Saw this lovely coop design online- now having doubts

[barbarrosa]

After searching high and low for a nice design, I stumbled upon the link below. The size was big (30 sqft) for the 3-4 chickens I planned to get but I reckoned this wouldn't be an issue.

I don't like that the roof has no overhang and plan to adjust the design. However, aside from that do you fine folks see any other issues/flaws with this design?

Note- I am in Alberta where during the middle of winter our temps can get down to -30C (-20 F). I also considered that with the extra internal space should I insulate it?

https://joinerydesignco.com/backyard-chicken-coop-free-plans/

 

[nuthatched]

It's pretty but It has zero ventilation, which can be easily fixed.
There's no interior pictures buy it looks fine for 4 girls.

 

[KRack]

After searching high and low for a nice design, I stumbled upon the link below. The size was big (30 sqft) for the 3-4 chickens I planned to get but I reckoned this wouldn't be an issue.

I don't like that the roof has no overhang and plan to adjust the design. However, aside from that do you fine folks see any other issues/flaws with this design?

Note- I am in Alberta where during the middle of winter our temps can get down to -30C (-20 F). I also considered that with the extra internal space should I insulate it?

https://joinerydesignco.com/backyard-chicken-coop-free-plans/

Does the top door have hardware to keep it closed? If not, I would add some. I would also add additional hardware to the nesting box door, like the hardware with the carabiner on the door. At least here, raccoons can figure out the lock that’s on the nesting box door currently.

I agree about ventilation, you’d want some ventilation up higher I’d think. I didn’t read the link at all just looked at the pictures, but did the windows have glass also or were they just hardware mesh?

Here in PA it can get to -20F also. I don’t have any insulation in the coop, however in the winter I do use straw bedding to keep it warmer. Proper ventilation is really important especially in cold temps to help avoid frostbite. My ventilation is above my chickens near the roof. There are a lot of people on here who understand ventilation way better than me, so hopefully they have thorough advice!!

It’s a really cute looking coop!

 

[saysfaa]

It is very cute.

I think you would regret building it. The 2' wide by 4'4" doorway will be hard to get through, especially with a shovel yet it is big for reaching the corners without going in.

It says it is 5'4" x 4'4", that is about 23 sq ft - enough for your 3 or 4 hens if they use it for just sleeping and laying eggs. An additional 10 sq ft per hen for living space is the minimum that works most of the time. They need space for things like dust bathing, simply moving around, getting out of each other's faces.

Adding a run will help - assuming they can use it every day and aren't kept in by snow or cold rain or wind.

Raising bottom of the door several inches above the floor keeps the bedding in.

I agree with you about the value of wide eaves.

OSB can work well as the walls as long as you keep it well painted.

The nest box door opening from the side instead of the top is good.

Leaving both windows open all the time gives enough ventilation for 2 hens. If you open both peaks, you would get enough ventilation for one more hen but opening anything on the back wall will let the wind through.

You might consider a Woods' Open Air design. That is one whole side open all the time and a depth to width proportion of about 3 to 2. In cold climates, the other three sides are closed. That allows lots of slow air movement: as the warm moisture from the chickens breathing and poops rises, it draws fresh air in along the bottom of the open side. As that air cools it wafts out the top of the open side. The three solid sides give wind nowhere to go so it doesn't blow through no matter how hard it blows. I did a lot of testing of the humidity and of the airflow with a light-weight ribbon hanging from a stick. It works.

I built a 10x14 shed version of it with the full width of the back 8' for the hens. The front 6' was for storage and entryway. It is very nice to step in with a bucket of water or 50 pound bag of feed and close the door behind me without trying to keep the hens in or worry about stepping on them.

It worked very, very well for 4 hens and even better for 3 hens. With 5 hens it was pretty tight but part of that was the personality and activity level of the 5th hen was not a good fit. I gave Spice to friends who had a big barn and free tanged all the time and everyone was happier. Except me, who had mixed feelings, because I like all five of them happier but I miss her.

 

[WildNectarine]

You’re all forgetting about the most important aspect, chicken math. Always go bigger than you need, because it will happen to you!

 

[saysfaa]

Oh, and insulation is pretty much a moot point when you have enough ventilation. It is also not needed if the hens can stay dry and get out of the wind. Prince T Woods' (designer of the Woods' open air coops), has quite a few examples of people in cold climates (as cold as yours) who had a lot of health problems in their flocks when they used closed up, heated housing but no health problems when they switched to the unheated, open air housing.

Insulation also gives rodents very attractive shelter.