Thoughts on this DIY?

[Zerandise]

looking at building a coop i can raise off the ground and with easy access. These plans look easy enough to build and large enough for the 5 hens I can keep in my area. Any big issues or missed option I should be worries about?

https://cdn.backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/cut-sheet.pdf

 

[mowin]

Rule of thumb is 4 sqf of coop per bird, and 1sqf of permanent ventilation per bird well above the birds heads while on roost. Your sqf is ok for 5 birds, but ventilation is lacking. I'd like to see it taller and a little wider.

Where about are you located? It makes a big difference in the type of coop you will need.

 

[Zerandise]

I am located just outside Victoria BC city limits. Never hot Never cold. Our weather stays in the mid 40's in the winter and 65-70 in the summer. We might get a week that drops close to 32 and a week or two that gets over 75.
As for space it must go above the run so I would like it to be at least 2-3' off the ground. It will also be placed in an irregular shaped run that will give me 75 square feet as long as the coop is raised. spacing rules say the coop cant be any higher than 6' tall.
That being said we are starting out with 3 hens. I want to build big enough to house the max allotment of 5 as im sure my partner will want more.

I am very handy but by no means a carpenter. If you know of detailed plans that would fit the build better im more than happy to take a look!

 

[Krugerrand]

I don't like that the roof relies on the sheer strength of the screws.

I went with a similar shape from plans I bought from Etsy. Notice the roof sits on TOP of the walls.

I ended up making the roof larger so that I had space in the front, back and sides for ventilation.

Improve the roof and add ventilation and that would help this out a lot.

 

[Zerandise]

Thats a great idea! Lifting it up off the walls! that would increase the airflow a fair amount. I also intend to make the roof overhand longer in the front. Though we dont get much in the way of heat or cold it does rain for about half the year. Not hard mind you. A light drizzle near daily.
The amount od rain we get is another reason i liked this one. Everything is internal. Without external nest boxes and such there is very little places for water to seep in.

 

[aart]

The 3' width will be limiting for adding roosts/nests/etc.
And is tight space for pecking order issues.
Go at least 4' wide.
4x8 fits standard lumber sizing, unless that's different in Canada.

 

[Zerandise]

The 3' width will be limiting for adding roosts/nests/etc.
And is tight space for pecking order issues.
Go at least 4' wide.
4x8 fits standard lumber sizing, unless that's different in Canada.

Dont have the room to go 4x8 sadly. I could easily add the nesting box externally to the back if need be. I was really attracted to the internal ones though. What if they were placed off to one side instead of the door?

 

[Zerandise]

Jesus building a coop is expensive!!! That coop come out to about $800 in lumber hinges and screws.

Maybe two massive swinging doors are not a must have lol.
Back on the hunt i go!

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

One of my rules of thumb is to be suspicious of any plan that is measured in inches instead of feet.

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

This coop was designed to meet all the minimums for 4 hens and could easily be expanded to a 4x6 (just be sure to put the access door on the long wall).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/

The design would be well suited to your area since you get a lot of rain and I can say that the coop came through Hurricane Florence bone dry except that a branch fell on the nestbox lid and started a leak.

 

[SheaLoner]

I'm not a fan of the double swing doors personally. But I am a scrounge by nature. Both my coops were built from reclaimed scrap, pallets or whatever I could find on sale.

I know your run is going to be triangular in shape, I would build the coop on whatever side gives you the best access and then have your nest boxes and a people access door on the Outside of the run itself.
Have you looked through the coops in the resource and article pages yet?