Would a tractor-type coop be too small?

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Well, here are 2 more ideas to mull over:

- why does it have to be a flat spot? You can use cinderblocks, or etc to prop up low corners. Or if your building inspector is going to be a butthead and call that permanent, build the coop on skids (you probably are, right?) and use a shovel (and digging bar if necessary

) to level just enough space for the coop to stand on. The run can be sloped (preferably away from the coop). Worst that happens is if you put any sand, mulch material, etc in the run, it migrates down to the low end and has to be raked up. Not such a big deal.

- What about putting the coop *just* inside the horse (or whatever other livestock) fence, like against the fence, with a gate installed for the convenience of occasional weekend chicken caretakers, and a few strands of electric fence run around the pasture side (where the run would be, also) to keep your stock off of it? You would have to buy a small charger if you don't have one already, but it would not need to be expensive. Use one of the battery op ones if you had neither the option nor the inclination to use plug-in -- solar would be a large unnecessary expense. You will have to replace the battery every coupla years but you probably would with a solar unit too ;P

Good luck,

Pat

 

[patandchickens]

Or what about inside the barn, *next to* the door you enter through. You'd probably end up having to build 3 coop walls inside the barn instead of just 2, and/or it might end up kind of weird shaped, but.... possible? Is there suitable place for a run outside there?

Pat

 

[Davaroo]

I use a highly mobile coop called the Poultry Mobile. It is 40 sq ft, not permanently sited and is unlikely to violate any zoning rulings. Heres a link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=55447

You could also house the birds in te same paddock as horses and just let them run around together. They would work well together, I suspect.

 

[GoodEgg]

Some good ideas here, I think. I hope something works for you.

I've been looking for ideas for my coop(s) too ... I'm having a bit of a problem. Something I saw might help you?

Someone (sorry, I forgot who!) suggested building a loft in a coop, which seems it would about double the floor space, if I understand it correctly. I don't know if all the chickens would try to be in the same place at the same time, but it seems it could work?

Hope you find something that works for you!

trish

 

[Davaroo]

Chickens like to get up high to roost. A loft will serve that purpose.
Give them a way to get down, though, like a ramp. Heavies can hurt their legs when jumping down from high roosts.

 

[Cetawin]

If you reduce down to 6 chickens, I have a set of great plans for a 4' x 6' coop that you could build as-is or modify ( I was going to put a solid floor in and hinge a door to clean as well as hinging covers for the front wire in the winter...I bought the plans for my 6 girls but have just ordered 21 more girls.

Looks like I am going to a 10' x 13' or so.

this is a pic of the smaller 4 x 4 version it has 8 nest boxes, the 4 x 6 has 12 nest boxes...It is 55.5" tall at the highest peak and 60" wide from outside nest box to the outside nest box.

The rear has a built in feeder that holds 40 lbs of food...so your trips would be covered for the girls food needs. The little door to the left of the feeder at the bottom, opens to get to the waterer (which also has a shelf above it to keep poo out of the water.

I have other pics if you want to see them just email me @ [email protected].

 

[PAChickenChick]

ok...humor me for a sec....
In your barn....above your door...is there a way to build the coop up there....
What I mean is like those loft beds where the bed is on stilts and you can put a desk or something under it.....

If you could build the coop up high in the barn that might not take away from your floor space. The challenge would be do to do your ramp for them to get out....but you might want to consider something along these lines.

Maybe not over the door...but over something else? And if it's in the barn the pesky inspector can go pound sand.

You could always put a pop door in the barn leading to the run outside somehow.

Just a thought.

 

[dixygirl]

MOVE! go to the country and to heck with these zoning ordinaces. In the mean time, make your tractor 2 stories high.

 

[dangerouschicken]

I agree, do what you gotta do and ignore the rules. Why not?

I believe your chickens are white rocks.

 

[grullablue]

Cetawin, I like that coop! It's nice to look at, and looks very functional! I wish I could just throw the rules out the window. But...he'll be keeping an eye on me. I know he will. He's been here several times already, and I'm sure will be by several more to make sure we've not done anything without his stinking permit. We didn't apply for one. He just drove by. We live on a very busy road, so whatever we do is everyone else's business. We used to live in the country. The city is starting to cave in around us. But....I guess the longer we sit here....the higher price our land will become......no one has shown any interest in trying to chase us out of our farm....but maybe this is the beginning of it. I have tried to look at our property from all angles (short of actually going across the road and sitting...to ponder...which I intend to do, just for a different view). I think what we will end up doing is reduce our number of chickens by a few (we only have 9 now) and build something similar to what Cetawin posted. Although I'll be devistated to see our 8x12 frame go down...