3 sided coop

[kdcrws]

I want to build a three sided coop w/roof. The back wall would be the existing wall of my garage. I looked through the coop pages but didn't see anything like that. My husband thinks we need exact plans for it. I think we just need to know how big then frame two walls and screw them into the side of the garage. I guess the with the roof we'd just make the front of the coop taller so that rain runs off the back. Then half of the front would be framed then covered in hardware cloth and then build in a door frame for a screen door. Does this sound like it would work? Anyone have something like this I can see pics of? Thanks in advance!

Kelly

 

[scooter147]

Kelly,

Don't have pictures, sorry, but things to consider.

1. Make sure the opening faces away from the prevailing path of rainstorms. For example, here in Missouri I would say 99% of our storms in the spring and summer come from the Southwest or West and in the winter from the West or Northwest, therefore, the opening hre would face the East.

2. My biggest concern is that it will be a little more difficult to predator proof than a four wall coop. Make sure nothing can dig, chew, squeeze or talk their way in.

 

[sparkles2307]

DH wants me to build mine agains one of the garages too, but I worry about how well the roof could be sealed against leaks running down the side of the garage... and it just wont be as pretty!

 

[patandchickens]

Sounds like a good idea to me, provided the roof slopes away from the garage wall (and then you will need to put gutters on it so it doesn't dump all that water right *there*).

You can avoid most leakage/flashing issues by a) put it on the side downwind of most of your weather, and b) make the roof of the coop join the garage wall *just below* the existing garage roof, so that the garage roof overhang protects the point where the coop roof actually meets the wall.

Having the open side covered with hardwarecloth is fine for predatorproofing, assuming the hardwarecloth is backed by strong framing. I don't think it's really meaningfully less predatorproof than wood, and EVER so much airier

Do make sure you've protected it against things digging in, though.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[theberryfarm]

I am considering the same exact thing. How would building the foundation of the 3 sided coop out of cement blocks to guard against digging in, with a plywood floor then surrounding the entire building at foundation height with electric fence right below 6 ft tall horse fence with more electric wire on top of that?

If something fights their way through that, I will bring the chickens in the kitchena nd they can live there.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
If you mean "build a proper cinderblock foundation going at least 2-3' down into the ground (this is for digproofing, no consideration of frostline for northern areas)", that is *whooo-eeee* overkill. That's a lot of work and expense there. If you want to bury something, bury heavy gauge wire mesh; or run it horizontally on the ground for 3-4' out from the base of the coop/run walls, weighted down with pavers or big rox or concrete rubble, or pinned WELL down, or covered with sod. FAR cheaper and easier, and it will do the job as well as cinderblocks.

, with a plywood floor

Make sure *not* to create an enclosed low crawlspace under the coop -- that is just *asking* for rat problems. Also rot. If you want a raised plywood floor, I'd strongly suggest surrounding it with something like 1" wire mesh or hardwarecloth, not something solid.

then surrounding the entire building at foundation height with electric fence right below 6 ft tall horse fence with more electric wire on top of that?

Electric wire is nice (especially if you don't hae small children around) but I would suggest considering it the cherry on top, not something to rely on. All electric fence goes dead *sometimes*, and predators can be quick to figure it out. If "horse fence" means either 2x4 welded wire, or that really expensive diamond-mesh stuff, that will work well as a run fence (tho I'd back up 2x4 mesh with some 1" or 1/2" chickenwire run inside it along the bottom 2-3' of the run if you want to be maximally safe vs. reach-through)... then that should be fine. If you mean anything larger than 2x4 mesh though I wouldn't trust it against chicken predators.

JME, good luck and have fun,

Pat​

 

[theberryfarm]

ok, I see, I think?

Maybe I will build it on posts so it is up off the ground?

 

[kdcrws]

I was thinking concrete floor not off the ground at all. We'd just open the screen door every morning for them to free range.

 

[mediazeal]

I'm making one like this now.
8 ft by 16 ft
concrete pad poured yesterday (have rats, possum, raccoons, skunks around)
it will be 71/2 ft tall on the front long side, 6 at back long side
8x8x8 enclosed on 3 sides on the end toward the 'weather' and sun
8x8x8 ft 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the other 'end'
egg box sticking out of enclosed area on 'front'
roosts in 'enclosed' area
thinking of doing solar lights inside just to make it not DARK when they need to come in to go to bed
water, food, etc in the 'open' wire end

I think they can live in there 24/7 and be safe
plus I can let them free range when I am with them
(I have dogs and regular hawks flying over)

Advice welcome... there's still time, framing starts next weekend

 

[lil'chickies]

How many are you going to put in there? Need help for my coop.