sketchup design

[quadcam79]

Hers a couple pics of a coop design I came up with and made in sketchup. It has storage at the rear, 2 nesting boxes on the sides and a small solar panel for lighting

what would you add or change to make it better?

 

[johnnyjack]

just the mesh top over the run. great job.

oh and add some chickens.lol

 

[silkiechicken]

Sketchup is great, wish I knew how to use more of it's options. I think it looks good, but I'd add a cover over the run so they don't track in as much mud into their coop, and so the water from the roof doesn't run into the run and make a muddy mess.

What are the dimensions? A way to get into the run would be nice just in case you need to catch someone. And, where do you plan to put the roost? In the window so you can watch the babies sleep!?!?!?!

 

[quadcam79]

oh it has mesh on top, you just cant tell on that pic. I forgot to add the door to the run. I would probably do a roost at a 45 degree angle from the walls above the nest boxes to under the window, something like that.

dimensions, I'm thinking 8x10' for the coop and maybe another 10' or so for the run. I dont plan on having too many layers 8-10 maybe.

just trying to think things out and since i've never owned chickens the design input is great. I also need to add on an extra section for the meat birds

 

[quadcam79]

better? has a door and chicken lol


silkie, this is where i learned alot of sketchup stuff for free...video class
http://www.go-2-school.com/podcasts

 

[silkiechicken]

Thanks for the link. Oh, and do you want to be picking eggs out of the nest boxes from inside of the coop? With only 10-12 hens, nest boxes on one side should be enough. Knowing the birds, they will only lay on the inside box so you have to go though the muck to get to the eggs.

 

[quadcam79]

The nest boxes on the side would be hinged for access from outside, but yeh i see what you mean, i added that run after the box was on that side...thanks for pointing that out

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

quadcam79, that looks great! Once you start building please take tons of pictures, we'd love to add it to the coop section of BYC!

 

[kstaven]

Hope you are going to add eve troughs or turn the roofline 90 degrees. If you don't the rain and melting snow will turn the run into a mud pit. I made that very mistake once.

 

[quadcam79]

thanks, I'll be sure and take pics..I'll probably cover that run. just tweaking the design now.
Dont have to worry about any snow here but aside from the rain the sun here in summer could fry the chickens LOL