot of promise. How are you on local predators? Willingness to potentially lose some of the flock to predation? Budget?

Goats don't need much, its something I've been researching for a while.

If you can convert the outbuilding to a coop, fence the property in a way that keeps the chickens in and the ground-based critters out (not sure how much property you need to enclose), and use the existing outbuilding to provide one side to your goat pen - so you need two corner posts, a basic roof structure, and perhaps low walls on two sides to block drafts - you can let your birds free range and eat bugs all day long, while still ensuring they have a safe space, not under goat feet, to nest at night and lay their eggs.

That's my plan, mostly - only the coop is attached tot he back of the barn, and the fenced goat pen is being built around the chicken run - so any predator which gets past the electric fence, and the fields, must still get past the goats (and their fence) then the run (and its fence) before it gets the chickens.

Of course, that does nothing for the hawks. But nothing is perfect.

and on that happy note, I need to go play with the chainsaw. Have already spent WAY too many hours online today.

thank you for your ideas! I like the way you are thinking in lines of defense...we haven’t lived here long enough to see for ourselves but have been told we will have coyotes, raccoons, some foxes (though more rare) and potentially other predators. Apparently small black bears as well, but they leave the neighbors chickens alone. Hawks are common to the area as well.

there’s a decent area near them tree coverage that we could fence for them. I like your ideas on the goats being a line of defense.

 

[Alaskan]

We are wanting the goats for milk. Also my eldest daughter just loves goats and would like to have some goats. I’ve definitely heard they are little escape artists but I didn’t realize it was to quite that extent!

I have heard of people who love their Nigerians, and manage to keep them contained....

Personally though, I like teats that can fit at least most of my hand... no way would I ever put up with one or 2 finger milking... my older sister and son, manage to milk a two finger milker....

 

[Alaskan]

I think chickens and 2-3 goats could coexist happily in here - and as long as you build a big outdoor run - they should get along.

The goats would eat the chicken feed, and no, that wouldn't be good.

 

[Alaskan]

Like a chicken escape door leading to the food

I know of people who have tried that... and it can work with a full sized goat, but most Nigerians can fit anywhere a chicken can.

 

[aart]

I know of people who have tried that... and it can work with a full sized goat, but most Nigerians can fit anywhere a chicken can.

Nods Emphatically.

 

[beloges]

We have a shed on our property that could be converted to a coop I think, but with the position that the barn was built I think it could be hard to do the run properly. But would this be a suitable coop? View attachment 2490639

That looks pretty great to me. The porch overhang section could be wrapped in hardware cloth and that make a pretty good run.

 

[Alaskan]

Sorry to be back in this post again, but I’m wondering about the best course of action for the flooring. It’s completely dirt flooring. As far as I can tell at least. What do I do for litter and keeping it clean? I had considered a deep litter/deep bedding method but I am not sure if that’d work with the dirt floors?

I love my dirt floor coops and barn.

Poop boards are great and hold most poo.

Then toss the bedding on the dirt floor.

Only thing with a dirt floor... is
1. if you have a bunch of digging predators make sure you make an apron, or anti-dig something around the perimeter.
2. Make sure the surrounding land is sculpted so that water flows AWAY from the building. You might need gutters.