Urban coop - with size modification

[theloneyoni]

Hey all - first off all - so thankful for all the ideas, wisdom, and community we’ve found here. We are first timers and decided to go with 10 RIR chicks. We got them from TSC and so far, they are thriving.
We used the Urban Coop plans that we found here, but modified the floor plan so that the coop is 8 X 4 with 1ft being nesting boxes.
We still have to built the run - hoping to have it done by the end of next week.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Are you going to build a bigger run or free range? It's a bit small if you are going to keep all 10.

 

[theloneyoni]

Are you going to build a bigger run or free range? It's a bit small if you are going to keep all 10.

The run will be 18 X 16 - does that seem like enough space or should we go bigger?

 

[Mamatomany123]

The run will be 18 X 16 - does that seem like enough space or should we go bigger?

I think that run will be plenty big. Was worried thinking they would only have that space underneath the coop.

 

[theloneyoni]

I think that run will be plenty big. Was worried thinking they would only have that space underneath the coop.

Awesome! Thank you - The bottom area is just for now. We’re trying to keep them down in ‘gulag’ as we call it during the day and have them in the coop at night. Hopefully this will make moving them in and out of the run a little easier. Right now I’m usually under the coop passing them up through the trap door. It’s pretty muddy here right now so you can imagine how I look when I’m done

 

[Mamatomany123]

Awesome! Thank you - The bottom area is just for now. We’re trying to keep them down in ‘gulag’ as we call it during the day and have them in the coop at night. Hopefully this will make moving them in and out of the run a little easier. Right now I’m usually under the coop passing them up through the trap door. It’s pretty muddy here right now so you can imagine how I look when I’m done

A good rule of thumb is 4sq ft per bird in the coop and 10sq ft per bird in the run. More is always better.

 

[CinnaBun]

Looks good! Love the color scheme. I want to do something similar, but smaller.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Coop space is a bit tight for 10 (true floor space is 7x4 correct? nests do not count).

Have some concerns about the roosts, so get a tape measure and check the following:
- you need 12" of roost per bird
- top roost should be at least 12" from the wall
- bottom roost should be at least 12" away from top
- bottom roost looks too far under the top roost, birds on bottom risk being pooped on. The angle for a ladder roost should be 45 degrees or less from the ground