Building First Coop - Some General Questions from a Newbie!

[Sillyna511]

Hello, our first flock of chicks are almost 3 weeks old. We're working on constructing their coop/run and have a few questions that I'm hoping to get some input on. We have an 8x10 run that has a foundation base of cinderblocks and will be fully enclosed from predators with hardware cloth, a solid roof, and a hardware cloth apron along the bottom. The coop is being built elevated at one end of the run.
My couple of thoughts are:
1. Does the coop need a door that closes, if the entire run is fully enclosed from predators? Would a door on the coop be solely for just-in-case something gets into the run, then it provides an extra line of defense?
2. I've heard that food/water are fine to be outside of the coop, because they usually aren't eating/drinking at night anyway. I've also heard that food/water are the biggest draw to rodents and other predators. So, if a rat does in fact get inside the run, it's prob better to have them only lured to the food outside and not lured into the coop? Is there any reason why we should put the food/water in the coop vs the run?
3. On the topic of food/water, is there a best predator-proof method or container that allows the chickens to eat & drink with ease but won't attract rodents as much?

I think that's it, at least for now. Thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

1. Does the coop need a door that closes, if the entire run is fully enclosed from predators? Would a door on the coop be solely for just-in-case something gets into the run, then it provides an extra line of defense?

From a predator perspective, if you consider your run predator safe then you don't need a door. If a predator gets in the run you won't be around to close the door anyway.

I want a door that could be closed to provide flexibility in case I want it closed. It could be plenty of different things. One of mine is when I do something with leg bands I lock them in the coop so they are easier to catch and then toss them out of the door when I'm finished which makes the next one easier to catch. You never know when having flexibility comes in handy.

Will you want to close that door during severe weather?

2. I've heard that food/water are fine to be outside of the coop, because they usually aren't eating/drinking at night anyway. I've also heard that food/water are the biggest draw to rodents and other predators. So, if a rat does in fact get inside the run, it's prob better to have them only lured to the food outside and not lured into the coop? Is there any reason why we should put the food/water in the coop vs the run?

Some people put food and/or water only in the coop, some only in the run. Some have food and/or water in both. We each have our own reasons for what we do. Your rodent example is a common one for feeding in the run. Some people remove the feed at night because of rodents. Some people want to feed in the coop to reduce how much feed wild birds eat. Some people sleep late so they want food and water in the coop for when their chickens wake up. I almost always have younger chickens in the flock. I have widely scattered food and water stations so the younger ones can eat and drink without being bullied by the adults.

You can use whatever reasons you wish and come up with any result you want. Others will be doing the same thing as you though maybe for different reasons.

3. On the topic of food/water, is there a best predator-proof method or container that allows the chickens to eat & drink with ease but won't attract rodents as much?

I don't use them but do a search on treadle feeders. That's where the chicken steps on a plate to open the feeder but a rodent probably doesn't weigh enough to open it. There may be other methods but I don't use them.

Good luck!

 

[Sillyna511]

Thank you for the input so far!
A few new questions... The current plan is to have ventilation by just making the top 6 inches of 3 of the walls out of hardware mesh. We will have a 16 foot long, 6-inch tall 'window' around 3 sides of the coop. At the taller end of the coop, the window will be at least 30 inches higher than the roosting bars. And on the shorter end of the coop, the lowest part of the window will be 16 inches above the roosting bars. We're in western WA state, our typical average temp in the summer is about 80F, and our average temp in the winter is about 35F but we usually have about 2 weeks each year where temps dip into the 20's or teens.

1. Does this sound like the ventilation will be be sufficiently high enough to not cause drafts, or do we need to adjust our plan a bit so the windows are a few inches shorter toward the shorter wall?
2. Should these be OK to leave open all winter? Or do we need to come up with a way to close off some of them during the colder months?
3. Slightly related, would a heater for inside the coop be helpful?

 

[Ridgerunner]

1. Does this sound like the ventilation will be be sufficiently high enough to not cause drafts, or do we need to adjust our plan a bit so the windows are a few inches shorter toward the shorter wall?

That sounds great to me.

2. Should these be OK to leave open all winter? Or do we need to come up with a way to close off some of them during the colder months?

I would not close them.

3. Slightly related, would a heater for inside the coop be helpful?

If you are putting your brooder in the coop, yes. Otherwise I would not.

 

[Sillyna511]

That sounds great to me.


I would not close them.


If you are putting your brooder in the coop, yes. Otherwise I would not.

Thank you so much!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I do recommend having a way to close vents as weather has a way of driving rain or snow inside. It's nice to be able to close or partially close the ones the wind is blowing into.

It's much easier to close a couple in driving rain or blowing snow than it is to be trying to fashion a cover in the bad weather.

 

[Sillyna511]

Installing the hardware mesh today… we have the mesh apron coming directly out from the walls. Should we also install mesh over the corners?

 

[aart]

Should we also install mesh over the corners?

Yes.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Installing the hardware mesh today… we have the mesh apron coming directly out from the walls. Should we also install mesh over the corners?

Yes, and be sure to overlap it a bit with the other wire mesh for extra security.

 

[Sillyna511]

Okay thanks! Our plan is to cover/bury all the apron mesh with soil. I’ve seen some people talk about using stakes as well- is that just personal choice or are they necessary to keep it down?