Second coop help!

[ChickenTenderKesha]

I’m looking to possibly build a second coop to house my little bantam cockerel (and a few ladies) when he gets older as I have 2 standard size cockerels in my main coop. I was originally thinking about doing a personalized A-frame coop as it would be easiest and it’s only for a few chickens... BUT I know there’s lot of lovely people on here who have more experience in building coops so I was hoping to get some coop ideas/tricks/tips/etc to have when planning (and eventually building) this next coop. Thank you to everyone in advanced!

Here’s a little bit about the weather I face in my general area

This summer has been grossly hot and humid. There can be a breeze.
During the last winter we get a lot of blowing snow, my property had 4 foot snow drifts across our lane way, in multiples, as we are surrounded by farmer fields so the blowing snow goes right to us.. I do have a small scattered tree line and plan on putting the coop near a tree on the east side of our property.

If there’s any info you need I’ll be back here to update as needed! Thanks again

 

[Folly's place]

Bantams are small, but a walk-in coop is still the best, because crawling and crouching get old fast!
Can you add on to your main coop? How about an annex? Then the electricity, winter water supply, path clearing, everything is in one location.
Pictures of your current coop and run?
Plant a windbreak if possible! It will grow and be a huge asset.
Mary

 

[Aunt Angus]

I just built a second coop for my 3 bantams! I elevated it to conserve run space. Mine is 9 sq ft (3 ft x 3 ft). No crouching or bending over, and it's very easy to clean. I just open the front doors and sweep everything into the run.

For your climate, I'd create lots of ventilation! I'm thinking soffit and roof ventilation (the kind with slats) to keep out the snow. And Fort Knox it. Bantams are so tiny. A covered run, too. And a big ol' roof overhang for your benefit!

Here is my 2nd coop (the Mini Coop). My climate is very different, and this one is in the covered run which is attached to my big coop. BTW: I la la love my metal roof! Easy to install, zero maintenance, and relatively cheap.

 

[Folly's place]

My bantams and big birds all reside together in one big coop/ run combination. It has five areas that can be closed off, so when separation is necessary, it's easy to manage.
This coop grew over years, and several rebuilds!
Mary

 

[Aunt Angus]

My bantams and big birds all reside together in one big coop/ run combination. It has five areas that can be closed off, so when separation is necessary, it's easy to manage.
This coop grew over years, and several rebuilds!
Mary

That's AWESOME!

 

[Folly's place]

My birds are compatible, and not all breeds or individuals would work out together like this. I don't have Silkies, Polish, or and sex-links or production red types.
Mary

 

[Aunt Angus]

My birds are compatible, and not all breeds or individuals would work out together like this. I don't have Silkies, Polish, or and sex-links or production red types.
Mary

Mine will likely all be together eventually, but I wanted to have the option just in case it doesn't work out. Their run is divided currently. I can always use the 2nd coop for broodies (I can take the legs off so mama and chicks can get in and out easily), isolation for illness/injury, an outdoor brooder, or even for storage. TBH, I wish I'd built it sooner.

(Edited for grammar!)

 

[ChickenTenderKesha]

Where did this week go ?? Sorry for posting this and just dropping off the planet life knocked me down but I’m back up now!!

I just built a second coop for my 3 bantams! I elevated it to conserve run space. Mine is 9 sq ft (3 ft x 3 ft). No crouching or bending over, and it's very easy to clean. I just open the front doors and sweep everything into the run.

For your climate, I'd create lots of ventilation! I'm thinking soffit and roof ventilation (the kind with slats) to keep out the snow. And Fort Knox it. Bantams are so tiny. A covered run, too. And a big ol' roof overhang for your benefit!

Here is my 2nd coop (the Mini Coop). My climate is very different, and this one is in the covered run which is attached to my big coop. BTW: I la la love my metal roof! Easy to install, zero maintenance, and relatively cheap.
View attachment 1882043

I love the idea of having this smaller coop off the ground so you can use the free space underneath as part of the run. Even better is that it’s already covered from the rain/snow! The main coop has a metal roof but we have to fix the one side since only one side had metal on it and the wood on the other side was exposed to the elements and is now needing to be replaced.. I really like the idea of soffit ventilation I’ll have to take that into consideration

Bantams are small, but a walk-in coop is still the best, because crawling and crouching get old fast!
Can you add on to your main coop? How about an annex? Then the electricity, winter water supply, path clearing, everything is in one location.
Pictures of your current coop and run?
Plant a windbreak if possible! It will grow and be a huge asset.
Mary

Adding on would save me a lot of trouble it seems.. I had seen you post this so I’ve been thinking about just doing something off the eastern wall, the attached run is on the western side of the coop.
My current coop has a few things needing done still so she’s not the prettiest looking, please don’t judge her too much It’s a shed that sinks down on the east side so is not level but it was an existing structure when we moved in that has a good sturdy frame/base on it (besides the fact she’s crooked)

Any suggestions on the size for the addition would be great. I plan to have Ori and then 2-3 hens for him as well when he grows up a bit more. All bantam sized as he’s a very small bantam cockerel currently (the hens will come at a later time when everything is built up and ready to go). Thank you so much!!

 

[Folly's place]

You could add on to the back, extending the roof. Or, on the long side, continuing the roof towards the ground.
My coop started as a shed, then we added a section on the north side, then extended the roof over the run. It's all on an old concrete foundation, which helps. We don't really have room to add on the the back, but you could go in any direction with yours!

We can close off five separate areas in there too, very helpful for breeding groups, and chicks.
In winter we add two layers of plastic sheeting over the lower six feet of the run area to block the wind, and it's nice all winter. Also not elegant, but it functions!
Mary

 

[ChickenTenderKesha]

You could add on to the back, extending the roof. Or, on the long side, continuing the roof towards the ground.
My coop started as a shed, then we added a section on the north side, then extended the roof over the run. It's all on an old concrete foundation, which helps. We don't really have room to add on the the back, but you could go in any direction with yours!
View attachment 1887662 View attachment 1887663 View attachment 1887667
We can close off five separate areas in there too, very helpful for breeding groups, and chicks.
In winter we add two layers of plastic sheeting over the lower six feet of the run area to block the wind, and it's nice all winter. Also not elegant, but it functions!
Mary

The back of my coop (south wall opposite the door) borders the horse pasture so that way can’t be expanded unfortunately. I love how you have the long slant part of the roof continuing down though!

What if I did a smaller coop elevated off the east side and make it a box with an open wall to my main coop? I could make the perch for the littles stick out over the floor of the main coop and have that just framed and surrounded by chicken or hard wire so the poops fall to the main coops floor when they sleep. Hopefully that’ll keep it a little cleaner in the rest of it and if I do that I could potentially save some vertical space and use less resources in the long run... now I’ve got some major designs to decide between