Siding material, ventilation, and other coop questions.

[black_cat]

Another question: What order should I build things in? Most coop build articles that I've read seem to go like this:
-Foundation
-Large, overall framing
-Roof framing
-Roof
-Coop + Nesting box framing
-Coop walls and Nesting boxes
-Details (windows, ramps, etc)
-Painting
-Hardware cloth

 

[black_cat]

Insulation won't make things 'safe'.
It's overall design of space and ventilation.

I want the roosts one foot apart, a foot above the nesting boxes, and the ventilation as high as I can get it? And for 9 birds I need 9+ square feet of ventilation, yes?

 

[aart]

Another question: What order should I build things in?

Are you buying the The Garden Coop plans?
They should show the order of construction.

 

[black_cat]

Are you buying the The Garden Coop plans?
They should show the order of construction.

Either garden coop plans, or these ones that would need less structural changing.

 

[aart]

Either garden coop plans, or these ones that would need less structural changing.

I think you should spend the winter drawing up your coop plans, then build in the spring.
That's what I did, fixed a lot of 'mistakes' before I ever cut any wood.

 

[NatJ]

Another question: What order should I build things in?

If you buy plans, hopefully they will tell you that.

Whether you buy plans or not, you can also try to draw the steps in order (a bit like Lego instructions). That can help you see what order things must be built in, to connect to other things. Obvious example: you cannot put on a roof until you have walls to support it. Less obvious example: you need wood framing in certain places to support doors, windows, and nestboxes. But you probably need to put it in before you are ready to build those features, which calls for thinking/planning ahead.

(Sometimes I understand something better by drawing it, or by writing a list of steps, even if someone else already did draw it or list the steps. Something about having to put it on paper myself helps me pay attention to the details differently.)

 

[black_cat]

I think you should spend the winter drawing up your coop plans, then build in the spring.
That's what I did, fixed a lot of 'mistakes' before I ever cut any wood.

*gulp* The whole winter? I'm concerned that with school running the whole time, I won't have enough time to complete the build.

 

[black_cat]

Also looking at these plans, with dimension changes:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/722609...llery-1-26&organic_search_click=1&frs=1&cns=1
And these plans, with dimension changes, an enclosed bottom and attached run:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/504614...f=sr_gallery-1-3&organic_search_click=1&bes=1

 

[aart]

*gulp* The whole winter? I'm concerned that with school running the whole time, I won't have enough time to complete the build.

The dimensional changes are going to take time, and you'll have to re-do the cut list.
..and how much building can you do in the winter anyway?

 

[NatJ]

Also looking at these plans, with dimension changes:

And these plans, with dimension changes, an enclosed bottom and attached run:

You can also go look at what else the seller has, and the reviews. It appears that some of them have reviews for other plans, not currently listed for sale. And some of those other plans are larger. So they might list the larger ones again later, or you might be able to contact them and ask them to list the other plans.

If any plans are exactly right, it would be easier than modifying.

And reading reviews can tell you a bit about how good the plans are. People say the instructions are really good or rather poor, or comment on whether the materials list and cut-list are accurate. Of course, some people will have different opinions even if they used the same plans, because their own skill level has some effect on how well the plans work for them. But multiple people saying similar things probably have a reason for saying those things.