DIY'd Coop. Potential future issues?

[GiraffeRage]

I decided to build a coop hoping to save money and have it look aesthetically pleasing. I definitely didn't meet one of those goals, but I am hoping to get insight from others on potential problem areas either major or minor with what I have built.

The actual design is an amalgamation of different designs I have seen in person and online, with a long list of individual touches I made myself - many made on the fly as I was building to try to meet a requirement I had for it.

The coops actual dimensions are 9'x4.5' with a hen house size of 3.5'x4.5' with a height of about 4' at the taller end.

As a note, the entire hen house portion has a hardware cloth top as well for some added security, and there is a vent at the bottom on one side and the top on the other to try to achieve a bit of a chimney effect for some good air flow.

I included some pictures of the frame before it was covered as well in case that is relevant and helpful in pointing out issues.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Hi. I think it’s adorable, I’m quite new so no advice. Did you extend the hardware cloth on the ground as an apron? That would be my only suggestion. I love the sign you made. How many chickens do you have and where do you live?

 

[GiraffeRage]

Hi. I think it’s adorable, I’m quite new so no advice. Did you extend the hardware cloth on the ground as an apron? That would be my only suggestion. I love the sign you made. How many chickens do you have and where do you live?

I did indeed! I angled about 8 inches of it to cover where the coop contacts the ground, and then I added another ~2 feet out from that on top of it. Then covered it all with dirt and added small stones around the base.

The sign was a little touch I thoroughly enjoyed making. Always love some chicken humor.

There are 4 chickens, or will be. Currently it's just 2 that are 7 weeks old. The other 2 stay in their mesh box inside the coop during the day so they all get used to each other, but they are separated at night.

I'm in Florida. That is one of my main concerns is the heat. The coop itself was put in a spot where in the summer when the sun is high and more northward they would receive ample shade, and in winter when the sun is lower in the south they would get more direct sun.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

I did indeed! I angled about 8 inches of it to cover where the coop contacts the ground, and then I added another ~2 feet out from that on top of it. Then covered it all with dirt and added small stones around the base.

The sign was a little touch I thoroughly enjoyed making. Always love some chicken humor.

There are 4 chickens, or will be. Currently it's just 2 that are 7 weeks old. The other 2 stay in their mesh box inside the coop during the day so they all get used to each other, but they are separated at night.

I'm in Florida. That is one of my main concerns is the heat. The coop itself was put in a spot where in the summer when the sun is high and more northward they would receive ample shade, and in winter when the sun is lower in the south they would get more direct sun.

Perfect. I think it’s lovely. In Florida you may be able to open up a whole wall then. Maybe the covered wall to the run could be all-or mostly hardware cloth? Can’t wait to see your chicken photos when they move in!

 

[GiraffeRage]

Perfect. I think it’s lovely. In Florida you may be able to open up a whole wall then. Maybe the covered wall to the run could be all-or mostly hardware cloth? Can’t wait to see your chicken photos when they move in!

I might end up opening up a lot more of that wall, good idea. I'll make sure to get some pictures once everybody has fully moved in!

 

[FunnyBunny89]

I might end up opening up a lot more of that wall, good idea. I'll make sure to get some pictures once everybody has fully moved in!

I'm new to this too, and my husband and I built our coop from the stilts of an old coop we tore down. Based on everything I read while trying to make ours good, it looks like yours turned out really well! My own personal concern is how much poop you'll have to clean off the walls in the roosting area, but otherwise, I think it looks great. Since you live in Florida, I'm trying to consider your weather demands and I can't think of anything you might have missed. But I had to build our coop to deal with super dry heat and cold, windy/rainy winters so I can't compare.

I guess the main thing that I took away from everyone else is ventilation, ventilation, ventilation lol. Yours looks fully ventilated.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Perfect. I think it’s lovely. In Florida you may be able to open up a whole wall then. Maybe the covered wall to the run could be all-or mostly hardware cloth? Can’t wait to see your chicken photos when they move in!

x2, you're really going to want a ton of ventilation in FL. As a general rule the wall that faces into a covered run is a good place to add a lot of it, provided that isn't problematic with primary wind directions in your area.

I'd think about moving the roosts. I guess you have them staggered like that so they can hop all the way to the top? But they need landing space much more than a way to get up (they can jump up nearly straight up, but to land they need as much space in front of the roost as it is high, or more). For four birds I'd probably do 2 roosts across the narrower width, just above nest box opening height, that'll give you more landing space.

 

[GiraffeRage]

x2, you're really going to want a ton of ventilation in FL. As a general rule the wall that faces into a covered run is a good place to add a lot of it, provided that isn't problematic with primary wind directions in your area.

I'd think about moving the roosts. I guess you have them staggered like that so they can hop all the way to the top? But they need landing space much more than a way to get up (they can jump up nearly straight up, but to land they need as much space in front of the roost as it is high, or more). For four birds I'd probably do 2 roosts across the narrower width, just above nest box opening height, that'll give you more landing space.

That makes a lot of sense. And yeah, they were staggered to let them easily get up there but as you said that's not really a concern. I'll probably end up doing exactly as you said. Thanks for the input!

 

[GiraffeRage]

x2, you're really going to want a ton of ventilation in FL. As a general rule the wall that faces into a covered run is a good place to add a lot of it, provided that isn't problematic with primary wind directions in your area.

I'd think about moving the roosts. I guess you have them staggered like that so they can hop all the way to the top? But they need landing space much more than a way to get up (they can jump up nearly straight up, but to land they need as much space in front of the roost as it is high, or more). For four birds I'd probably do 2 roosts across the narrower width, just above nest box opening height, that'll give you more landing space.

I updated the roosting bars like you mentioned. I kept one small low one to help them get up if they care for it, but there are now 2 wrapped 2x4's across the center to ensure they have plenty of room to drop down without anything in their way. I figured it was a good time to upgrade the perch width too since I read they prefer sleeping on a wide flat surface.

I'll also include a picture of the flock before I updated the bars as was requested by another user.