Truck topper chicken coop

[Dianimal032579]

We are brand new to raising chickens and plan to start this spring. In the meantime, we are building our coop. We are building and elevated coop and using a truck topper as the main coop area. Has anyone built a coop using a truck topper? And if so could we see some pictures of your set up? Will the truck topper need to be insulated? We are bouncing back and forth between between nervousness and excitement about this new endeavor and would appreciate any and all advice. Thank you!!

 

[TooCheep]

Welcome to BYC!

In answering your questions, it would be helpful to know what area you live in. The answers for Texas can be quite different from New England. Please put your general location in your profile here and it will help.

Good luck!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Yes, location is a good idea!

I thought about a truck topper because I like those sliding windows for ventilation, but ventilation needs to be well over their heads in our winters (Vermont).

So tell us more about you! Layers? Meat birds? How many? Location (or, if you’re reluctant, climate). Shade? All sun is too hot for chickens in most climates. Lots to consider!

 

[rosemarythyme]

The topper might work as a roof, but probably way too low to be a coop by itself.

 

[Dianimal032579]

The topper is basically the roof and only part of the sides. We have a box we are building underneath it where we will have the nesting boxes, food, water, and roost. E will have a run underneath that will extend out also.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Very colorful! But make sure there is adequate ventilation (lots) over their heads where they roost. Lots of ventilation, no drafts on the birds. There should be 1 sq. ft. Per bird of ventilation. Yep, more than you think!

There is a ton of great information here on BYC about what you need in a coop. Do lots of reading!

 

[TooCheep]

Thanks for the location and picture. That helps. Some thoughts/comments:

• The basic structure will certainly be predator resistant and it looks strongly built to resist the weather. Both good.
  
• If you are using the side windows for ventilation (a critical component), then make sure you have some 1/2" hardware cloth as a screen (chicken wire is too weak).
• You might need to add some additional ventilation on the top or just above the windows for summer heat. Sun on metal gets hot much faster than sun on wood. My wood/shingle coop can get 10+ degrees higher than the air temperature when the sun is shining on it during the day.
  
• How are you going to reach into there to do maintenance/cleanup from the end? You are going to have to do periodic cleaning and maintenance, so you want to be able to reach everything in there.
  
• How many and what sized (full/bantam) chickens are you figuring on housing in there?

 

[TooCheep]

Since I'm in the same general area, here are some predators you will need to protect from:

• primary: hawks, opossums, raccoons and dogs
• less common: eagles and snakes.
  
• additional pests: rats/mice- less likely to be directly dangerous, but can be problems.

Hardware cloth is pretty much the gold standard for protecting ventilated areas (coop ventilation and run area), but it is more expensive. Chicken wire is good for stopping chickens, but not strong enough to stop some of the predators. Most other stronger forms of fencing allow in mice/snakes or allow grabby raccoons to reach in. You should also strongly consider burying about a foot of fencing around the run to stop digging predators.

Not a hard rule, but the commonly quoted numbers for spacing is 4sqft/full-size bird in the coop and 10sqft/full-sized bird in the run area. You already have part of the run covered which is good for providing shade.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks for the location. That helps. Some thoughts/comments:

• The basic structure will certainly be predator resistant.
• If you are using the side windows for ventilation (a critical component), then make sure you have some 1/2" hardware cloth as a screen (chicken wire is too weak).
• You might need to add some additional ventilation on the top or just above the windows for summer heat. Sun on metal gets hot much faster than sun on wood.
  
• How are you going to reach into there to do maintenance/cleanup from the end? You are going to have to do periodic cleaning and maintenance, so you want to be able to reach everything in there.
  
• How many and what sized (full/bantam) chickens are you figuring on housing in there?

I totally agree.

I would be raising that topper up at least another 18" so I could have clean out doors on the sides.

Definitely do not want to have it cook the birds in the summer. Taller sides would also mean more vents could be added just below the topper.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I built my coop with a little more than 4 sq ft per bird, and as soon as I put them in there, I realized it really wasnt big enough, especially once they started growing. We needed to add a nest box, and created an extra 4 sq ft in the process. My run has 54 sq ft and I have 4 chickens, so above the 10 sq ft minimum, but I would feel it was too small if I didn’t let them out most days for free ranging.

These minimums really are minimal!