Run security, please give me your thoughts about our design

[Bryant Redhawk]

We have an 8' by 8' by 6' coop with 25 birds right now, more to come since wife wants guineas and ducks and geese. That means I will be building a second coop LOL.
I would think your coop could hold a few more birds, in the winter they will huddle up if they need more warmth, heat and humidity are the things we have to watch out for, not cold.

I have noticed that while you can get away with a little less than the "published averages for space" the chooks like it better if they have a little more room.

 

[prepperchickens]

We have an 8' by 8' by 6' coop with 25 birds right now, more to come since wife wants guineas and ducks and geese. That means I will be building a second coop LOL.
I would think your coop could hold a few more birds, in the winter they will huddle up if they need more warmth, heat and humidity are the things we have to watch out for, not cold.

I have noticed that while you can get away with a little less than the "published averages for space" the chooks like it better if they have a little  more room.

Giuneas are the best! I didn't even know what they were until we got our first 3 birds 4 months ago, including Ducky and her late brother Little Foot who died protecting the girls from the feral cat when he was only a couple months old. I could go on and on about how underrated I think they are, mine are the kindest animals I know. My chickens are characters and I love them but they aren't kind the way my guineas are. If we had a pond I would have sucks and geese, they stole my heart at the feed store with how naturally they seem to enjoy affection but man do they stink.
Do you live in Florida by chance? I was born and raised in Key West

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

I now live in Vilonia, Arkansas. Did two years at Pensacola NAS, and I have been to Key West, best two weeks of vacation ever.
Being a military brat, and then naval officer, I've lived a lot of places. I like where we are now but who knows, may end up in Canada with my wife's kids in the end.

 

[Blooie]

I now live in Vilonia, Arkansas. Did two years at Pensacola NAS, and I have been to Key West, best two weeks of vacation ever.
Being a military brat, and then naval officer, I've lived a lot of places. I like where we are now but who knows, may end up in Canada with my wife's kids in the end.

Thank you for your service, both as a military brat and as a service member. I know how tough that job of helping keep it all together when a parent is deployed can be! My hubby retired in 1990 after 26 years of service in the Navy. He started out as a seaman recruit and retired off the battleship USS Wisconsin in 1990. I watched my kids struggle at times, so I get it, I really do. And bless you for continuing to serve as an adult, too!

@prepperchickens I think all of the ideas you have and that you've been given for predator proofing are good ones. And I agree, hubby did a great job on your coop. The only thing I would add is that nothing - no wire, no lights, no fencing, no dig prevention - can take the place of good old fashioned vigilance. I've said often on BYC that I don't believe in a 100% predator proof setup. As soon as I start relying on the mechanics of the prevention, I run the risk of becoming complacent and that can spell disaster. So no matter how you end up predator-proofing, don't forget to watch for new, tiny gaps or holes and repair them before they become a big problem. Check for signs of repeated attempts at digging and be prepared to add more wire or whatever to what you have now. A predator may have sensed a weak spot you weren't even aware of. And above all, believe your chickens. If they start fussing, check, check and check!

That's all I have to add.