Chicken Swing Set Castle Coop

[uktech]

That moment when you know exactly (or roughly) what you're building, but then something you read somewhere you can't now recall, stops you from continuing? yeh that's me since last 24 hours.

Somewhere, I remember reading that internal coop height was relevant in some way or other, where it had to be a minimum height. I can't for the life of me remember where but the person writing it gave a reasonable argument....and now I can't find that thread/article etc.

I'm not referring to the owner of the coop being able to get into the coop etc. It was more to do with X number of chickens requiring Y amount of height with Y increasing as X increases. Please tell me I've lost my marbles because I'm half way through my build and I'm stuffed if I need to acquire more height from somewhere.

To clarify the main question, is 3 feet internal height sufficient for 6 chickens where the internal hen house space is 60 cubic feet.

Secondary questions:
The space under the coop should have how much head clearance for chickens, or does that not matter?

A little backstory: I wanted a coop for the kids to learn and enjoy, wife wanted a climbing frame of some sort, kids were constantly fighting over the one swing that one child wanted but now they all fight over...and all this in one cosy but odd little corner of our garden.

Behold the Chicken Swing Set Castle Coop

Before you think we're mad, this design actually works out really well because for once, everyone including the wife, are all happy. Nothing is on paper but it's in my head and in there, it works like a charm. What you see is a functional swing set which the kids have been enjoying during this lockdown, but the climbing frame and castle tower still need some work, as does the coop.

The coop will house upto 6 chickens and sits directly under the tower floor

I was restricted to how high I could have the ceiling of the coop because of the slide angle becoming scary for the youngest. Blue area is 60 cubic feet. Chickens exit from the green door area, go down and u-turn back to go under the coop (red area), under the bridge and swing right into the main area of the run. Total run space is just under 160 sq feet with the main run area being around 80 sq feet and 3 feet height.

If I need to give the chickens more space in the blue section, I can lower the floor by about 4 to 6 inches. Should I do that or is it better to leave more room underneath? I wanted to leave 2 feet height under there as I will need room to work with the feeding and watering system.

The end goal is to automate this coop as much as possible. Limitations to this design are the access points to each side of the hen house being extremely restricted, but I can't really do anything about that now.

Any and all advice and tips extremely appreciated.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Height doesn't really matter other than you need enough space to get the roosts above nest height, and enough space over that for ventilation. So strictly speaking for the chickens your current measurements in blue and red are fine.

In terms of minimums, you could drop the red area to just 18" tall, and that suits chickens fine, but that would also make it that much harder for you to squeeze in there if you had to.

 

[uktech]

get the roosts above nest height, and enough space over that for ventilation

I think this was actually the reason for needing the headroom and the resulting panic attack. Ventilation above the roost which itself has to be above the nest boxes, which in my case sit directly above the door due to lack of access from other sides.

Am I right in thinking there needs to be a clear 20" headroom above the roost bars? 12" to 14" for the chickens and rest for ventilation?

 

[aart]

It was more to do with X number of chickens requiring Y amount of height with Y increasing as X increases.

It has more to do with so much floor space for so many birds.
4sqft per bids minimum coop space, 10sqft in run. other factors play in to this.

Height can be relevant in height of roost to floor space for landing area flying down from roost. Here's some other tips on heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

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[CinnaBun]

Clever!! Where will the run be?

 

[Chickassan]

That is crazy.
I don't throw that word around lightly as it carries impressive weight that doubles if used here.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ventilation above the roost which itself has to be above the nest boxes, which in my case sit directly above the door due to lack of access from other sides.

Am I right in thinking there needs to be a clear 20" headroom above the roost bars? 12" to 14" for the chickens and rest for ventilation?

Mmm, more or less. The number isn't exactly set in stone because it really depends on how winds move at the exact location you're building. Like I have 2 windows that open right onto the sides of my roosts, but wind is coming from the back of the coop, so no draft issue even on stormy days.

So to make sure I have this right. You want to put the nests above the green square cut out for access? Why not right next to it instead? That'll give you 2' above for roost and overhead ventilation on that side.

If you roof over at least part of the run (not sure if you were planning to or not) closest to coop, you can potentially open up quite a bit of the wall facing into the run for protection that's protected by roof.

 

[uktech]

more to do with so much floor space for so many birds

I have sufficiently accounted for the space required I hope in that respect. I did however read through the link you provided and the further links that post suggests. Very helpful and it has clarified a few points. Thank you.

Clever!! Where will the run be?

Not as clever as it may seem Could have planned it a lot better. But the run is everything coloured in red below. At the moment the plan is to have a 3 to 4 foot high run along the far fence, however contemplating a walk-in style for maintenance sake.

That is crazy.

Thanks but maybe bit off more than I can chew

Why not right next to it instead?

Thats a good question. The kids slide covers half the width of the henhouse from that side leaving only enough room for the access. That entire area also gets covered in welded mesh (you may know it as hardware cloth). On the hens door side, the mesh will start from just above that access point and go diagonally down to the base where the slide rests. The entire run will be covered in the same way and the chickens will rarely be out of this coop and run area due to red kites constantly hunting from above and foxes on the ground. Slightly confusing explanation but hope it makes sense.

Having read the info aart provided plus what you have kindly explained, I'm going to have to figure out a way to relocate the two nesting boxes. Once those are positioned, everything else should slot in nicely. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't placed the pillars for this whole construction where they are.

 

[rosemarythyme]

At the moment the plan is to have a 3 to 4 foot high run along the far fence, however contemplating a walk-in style for maintenance sake.

Maybe your back feels fantastic, but mine doesn't - if you can do the run at least in walk in height, your back will thank you for it. Or bribe the kids with their young and fit backs to do the clean up for you.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Only one thing suggestion! Make sure to include a door on that ramp of yours if you go with the U Turn idea. I have a similar ramp and my one complaint is that it's not so easy to clean out unless you add an access hatch of some kind.