Playhouse coop, maximum size?

[peeplessinNC]

There are a number of playhouse coops on here that look very functional, but I'm wondering how big you could make the coop/hen house, run not included. If you made the coop 8'x8' or 8'x6' would you need additional supports (stilts) in the middle of the floor or would four supports, one in each corner and the floor joists be enough for support?

 

[Judy]

I would think you would need at least one center support.

Sounds like you need one of those Home Depot how to build a shed books. Or find a free set of plans with Google; there are several.

 

[patandchickens]

You don't at all need a center support for an 8x8 floor, just floor framing that is strong enough to take the weight. For instance 2x6s rather than 2x4s (or even larger for larger spans).

Having a center support is undesirable (unless it's a pole type building, which this isn't) because it makes it hard to keep the whole thing level and planar -- no matter what you do, unless you go really full-bore bananas about deep deep footings and such, some bits will settle differently than other bits, so the center support will tend to sag down or (worse) press upwards. Which you don't want.

There are lots of good books on building sheds, see what your library might have around

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[xtremevermonter]

I have two pressure treated 4x4s running perpendicular underneath the 2x6 floor joists of my coop. The coop dimensions are 8x8 and the 4x4s are spaced as to divide the bottom into thirds.

I've found the 4x4s useful as they sturdy up my coop and I was able to attach tow points to them for when I moved my coop. (video of coop moving can be seen here. .

The 4x4s also raise the coop up a bit, which I like for various reasons (access and ventilation mostly.)