Update1: Can you poke holes in my design please??? Make suggestions???

[seattlehens83]

Greetings from Seattle,

I've started designing my coop and would love some input from any and all willing to share their input!!!!

I made this as I had seen a few others do in googlesketch.

Here is the link: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=504bd95bc51a54573d42f53a51aa6ebd

I live in Seattle so rain, water and moisture are all concerns. I plan to rasie and keep chickens for the purpose of its interesting and for the eggs.

Just wondering how the spacing apears to be in the coop.

I have finals this week but should be checking this regularly as a distraction from studing.

Many Thanks,

Colin

 

[typnslow]

I love it. Check my page we are coop samies. I still love it.

 

[Imp]

I like the design as well. As you said it rains here, have you plans on keeping the run dry?

Imp- in Renton

 

[jafo]

How many chickens do you plan on? where are you going to put food and water when they don't want to leave the coop during bad weather? Windows?

 

[VelvettFog]

Colin,

First

Second: Check this thread. You'll find loads of chicken folks near you. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=461

Third:

I'd try and make my roosts so that they are higher (for sure) than the nesting boxes. If your birds sleep in the boxes and not on the roosts, this could be why.

I only took a quick look at the drawing, does your roof have a slope? If I lived in Seattle (I'm in Yakima), I'd be gathering rain water in a barrel. I'd slope the roof away from the nesting box too -- no need to dump any extra water on that thing, it is already hard to make them leak free. I use a simple rope-and-eyelet system to allow me to open the pop-door from outside the run. My pop doors slide up for this purpose.

Great start!

Dave

 

[bryan99705]

Welcome to the fun of keeping chickens

Looks like you have a good plan but here are some reminders and ideas:

Overbuild the roof's strength for snowload and oversize the roof by twice if you can. This will help keep the run drier , provides more shade and keeps snow out of the run. (birds will go outside in all weather for sunshine, fresh air and to scratch. A pitched roof will control the drainage and maybe slide the snow off but a gutter will stop the splash on either.

Build the base out of all weather wood and seal or paint the coop inside and out to prevent moisture in the wood and rot. Paint and a vinyl floor inside will help make cleaning easy.

Skirt the run if the floor is not wired, your urban coons and fox are smart, and they will find you. Use 1/2" hardware cloth for your wire. It is strong and coons cannot reach thru it. Alos this will make you predator secure so the birds can come and go at will without worring about locking them down every night and needing a pop door.

Make sure the exterior latchs are a little complicated, coons have thumbs.

You only need 1 nest box for 4 birds and it can be as simple as a tub with litter or straw and can sit anywhere as long as the roost has a poop tray. Having the nestbox mounted to a outside wall with a flip up door is handy for collection and plastic is easy to clean.

Consider mounting the poop tray like a drawer that rolls out of the wall, with a removable pan or liner so cleaning is simple, remember the poop tray and the nestbox will collect about 75% of the mess inside so it reduces cleaning the floor litter a lot.

Remember to ventilate well, I know your climate is cool but a coop that is too tight will trap the moisture and ammonia fumes and is bad for birds. Avoid drafts inside the coop especially ones that hit the nest box and roost. Don't be too worried about your tempratures, chickens do far better in cold than in hot weather.

Consider a "porch" on the front of the coop so the birds can sit outside on nice days. A roost in the run adds another hangout for the birds and a spot for a bird to sit if it's getting picked on. Remember birds love to roost and this can be as simply as a branch suspended.

 

[seattlehens83]

Very much appreciate the help. Working slowly on tweaking my design from all your suggestions. Will post back when I have it done!

Many Thanks,

Colin

 

[seattlehens83]

Made some modifications:

1) Changed the orientation of the roosts and raised them a bit.

2) Added removable poop trays.

3) Exented the dimensions of the roof by 6" on all sides.

Link is still the same to the image. You can view the actual image and naviagte in 3D if you download google sketchup (free) and the model but tis understandable if ppl don't want to download free warestuff. though I havent had an virus issues with it yet. Other wise you can only see the top view.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/ … 3a51aa6ebd

If you like Download Google Sketchup: http://sketchup.google.com/download/gsu.html#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-google&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=download%20google%20SketchUp

Figured out how to epxport 2D so no need to downlaod anything!!!!...

Typnslow: Took a look at your roosts and tried to emulate for mine though on a smaller scale. Thanks for the link!

Imp: addressing the rain issues I'm going to put down a 5" layer of 5/8's minus rock and 5" of sand to assist in drainage and also the roof over the run area. Is this enough???

jafo: Thinking of starting with just 2 then maybe add 2 more next year. Good points about the food and water locations. Changed the rooste setup so that I can hopefully fit the food and water in the coop.

VelvettFog: Not sure that I want to collect rain water though I may try and design a self waterer and have it be fed by rain water at some point. Thinking of just making a simple gutter system out of PVC to usher rain ater away from the coop. Roof does have a slope (4'x6" or 2" per 1 linear foot). Not really too concerned with snow weight as when that becomes an issue I can always go out and sweep it off (prolly not gonna happen that much in this area.) Definately going to add a pully system to open the coop door for the chickens from outside the coop.

bryan99705: hmm... may end up cutting down on the number of nest boxes after reading your post. I also like the "porch" idea.

Thanks All!!!! Excellent feedback!!!!

Very Very Very much appreciated!!!

Colin

 

[nwtim]

Hello from right across the lake in Kirkland!

You've got a lot of cool ideas put into a single plan. I was thinking of a building something along those lines, but hadn't thought of the corner lofts like you have.

We don't get a lot of sun or even daylight in the winter here, so windows toward the south seem almost essential. Are you planning on some kind of clear roof or skylight in it? Also, do you have any preference regarding the slope direction of the roof? If not, you might want to consider sloping it away from the cleanout door and perhaps run a gutter along the back to collect rainwater to gravity feed into the coop. In these parts, you might not have to provide your own drinking water for about 8 months a year...