Please help. Building a coop.

[3KillerBs]

Hey. They are 3 Rhode Island reds, 1 welsummer, 1 Americana and a Colombian mixed.

So 6 chickens, that means:

24 square feet in the coop -- so 4x6. 4x8 would be just as easy to build with no cuts required on the wall sheathing since it comes in 4x8 sheets.

60 square feet in the run -- so 6x10. 8x8 would, again, be easier to build since lumber comes in multiples of 4 feet. Hardware cloth is commonly available in 2-foot, 3-foot, and 4-foot rolls.

6 feet of roost,

2 nest boxes,

And 6 square feet of ventilation in the coop. 1 square foot is 1 foot wide and one foot tall. Or 2 feet wide and 6 inches tall. Or 4 feet wide and 3 inches tall. Or a triangle under your gable peak that is 2 feet wide at the bottom and one foot tall.

 

[Krugerrand]

Hey. They are 3 Rhode Island reds, 1 welsummer, 1 Americana and a Colombian mixed.

If you're going to aim to build for 12, then you could double @3KillerBs numbers.

Since they're all right around 6# birds, you could potentially go a little bit less. The Adopt A Bird scale would put that at 42 sq ft.vs the 48 sq ft for larger birds.

That said, in keeping with the big picture, how often do you plan to add to/rotate your flock? Extra space for that is good. What is your climate like? Do you expect extended times for them to need to be locked up?

With those in mind, KillerBs' point of building based on basic lumber dimensions saves a lot of money, effort, and other potential issues. So, if you saving cuts puts you a little over and you can afford the space, all the better. If standard dimensions puts you a little bit lower, then see how your flock does and how important to you is 10 birds vs 12 birds ... or smaller birds vs larger birds ... or whatever other factors end up impacting what you can hold.

 

[D100putz88]

If you're going to aim to build for 12, then you could double @3KillerBs numbers.

Since they're all right around 6# birds, you could potentially go a little bit less. The Adopt A Bird scale would put that at 42 sq ft.vs the 48 sq ft for larger birds.

That said, in keeping with the big picture, how often do you plan to add to/rotate your flock? Extra space for that is good. What is your climate like? Do you expect extended times for them to need to be locked up?

With those in mind, KillerBs' point of building based on basic lumber dimensions saves a lot of money, effort, and other potential issues. So, if you saving cuts puts you a little over and you can afford the space, all the better. If standard dimensions puts you a little bit lower, then see how your flock does and how important to you is 10 birds vs 12 birds ... or smaller birds vs larger birds ... or whatever other factors end up impacting what you can hold.

All good advice. I have a 4.3 foot wide x 10 foot long frame right now. Floor joist are 14 inches apart. Little over kill but I build to last. Plus all the free lumber was already cut to the size so why not. Anyways, I’m firm on having 10 birds. That’s a good amount so right now I have 43 square feet of space. I can always use the extra space on the end for storage (food, pine shavings, stuff like that). With everything I’ve been reading a little more space is for healthier birds and a stress free environment.
I also work a rotating schedule. Meaning I work 3 12 hour shifts, off 1 day they will free range and then I’m on for another 3 12 hour shifts and then I’m off for 7 days which is when they will free range. So basically it could be 3 days in the coop/run. Il send pics on what y’all think.

 

[D100putz88]

Strike that. It’s 4 foot wide x 9.5 foot long. Which gives me 38 square feet.

 

[Katanahamon]

Strike that. It’s 4 foot wide x 9.5 foot long. Which gives me 38 square feet.

I know ppl want a simple formula, but, ventilation has many variables. It’s just not as simple as “x feet per bird/sq ft”etc. Heres an article that delineates some of the variables..
https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/how-much-coop-ventilation

 

[dadbern]

If you have the materials and the space, go bigger. You might regret it later if you build too small. I built a coop for my chickens and then my son brought home ducks...immediate expansion was necessary.

4 Easter eggers and 3 Ancona ducks

 

[Krugerrand]

I know ppl want a simple formula, but, ventilation has many variables. It’s just not as simple as “x feet per bird/sq ft”etc. Heres an article that delineates some of the variables..
https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/how-much-coop-ventilation

Great link thanks