Philosophical Question Regarding Coop Build

[we3ernes]

Tho any designer kind of enjoys that part and it can be hard to get off the screen and cut some wood!

Oh my word, yes! I have three coops partial designed on sketchup and started working on a third when I threw up my hands and came to post this!

The main issue I have is I’ll run into a question with my model (wood floor or dirt floor in coop) and I’ll come here to research the question and see that experiences vary wildly and there is no “right” answer. Then I’m stuck staring at my model not wanting to make the “wrong” decision (on something so fundamental, that can’t be changed in the future).

Another problem is that we aren’t on the property yet (building our “forever home” should be done next month) so I can’t put hammer to nail. Once I get my tools going I will HAVE to make a decision and live with it.

Right now I have an idea in mind based on a 4x8 module that can be lengthened as needed. I’ve an area in mind on our property that I keep visiting to check the sun and drainage. It is slightly further from the house than I like and slightly further from the future orchard/vineyard than we wanted, but shade was the overruling factor on location.

Sounds like most folks are in the “go for it” frame of mind, I should have put a poll up!

 

[aart]

4x8 module

4' can be pretty narrow to work in the rest of the stuff, especially if you want a poop board...and storage inside. I'd start with twice that, 8x16, or 8x8.

Looks like you've been researching off and on since 2013...did you ever build a coop and have chickens?

 

[we3ernes]

4' can be pretty narrow to work in the rest of the stuff, especially if you want a poop board...and storage inside. I'd start with twice that, 8x16, or 8x8.

Looks like you've been researching off and on since 2013...did you ever build a coop and have chickens?

4x8 is the module I’d work with, not the space I’d start with. I’m thinking I’d initially have 16’ x 8’ for the storage, coop, and run. By making modules I could continue to add 4x8 sections on to the end of the run.

I haven’t yet had chickens. My husband was in the military, and in 2013 we thought we were in the location we were going to stay in, but the military had other ideas. ‍ We’ve moved 3 times since then. Now that he is retiring from the military we are building our forever home and we can finally put our plan into action!

 

[JDN]

Some other thoughts to muddy the water...

I'd look at a Run-in shelter and enclose the front with wire fencing of some kind. (or built the run right off of it. Or a Carport enclosed in the same. Honestly.

What you need to ask yourself is, what is important to you?

Because chickens can do well and be happy in some pretty ratty looking shelters. They don't really care if the floor is cement or dirt. In fact, they prefer dirt if I had to guess (they like to scratch.)

People that have attractive coops that look like pinterest dreams are doing so for themselves, their neighbors, or HOA, not the chickens. Mine roost in IBC Totes, enjoy a 200 sf run when my dog isn't at work, and my yard when my dog isn't around. They are fine. They enjoy when I pick up an old log off the ground so they can look for worms and bugs, and walking around my yard eating bugs, and playing king of the hill where they challenge each other for the top of the chair in their run.

Regarding storage: Its overrated IMO. Especially if you're relatively young, have children you can press into servitude, a 4 wheeler, etc. I fill the feeders once every two weeks. The waterers I fill more often. A hose would be more useful than the food.

I'd forget the modular lego idea. They never seem to work as well as you want, unless its fencing. Look at the "California Coop" thread here, and do that but with a bit more shade. That could be made modular, now that I think about it. Its likely that you'll want to scratch more than one itch, rather than simply keep more chickens.

 

[jthornton]

What ever you end up building put long overhangs on the roof to protect the ventilation during nasty weather. IMHO 4' is just too narrow for any chicken place. Not enough room for a subordinate to get away from a dominate. I spend a lot of time just observing my pullets up close and on camera and watch how they interact with each other. The things I see that are important to a chicken is an escape route from the boss chicken. This takes space and things that they can duck behind as they escape. If I could start over I'd start with a 8' x 8' shed type of building with 18" overhangs all the way round with provisions to add on. We normally don't bust 100°F here in humid Missouri but get close. Lots of shade is needed to help with the heat. In the heat of the afternoon mine are usually up next to the house sitting on the exposed concrete footer, I guess that is the coolest spot.

Thank your husband for his service to our country.

JT

 

[Birdsong 82]

Oh my word, yes! I have three coops partial designed on sketchup and started working on a third when I threw up my hands and came to post this!

The main issue I have is I’ll run into a question with my model (wood floor or dirt floor in coop) and I’ll come here to research the question and see that experiences vary wildly and there is no “right” answer. Then I’m stuck staring at my model not wanting to make the “wrong” decision (on something so fundamental, that can’t be changed in the future).

Another problem is that we aren’t on the property yet (building our “forever home” should be done next month) so I can’t put hammer to nail. Once I get my tools going I will HAVE to make a decision and live with it.

Right now I have an idea in mind based on a 4x8 module that can be lengthened as needed. I’ve an area in mind on our property that I keep visiting to check the sun and drainage. It is slightly further from the house than I like and slightly further from the future orchard/vineyard than we wanted, but shade was the overruling factor on location.

Sounds like most folks are in the “go for it” frame of mind, I should have put a poll up!

As far as floor for the coop depends on weather and temperature and location. If it’s downhill and rains often than dirt floor is not for you. When it’s raised it helps airflow to keep things warm and dry in winter. What’s you normal weather?

And as @jthornton said thank you too your husband for his work and dedication and service to our country

 

[we3ernes]

What ever you end up building put long overhangs on the roof to protect the ventilation during nasty weather. IMHO 4' is just too narrow for any chicken place.

Thank your husband for his service to our country.

JT

4x8 wouldn’t be the completed size, it would be the size of the module I’m considering. So 4x8 for a storage area, 2 4x8s for a coop and 3 4x8s for a run for example. By using an standard size I could then move bits around as needed (add some wall to the run area and add the corresponding run sections of the run to the end).

It isn’t ideal, but I don’t know enough about chickens (other than research, lots and lots of research) to build the ideal coop off the bat.

 

[we3ernes]

As far as floor for the coop depends on weather and temperature and location. If it’s downhill and rains often than dirt floor is not for you. When it’s raised it helps airflow to keep things warm and dry in winter. What’s you normal weather?

And as @jthornton said thank you too your husband for his work and dedication and service to our country

The coop would sit on a slope, about ⅔ of the way up our hill. It isn’t a severe slope, but enough to ensure drainage. Waco gets between 30” and 35” of rain a year and it tends to be fairly consistent throughout. We are too far north to get hurricane type rain and a little south of most of the tornado type storms. Of course all my knowledge so far is from research as we’ve only lived here since May.

I have been passing along your thanks to my husband. After 5 states, 3 continents, 4 countries, and 15 moves we are glad to be in one spot!

 

[ChickenRelatedUserName]

The most difficult part of modules, in my opinion, would be the roof. Long as you have an easy roof option, it shouldn't be an issue. I shingled my roof, so it'd be difficult for me to expand. I'm restricted by area, so I can't really expand anyway.

 

[k2panman]

In your climate, you'll get some very warm days and some pretty cold nights. I was guessing 100 for a hi and 30 for a low, but decided to use the wonderful world of Google and looked it up. Your record hi is around 111 and low -6, with an average temperature in August of 97, so you should build for these temps - it only takes one day wipe out your entire flock.

You could build a solid floor (plywood) or one by (or 5/4) lumber. I think you should design the wood floor to be elevated, so air can flow under it. If lumber, would it be better to leave little gaps between the boards for air flow?

Hope to hear from other BYC friends here about their recommendations for your floor materials.