Sinton4616
Chirping
New member here, been a long-time lurker while I was researching chickens and coops. I REALLY like the Carolian Coop style but realize it wouldn't work for our property. Incorporating multiple designs, I'd like to share my rough plans and get some feedback. These are rough.
Overall, from top down.
Coop is 4' x 8' and run is 10' x 14'. Would have a sloped metal roof with 10 feet on the West and 8 feet on the east. This would provide me plenty of space for the 8 hens and potentially 2-4 more when introducing new hens during chicken rotation. Figure maybe 1-2 months of 12 birds, but erroring on the side of caution. The entire run is enclosed in 1/2" hardware cloth and predator apron.
From the West looking East.
I plan on a 10-foot height, 14-foot run with a walk-in door. The summer months in Texas, winds are mainly from the East and South-East. With the brutal sun on the south and west sides. This view shows the framing with the coop on the north side and east. I plan on covering the run with hardware cloth and a solar shade zipped tied to it.
From north side looking south.
The coop is located on the east side, where the neighbor's oak trees will provide a lot of shade in the morning and as the sun moves from east to west, shade the coop during the heat of the day. Coop is elevated to help air flow under the coop and cleaning. Three nesting boxes are located outside the coop for easy access and a large window, not sure if I'll keep it solid wood or Plexiglas yet, will open to allow additional air for the babies. I want to be able to close the window completely as the majority of our bad weather in the winter comes from the north.
From East side looking west.
The coop is located on NE part of the run with the nesting box outside. I wanted to make at least the north window open at an angle to provide additional shade in the summer and still provide some protection from the rain. This side is 8 foot tall. The Windows would be hinged at the top and open at the bottom, allowing air in and keeping the rain out.
Inside of run, looking east towards the coop.
I plan on a 6" x 7' wire mesh opening to match the one on the east side. This will stay open and since under the covered run, shouldn't get wet. Two plexiglass windows to provide fresh air and diffused sunlight inside the coop.
I didn't draw plans for the south side of the coop yet, but plan on a similar 6" x 3' permeant wire mesh opening at the top for heat and a window that closes. Since it'll be under the shade of the metal roof, will make with plexiglass to allow two sides with windows for natural light should have to close the coop.
The permanent openings at the top on three sides would be to take the heat off the metal roof and provide 8 square foot of fresh air in the coop should I have to close all the windows in bad weather yet keep the north winds away.
Of course, all the windows will have hardware cloth and potentially double layer just above the nest box, so no critters are tempted to spend a lot of time on the top of the nest box to get in. I believe the rest are high enough up to prevent opossums and such from getting to the hens.
I'm looking for honest feedback and appreciate any inputs.
Overall, from top down.
Coop is 4' x 8' and run is 10' x 14'. Would have a sloped metal roof with 10 feet on the West and 8 feet on the east. This would provide me plenty of space for the 8 hens and potentially 2-4 more when introducing new hens during chicken rotation. Figure maybe 1-2 months of 12 birds, but erroring on the side of caution. The entire run is enclosed in 1/2" hardware cloth and predator apron.
From the West looking East.
I plan on a 10-foot height, 14-foot run with a walk-in door. The summer months in Texas, winds are mainly from the East and South-East. With the brutal sun on the south and west sides. This view shows the framing with the coop on the north side and east. I plan on covering the run with hardware cloth and a solar shade zipped tied to it.
From north side looking south.
The coop is located on the east side, where the neighbor's oak trees will provide a lot of shade in the morning and as the sun moves from east to west, shade the coop during the heat of the day. Coop is elevated to help air flow under the coop and cleaning. Three nesting boxes are located outside the coop for easy access and a large window, not sure if I'll keep it solid wood or Plexiglas yet, will open to allow additional air for the babies. I want to be able to close the window completely as the majority of our bad weather in the winter comes from the north.
From East side looking west.
The coop is located on NE part of the run with the nesting box outside. I wanted to make at least the north window open at an angle to provide additional shade in the summer and still provide some protection from the rain. This side is 8 foot tall. The Windows would be hinged at the top and open at the bottom, allowing air in and keeping the rain out.
Inside of run, looking east towards the coop.
I plan on a 6" x 7' wire mesh opening to match the one on the east side. This will stay open and since under the covered run, shouldn't get wet. Two plexiglass windows to provide fresh air and diffused sunlight inside the coop.
I didn't draw plans for the south side of the coop yet, but plan on a similar 6" x 3' permeant wire mesh opening at the top for heat and a window that closes. Since it'll be under the shade of the metal roof, will make with plexiglass to allow two sides with windows for natural light should have to close the coop.
The permanent openings at the top on three sides would be to take the heat off the metal roof and provide 8 square foot of fresh air in the coop should I have to close all the windows in bad weather yet keep the north winds away.
Of course, all the windows will have hardware cloth and potentially double layer just above the nest box, so no critters are tempted to spend a lot of time on the top of the nest box to get in. I believe the rest are high enough up to prevent opossums and such from getting to the hens.
I'm looking for honest feedback and appreciate any inputs.
