This is what I/we built (mostly). Photos of the actual build follow below, my build thread is https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/authentic-woods-kd-knock-down-10-by-16-coop-build.1304202/
I am “build” capable and resourceful. However I was incredibly lucky to have assistance of my sister and her husband for two months (September and October) during the build; it is unlikely I would have completed the coop in the fall of 2019 without their help.
I spent about $1K CDN for the wood for an elevated 10’ by 16’ coop; costs for run wire/wood were extra. I used rough cut pine boards in board and batten format mounted on 2” by 3” framing materials as show in the diagrams below. The resulting building is very solid yet economical as it eliminates the modern stick frame step time and material cost.
I scrounged old tin roof, cut it to size, wire brushed loose rust, applied red oxide metal primer and two coats of bright red gloss metal finish paint. I should also say I was very lucky and got a number of used hydro poles (Western Red Cedar) gratis; I used these for the square 4" by 4" foundation frame as well as for adjacent pole shed verticals.
I chose to elevate the coop:
Please note that the diagrams are taken from the 1924 version of the book "Modern Fresh Air Poultry Houses" by Prince T. Woods MD. I highly recommend reading this as it covers not only the KD design but many other topics that are useful to novices that are searching for coop designs and general pointers about poultry husbandry.
Not shown are the floors, three sections and they will drop in after the walls are assembled but before the roof sections go on. The floor sections will be double boards assembled at 90 degrees and coated with BlackJack 57; I will also apply BJ57 for ~12" inches up on the walls.
The pictures show the progression from concept (Winter 2018/9) to build (September through December 2019 and continuing). The last two pictures added 18 months later and show attached pole shed housing run and stove wood storage.
I am “build” capable and resourceful. However I was incredibly lucky to have assistance of my sister and her husband for two months (September and October) during the build; it is unlikely I would have completed the coop in the fall of 2019 without their help.
I spent about $1K CDN for the wood for an elevated 10’ by 16’ coop; costs for run wire/wood were extra. I used rough cut pine boards in board and batten format mounted on 2” by 3” framing materials as show in the diagrams below. The resulting building is very solid yet economical as it eliminates the modern stick frame step time and material cost.
I scrounged old tin roof, cut it to size, wire brushed loose rust, applied red oxide metal primer and two coats of bright red gloss metal finish paint. I should also say I was very lucky and got a number of used hydro poles (Western Red Cedar) gratis; I used these for the square 4" by 4" foundation frame as well as for adjacent pole shed verticals.
I chose to elevate the coop:
- Helps control invasion of pests/predators (6” wide metal drip edge on top of the frame before I placed the wall sections and floor);
- Provides covered run space that is otherwise wasted.
Please note that the diagrams are taken from the 1924 version of the book "Modern Fresh Air Poultry Houses" by Prince T. Woods MD. I highly recommend reading this as it covers not only the KD design but many other topics that are useful to novices that are searching for coop designs and general pointers about poultry husbandry.
Not shown are the floors, three sections and they will drop in after the walls are assembled but before the roof sections go on. The floor sections will be double boards assembled at 90 degrees and coated with BlackJack 57; I will also apply BJ57 for ~12" inches up on the walls.
The pictures show the progression from concept (Winter 2018/9) to build (September through December 2019 and continuing). The last two pictures added 18 months later and show attached pole shed housing run and stove wood storage.
Nest Box Evolution - getting 40 Chickens into a Woods 10' x 16' Coop
[I increased the size of my flock, both males and females and now have low status pecking, egg eating and nest sleeping issues. In response I am adding 3 nest spaces and a front roll away floor for all 7 nests.
Prince Woods KD Coops are described in the book Modern Fresh Air Poultry Houses 1923. One topic that is not well addressed is nest boxes. I believe Woods intended that nest boxes go under the drop boards but mounting them at the front leaves inaccessible space behind, moving them back means egg retrieval on hands and knees.
I have always used the side walls, currently the one across from the entrance door. In this build iteration I get 7 nests, not quite sufficient for 40 hens. If I require more I would use the opposite wall beside the door.]
My 1st flock started in September 2019 with 7 ISA ready to lay pullets and around 12 self hatched chicks; I now have more than 30 birds with too many males.
To alleviate this I:
I did not anticipate that the new roost would become prime real estate (perhaps because it is a single, on it's own and big enough to accommodate a sub group?); appears it has become. Also caused re-org of main roost area usage with subsequent open spaces on main roost area. Stress down perhaps?
Since the changeover, no eggs eaten and no nests slept in. I have noted that birds on the new roost sleep facing the wall, guessing because otherwise tail feathers would hit the wall?
These pics taken at dusk as they were settling down. The story continues...
Nest entrance board for the 3 additional nests in place.
Prince Woods KD Coops are described in the book Modern Fresh Air Poultry Houses 1923. One topic that is not well addressed is nest boxes. I believe Woods intended that nest boxes go under the drop boards but mounting them at the front leaves inaccessible space behind, moving them back means egg retrieval on hands and knees.
I have always used the side walls, currently the one across from the entrance door. In this build iteration I get 7 nests, not quite sufficient for 40 hens. If I require more I would use the opposite wall beside the door.]
My 1st flock started in September 2019 with 7 ISA ready to lay pullets and around 12 self hatched chicks; I now have more than 30 birds with too many males.
To alleviate this I:
- added 7 feet of roost (increase of 23%)
- added 7 feet by 20 inches of drop board space (increase of 33%)
- replaced 5 nests on two levels with 7 horizontally aligned of front roll away style.
- 2 roosts later 3, each 10 feet long, all one level with 12 inch spacing between
- 10' by 30 inches later 42 of drop boards
I did not anticipate that the new roost would become prime real estate (perhaps because it is a single, on it's own and big enough to accommodate a sub group?); appears it has become. Also caused re-org of main roost area usage with subsequent open spaces on main roost area. Stress down perhaps?
Since the changeover, no eggs eaten and no nests slept in. I have noted that birds on the new roost sleep facing the wall, guessing because otherwise tail feathers would hit the wall?
These pics taken at dusk as they were settling down. The story continues...
Nest entrance board for the 3 additional nests in place.
