Will something like this work

[catsew]

For those that didn't read my post in between, that is not our coop, but like one I would ideally like to build.
From suggestions I need to add some windows, make sure its 24" off the ground, and 6x8-ish or have less chickens. (We only have 2 right now, so thats not an issue.)

I can buy the one in the picture for $400 or one supposedly big enough for 15 full grown hens for $800, but they didn't say what size the bigger one is.

 

[bryan99705]

The concept looks great but I agree that more space for 10 birds is required and more closable ventilation should be designed in. Remember chickens put off a lot of moisture and poo generates a lot of ammonia fumes so you need the vents. Having the vents closeable allow winter ventilation without having a draft issue.

Also make sure you dam the chips in at the doors or else the chickens will kick out all the litter. Probably about twice the heigth of the planned litter depth

 

[catsew]

Is 85" x 45" big enough for 10 chickens? The guy said that would hold 15 full grown chickens?

I am going to start on this tomorrow. I am hoping to make it at least 4 or 6 feet by 8 feet. I will adjust the chickens accordingly since I do not have all 10 yet. Maybe I will have to live with just 8.
I will add some more ventilation, make it taller. Anything else?

 

[bryan99705]

For 10 birds, I suggest no less than 4x10 or 40 square feet inside the coop. 100 sq ft run should also be kept in mind for the run area.

 

[catsew]

The run is the easy part. It will be 20 feet by 8 feet (minus whatever space the coop takes up.)

 

[savingpurple]

Hind sight is great, so here is my advice. I have 7 ladies, and we built on a tight budget. We built 4 x 8, and I wish I had double the space. One for keeping the feed, bedding on a shelf inside. Also, for winter times, as mentioned. I will definetly have to keep my ladies busy with a head a cabbage or lots of scratch grain during the times it's too cold to open the pop door.

Just my thoughts....still so new myself to this.....

LIke the design though.

 

[laseterlass]

This is mine. 5 BO hens in Anchorage Alaska

I can easily reach every corner of the coop. They free range most of the day in the summer and come and go as they like. The underneath is 2 foot high. It is 2x2 construction so that we can move it easily, yet it supported my hubby 180 lbs when he did the shingles. It has insulation around the back three wall where they perch, ( there is a problem with condensation hanging low around the birds in over insulated coops when the temps hit below 0 and everyone in AK told me not to heat them), and 2" x 8' of venilation along front and back roof lines. It is not dark inside, when the lower poop door is open they actually prefer to be inside. This will be the first winter for them and we will see how it goes.