Seeking Advice with Design of Coop and Run

[OldNo7BoozeBag]

What did you decide to do?

Did you build yet? Chicks?

I started to build two weeks ago, slow going because of scheduling and weather, but I'm moving along. We got 13 chicks. The coop is 8'x8', with 5 nesting boxes 13"x13", 2 windows that are 23"x18". I took the advice of the members here and swapped the coop and run, so I'll use the coop to help break the wind. The coop is built on a slope, so the lowest point from ground to floor is 1.5'. I've included some pics for enquiring minds...

 

[OldNo7BoozeBag]

and now that I'm building I've run into an issue for the roosting bars...

My understanding is that there's supposed to be 18" in between roosting bars and the first bar should be 18" off the floor and the second 36" off the floor. Also, they should not be located above or below a windows due to drafts. So because of the way I've laid out the coop, I would wind up blocking the nesting boxes of they were 18" apart. My choice is now either 16" or 22" apart. I'm leaning 16" apart because if I set them at 22" the lower roosting bar would be almost under the window. In the attached pics, the 2x4 pieces represent where the roosting bars would be...

comments and advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

and now that I'm building I've run into an issue for the roosting bars...

My understanding is that there's supposed to be 18" in between roosting bars and the first bar should be 18" off the floor and the second 36" off the floor.

You probably read this in this forum somewhere but I've never seen this.

The way I manage elevations is to determine the elevation of the coop floor, including bedding. Then position the human door and the chicken pop door high enough above that so the chickens do not scratch the bedding out.

Then position the nests. Some people put the nests on the coop floor. If you do this have enough of a lip so the chickens cannot scratch the bedding into the nests or eggs and bedding out of the nest. Some people put the nests up higher so they don't have to bend over to gather eggs. Do you have a bad back? Some have nests in rows, one row above the others. With 13 hens 3 nests should be enough, 4 certainly would be.

Then position the roosts higher than anything you do not want them sleeping on or in. This definitely includes the nests. Most chickens like to sleep as high as they can so give them enough room they can all be higher than anywhere you do not want them to sleep.

Some people use roosts all the same height. Some use ladder roosts as you described to help them get up there. Just make sure you have enough roost space above the nests so they can all sleep, even if it is not the same level. They will all probably want to sleep at the highest level but who gets to is determined by the pecking order.

I keep the roosts about 12" off of the walls and allow a minimum of 12" between any two roosts. It is possible a chicken's poop could hit a wall, but it will not build up on that wall to where it stays damp. I don't consider that a problem. Some people freak out at the thought of getting a spot of poop on a wall. Not sure where you fall in that. 12" between roosts at the same level give them enough room to use both roosts, at least it does mine. Witha ladder roost 12" horizontal separation keeps the higher chickens form pooping on the lower ones. If you want to use larger spacing you can. I consider 12" a minimum.

Also, they should not be located above or below a windows due to drafts.

In warmer weather they will enjoy drafts. In colder weather a strong cold breeze is dangerous. In summer I open my window and let breezes hit them on the main roosts. That is not a problem. In winter I close that window and have permanent year around ventilation over their heads.

What are your roof rafters, 6" or 8"? With your overhang I would not take the walls all of the way to the roof with anything solid. I'd fill in most of that area in with hardware cloth to provide excellent permanent ventilation well above their heads. That will keep predators out. That way you do not need to worry about the window being open or closed. That is the way mine is set up so I can close the window in the winter.

 

[OldNo7BoozeBag]

You probably read this in this forum somewhere but I've never seen this.

The way I manage elevations is to determine the elevation of the coop floor, including bedding. Then position the human door and the chicken pop door high enough above that so the chickens do not scratch the bedding out.

Then position the nests. Some people put the nests on the coop floor. If you do this have enough of a lip so the chickens cannot scratch the bedding into the nests or eggs and bedding out of the nest. Some people put the nests up higher so they don't have to bend over to gather eggs. Do you have a bad back? Some have nests in rows, one row above the others. With 13 hens 3 nests should be enough, 4 certainly would be.

Then position the roosts higher than anything you do not want them sleeping on or in. This definitely includes the nests. Most chickens like to sleep as high as they can so give them enough room they can all be higher than anywhere you do not want them to sleep.

Some people use roosts all the same height. Some use ladder roosts as you described to help them get up there. Just make sure you have enough roost space above the nests so they can all sleep, even if it is not the same level. They will all probably want to sleep at the highest level but who gets to is determined by the pecking order.

I keep the roosts about 12" off of the walls and allow a minimum of 12" between any two roosts. It is possible a chicken's poop could hit a wall, but it will not build up on that wall to where it stays damp. I don't consider that a problem. Some people freak out at the thought of getting a spot of poop on a wall. Not sure where you fall in that. 12" between roosts at the same level give them enough room to use both roosts, at least it does mine. Witha ladder roost 12" horizontal separation keeps the higher chickens form pooping on the lower ones. If you want to use larger spacing you can. I consider 12" a minimum.


In warmer weather they will enjoy drafts. In colder weather a strong cold breeze is dangerous. In summer I open my window and let breezes hit them on the main roosts. That is not a problem. In winter I close that window and have permanent year around ventilation over their heads.

What are your roof rafters, 6" or 8"? With your overhang I would not take the walls all of the way to the roof with anything solid. I'd fill in most of that area in with hardware cloth to provide excellent permanent ventilation well above their heads. That will keep predators out. That way you do not need to worry about the window being open or closed. That is the way mine is set up so I can close the window in the winter.

I built 5 nesting boxes because I read a few places that you should have 1 nesting box for every 3 laying hens. Since I built my coop 8'x8', I could go up to 16 hens, so I wanted to build for the max amount. My nesting boxes are 12" (I read that somewhere too) off the floor and they are accessible from the outside of the coop. So I'm not worried about my back, haha. So then would about 28" off the floor be too high for the first roosting bar? Could the chickens easily fly or jump up to it? Sorry, this is our first adventure into chickening, so I have very limited knowledge.

My rafters are only 4" because I'm using corrugated sheet metal roofing, there's no load on the roof because those panels weigh basically nothing. My plan is what you said, to leave it open for ventilation and cover it with hardware cloth. And use the windows to basically help regulate temperature.

thanks for the help!!

 

[thistlewick]

Ridgerunner said what I was gonna say; roosts don't need to be staggered in height. I'd actually say it was way better if it wasn't - less squabbling. Chickens want to be HIGH.

My roosting tables are 4' high and the roosts are above that by about 8" or so.

There are 2 bars, 12" apart, that stretch the entire length of the shed.

edit; my 8-9 week olds can *easily* fly up to the roosts already, so yes, 4' is fine.

 

[Ridgerunner]

So then would about 28" off the floor be too high for the first roosting bar? Could the chickens easily fly or jump up to it?

Can your chickens fly? Silkies, Frizzles, and others don't have regular feathers so they can't fly. They'd probably need ramps to get up there.

My 2-week-old dual-purpose chicks can fly that high if they want to. My adult dual-purpose Sussex, Orpington, Rocks, Australorp, and such have no problems flying to and from my 5 feet high roosts. Some people worry about their chickens hurting themselves when they fly down. If you feed them so they are very large for their breed that might be a problem but mine aren't that big.