Struggling A Little with Sizing of Coop

[Kenny_]

Hello, I've gotten my little chicks now in a routine and I've bought some lumber and some odds and ends that I will need for my coop, but I haven't finalized all of the purchases for my coop. I originally purchased 53 birds. I plan on giving 15 to my aunt so about 38 will stay with me, I'm thinking providing that there aren't more roosters that we aren't aware of. (I ordered only hens, but there were some adopt me assortments that were a straight run and can surprise me. - I currently have no clue of their breeds and genders at the moment.)

I've been reading and watching a ton of youtube and of course this forum. I very much like Homesteadonomics channel and like his design for the coop. I probably will do a variation of his coop, possibly, but I am not sure how big the actual house needs to be. The run shouldn't be a problem as I have a niced sized area that I have a ton of chicken wire that I have already bought and set aside ready to install for that run. I'm aware that they are probably going to destroy all vegetation in that area. (I had planned that they will lounge under a scuppernong vine fencing area that has some grass under it and some nice long branches that could be useful for roosting during the day. I will have deer netting over the rest of the run. The scuppernong already has fencing and the vines that won't allow the chickens above that area. I guess I am curious if that's a bad idea? Before I actually get started on that.)

I wanted to do Ondura for the roofing, but I've quickly blown through my budget, and I'm disappointed in myself that I've made some pretty expensive purchases. (I'm not sure where I've actually made the largess, really.) What's a good solution to roofing that's cost effective, yet aesthetically pleasing?

Thank you to anyone who responds.. I really appreciate any and all help you can give me on this. I'm terrible with common sense stuff, like is that 2 subflooring 4x8 sheets needed? lol I mean, I literally walked up to a guy in the lumber section and was like do you know anything about lumber and said if you're screwing two 2x4s together would you use 2inch or 2.5inch screws or 3 inch screws for framing or nails? lol I still don't think I know the answer! Isn't that sad!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Kenny, where do you live, what kind of climate do you have? The concern is how often they will get outside in bad weather or will they be stuck inside for extended periods of time. That can make a huge difference in how big the coop needs to be.

I’m not a believer in magic numbers for how many square feet per chicken you need. You can follow the link in my signature for some of the reasons for that. It’s not just your coop space in isolation either if they have access to outside when they need it, it’s your total space system.

If some of those are straight run you will get cockerels. Even sexed pullets can have a few cockerels. What will you do with the excess cockerels, keep them? Are you planning on adding more chickens later so you will face an integration or will you allow a hen to raise chicks with the flock? Both those will benefit with more room.

It’s difficult to come up with a size for the coop you need, so much depends on your climate and how you manage them. The run is an important part of your management system too. A blind answer would be to build an 8’ x 20’ coop for 38 chickens. That’s pretty big. It may be more than you actually need but if they will be stuck inside a lot it may not be overkill. If they are all female an 8’ x 16’ would probably work for you. Since most building materials come in 4’ and 8’ dimensions those are usually your best dimensions to use so you minimize cutting and waste when you build.

A coop for 38 chickens needs to be a walk-in coop. If you can position the coop where it stays dry (rain water drains away from it, not into it or where water stands) you can save money by using a dirt floor.

 

[ScottandSam]

Use 3 inch screws. I do not recommended chicken wire unless you are putting welded wire over it. A stray dog can rip a hole through in no time flat. If you are keeping that many birds you are going to need quite a big coop!

if I AM SCREWING 2 2X4 together then I want a 2.5" screw. The 2x4 are 1.5" each so if you bury the screw head at all on a 3" screw it pops out the other side. otherwise if I was in a pickle. id run the 3" screws at a angle to keep from poping threw.

Scott

 

[Ridgerunner]

if I AM SCREWING 2 2X4 together then I want a 2.5" screw. The 2x4 are 1.5" each so if you bury the screw head at all on a 3" screw it pops out the other side. otherwise if I was in a pickle. id run the 3" screws at a angle to keep from poping threw.

Scott

Unless you are going through the 1-1/2" thickness into the 3-1/2" thickness, then a 3" screw is fine. 3" is what I use in that circumstance. It depends on how you are putting them together. But I agree, if you are going 1-1/2" to 1-1/2" you don't want a 3" screw, I use a 2-1/2".

 

[CapricornFarm]

Use 3 inch screws. I do not recommended chicken wire unless you are putting welded wire over it. A stray dog can rip a hole through in no time flat. If you are keeping that many birds you are going to need quite a big coop!

 

[Kenny_]

Use 3 inch screws. I do not recommended chicken wire unless you are putting welded wire over it. A stray dog can rip a hole through in no time flat. If you are keeping that many birds you are going to need quite a big coop!

Since I've bought so much chicken wire looks like I'll be using both. My aunt's chicken area uses a combination of fences, as well. (the welded, poultry wire, and looks like plastic fencing of some sort, as well.) I'm going to try to predator proof it as much as is possible.

 

[ScottandSam]

Bigger. 2 - 4x8 sheets of ply are 8x8 which is what I'm currently building for our silkies . That 64sq ft. and silkies at 3sq ft per bird. is @ 21 birds. our 40 bird laying coop is 165 sq ft. and there run is ,well 10 acres, they free range. the sikies wont and theirs will be 2- 100 sq ft runs for them. being you are starting with 34 birds and probable be getting rid of roos Id suggest to build a little bigger then needed like 160 sq ft coop 400 sq ft run. That good for 40 birds. so you can add more later. if you can free range maybe 120 sq ft coop and no run. but be prepared to have loses free ranging. which isn't all that bad cause then you have space to add more hens later on.
Scott

 

[ScottandSam]

Plywood is better for a floor. Osb wont hold up to any moister. Osb will work on a roof if its finished with tar paper and metal or asphalt shingles. That is standard practice. Walls also can use osb if it sided with something that is water tight also standard practice in homes. I know your not building a home but osd will not last long to any moister.

My aunt's chicken house is adequately sized. She has room for their roosting, and nesting boxes.

So base on what she has and how many chickens she has what is the size you need?
Around here most will say 4sq' per full size hen in the coop and 10sq' in the run.
I had more hens in a coop than 4 sq' for a year and they free ranged during the day. but that 1st winter there were days they couldn't come out and they managed to live. but when I added to our coop that second year I saw a huge difference in there feathering. There was a lot less picking going on this summer than the first and I'd imagine I wont see it this winter either when there locked in for days. The room and the DLM will give them more to do than pick at each other. That is exactly what I see in the farmers flock up the street and in town. It is rough feathering all the time not just a molt. But all summer winter long rough looking chickens coats (if I can call there feather a coat).
Heck production hens are in tiny cages most the lives and it shows. It all depends on if your just needing eggs. or if those birds mean more than just eggs.

Scott

 

[ScottandSam]

Well, I had 10 chickens die overnight due to my error. I didn't realize it was going to rain and they were in a temporary shelter. It was a perfect storm of f-ups on my part. I was trying to start a chainsaw yesterday and I cut my leg. I was more concerned about that, and it had been an extremely long day, and I didn't value my 53 lives as much as I should have. (Clearly.) I'm brutally honest with myself. I'm not speaking cavalierly because the chickens don't matter, on the contrary, they matter a lot to me. I messed up and I'm angry with myself. My favorite olive egger chicken died in the melee. My niece named 1 tiny yellow chick Leo and would you believe she/he made it through? I hope it's a hen, because I'd like to keep her. Well, no matter what now I know I will have a big enough house. My concern now is will I have enough to give to my aunt, but I guess so since I ordered so many at the beginning. That really can give me a chance to order more later on, if I wanted to. I have to tell you, I do not enjoy the death of chicken raising.

my dimension was for 36 ish birds . Again if I were you I'd build it to hold 40 -50. Reason being chicken math. If your like most you got what you think you want in chicks but there always be others you will want to add later.

Hope your ok. Chainsaws are very dangerous. Sorry for your loss.
Scott

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x CapricornFarm on the welded wire & HUGE coop/run....General rule is 4 sqft per bird for the coop & 10 sqft per for the run....BIGGER the better cause Chicken Math will present it's self.