Seeking plans for 48 sq ft coop plus 98 sq ft run

[KerrieO]

Hi all, I'm new here and excited to build a coop and run for our new chickens. I'm a novice builder and really need plans with cut lists to build the coop and run, but I'm having trouble finding plans that will be the size I need (48 sq ft inside the coop plus 98 sq ft run). I really like the simplistic design of the Wichita cabin coop+run, but I haven't seen any plans that size it up from what I think is a 4 x 6 ft (24 sq ft) coop. Happy to pay for plans, just need to find the right ones! Thanks in advance for pointing us in the right direction!

 

[nuthatched]

Have you been through the coop articles section already?
A 10x10 shed might be easier to modify, possibly cheaper if it's second hand.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/large-coops.20/

 

[Krugerrand]

Welcome!

I find Etsy to have a wide array of plans. But, buyer beware. Lots of different sellers. Reviews vary widely.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing so if you put your location into your profile we can give better-targeted advice.

Most plans that you can buy are designed by carpenters who know more about their trade and about how people like things to look than they know about chickens' needs.

May I suggest that instead of 48 square feet -- 6x8 -- you go for 8x8? That will make better use of your lumber and sheet goods (though you can get 6-foot boards by cutting a 12-foot board in half). It's always nice to have a little extra room in your coop -- if only so that you don't hit the walls with your pitchfork when mucking out.

The biggest deficiency in most coop plans is poor ventilation. Here's my article on the subject: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

Here are some coop plans here on BYC to help you get started figuring yours out. There are loads and loads more.

Medium Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-barn-red-and-white-coop-complete-build-photos.75458/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop.74322/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-song-music-factory.74019/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/perkolators-modern-chicken-estate-2019.75345/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-our-charming-and-eleggant-family-coop.77803/

Large Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/alaskan-woods-coop.75752/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop.76267/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/post-and-beam-styled-coop-run.76181/reviews
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/le-palais-de-poulet-the-chicken-palace.67196/
https://countryliving.blog/2021/06/15/my-coop/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-kd-knock-down-10-by-16-coop-pictorial.75421/

Open Air Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/jens-hens-a-southern-texas-coop.75707/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/california-living.68130/

Shed Conversions

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-mulligan.74743/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-scoop-on-a-rubbermaid-big-max-coop.76444/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/toy-shed-conversion.64879/

Hoop Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

 

[JoeCT]

3KillerBs, You are very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. You have some good karma built up, I can tell. Have a nice night.

I love them hoop coops.

 

[3KillerBs]

3KillerBs, You are very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. You have some good karma built up, I can tell. Have a nice night.

I love them hoop coops.

Thank you. I'm paying back the help that people gave me when I was new.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Welcome yo BYC!!
I second the others in going 8x8. Even if you only use 48sq it’s nice to have extra space for when you add chickens (because you will)
Look at the coop articles as suggested by 3killerBs for inspiration
Purchased plans by drafters and builders sell aesthetics rather than functionality with chicken health and safety from predators in mind.
Pick the brains on BYC and be open to suggestions when you need opinions. Most of all, have fun here!!

 

[KerrieO]

Have you been through the coop articles section already?
A 10x10 shed might be easier to modify, possibly cheaper if it's second hand.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/large-coops.20/

Hi! Yes, I've had a look, but have to admit I got overwhelmed pretty quickly. It's like I know what I want, but can't seem to find it? I'll try again. Thanks.

 

[KerrieO]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing so if you put your location into your profile we can give better-targeted advice.

Most plans that you can buy are designed by carpenters who know more about their trade and about how people like things to look than they know about chickens' needs.

May I suggest that instead of 48 square feet -- 6x8 -- you go for 8x8? That will make better use of your lumber and sheet goods (though you can get 6-foot boards by cutting a 12-foot board in half). It's always nice to have a little extra room in your coop -- if only so that you don't hit the walls with your pitchfork when mucking out.

The biggest deficiency in most coop plans is poor ventilation. Here's my article on the subject: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

Here are some coop plans here on BYC to help you get started figuring yours out. There are loads and loads more.

Medium Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-barn-red-and-white-coop-complete-build-photos.75458/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop.74322/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-song-music-factory.74019/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/perkolators-modern-chicken-estate-2019.75345/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-our-charming-and-eleggant-family-coop.77803/

Large Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/alaskan-woods-coop.75752/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop.76267/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/post-and-beam-styled-coop-run.76181/reviews
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/le-palais-de-poulet-the-chicken-palace.67196/
https://countryliving.blog/2021/06/15/my-coop/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-kd-knock-down-10-by-16-coop-pictorial.75421/

Open Air Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/jens-hens-a-southern-texas-coop.75707/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/california-living.68130/

Shed Conversions

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-mulligan.74743/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-scoop-on-a-rubbermaid-big-max-coop.76444/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/toy-shed-conversion.64879/

Hoop Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

Thanks so much, 3KillerBs! I'm in the Pacific Northwest (Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada) so we get lots of rain in the winter (and weeks of snow that past 2 years), but also drought and heat dome temperatures in the summer. Seems like weather is getting more extreme! I have read that ventilation is super important. Thanks so much for that really clear explanation in your link!!! So helpful!!!

I take your point too, about plans designed by carpenters. I like many of the features of this kind of coop
https://etsy.me/3cmnQoM (external nest boxes, large coop door for easy clean out, attached covered run for our rainy/snowy winters, simple shed roof), but I'm pretty sure it is too small for the 12 chickens we'd like to have because the coop is only 4 x 6 ft (24 sq ft) and I've read that we should have 4 sq ft per hen so our coop would need to be 48 sq ft. The run is also too small. And as you mentioned, I would add more ventilation up higher and maybe eliminate the windows that are lower. We're going to have lots of foraging space for the chickens outside the run (some rotational grazing and also a chicken moat/tunnel around our garden), so I'm not as worried about the size of the covered run because it would just be their outdoor hangout when the weather was too wet or snowy in the winter. But I want to make sure we get the coop right.

We'd like to start with 6 hens this year and then expand up to 12 in the future. Is there any issue with having a coop that's 'too big' for a little while?

Thanks so much for sharing all your wisdom!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

We'd like to start with 6 hens this year and then expand up to 12 in the future. Is there any issue with having a coop that's 'too big' for a little while?

Better with "too big" than too small - integration takes space, so more space you have to work with, the better.

I'd really recommend a walk-in coop for 12 birds. My coop is designed for 12 birds at 60 sq ft (with internal nest boxes that eat up space, so actual floor space is closer to 48 sq ft). Much easier to clean if you can get in and stand fully upright, vs having to lean in to clean out, though I understand if yard space is limited and thus elevating the coop is necessary for extra run space.