Starting my FIRST flock! Coop design musts?!

[lazy gardener]

One more thought re: roo. I suggest that you start with pullets. See how that fits your ideal. Then, if you really must have a roo, add him next year. Roos bring a whole different dimension into flock keeping. They require special handling, extra room. And if you get a cockerel chick with pullet chicks, he will most likely grow up and start thrashing the pullets before they are ready to breed. Cockerels mature faster, and they have absolutely no dating ettiquette. Punk teen age boys on testosterone. Not a pretty site, especially if the young ladies are cooped up with the hormonal jerk, and have no escape options. Add a mature roo after the pullets are laying, or wait a year. By then, the HENS will be mature, and when you add a cockerel, they will school him in how a young man should act around the ladies.

 

[DaviJones]

One more thought re: roo. I suggest that you start with pullets. See how that fits your ideal. Then, if you really must have a roo, add him next year. Roos bring a whole different dimension into flock keeping. They require special handling, extra room. And if you get a cockerel chick with pullet chicks, he will most likely grow up and start thrashing the pullets before they are ready to breed. Cockerels mature faster, and they have absolutely no dating ettiquette. Punk teen age boys on testosterone. Not a pretty site, especially if the young ladies are cooped up with the hormonal jerk, and have no escape options. Add a mature roo after the pullets are laying, or wait a year. By then, the HENS will be mature, and when you add a cockerel, they will school him in how a young man should act around the ladies.

This. I completely forgot. Roos(and moreso cockerels) are often much more difficult. They have scared plenty of people off chickens

 

[Peter.J]

Whatever you do build your run 6’ high so you can walk around in there. I have a 320sq ft run and the height makes it a lot easier to go in there, clean, fill waterers, feeders, etc...

 

[SeanClark5879]

So I want layer/pet hens. I'm not too worried about mass production and none of my birds will be used for meat. I was wanting a sikie rooster because they are adorable to be honest lol. I probably wont be getting more than 6 hens but I'm probably gonna build for 10 so when I do need to add a couple chicks to the flock I will be able to.

I'm not wanting a walk in coop, but one where the door to clean is an entire wall so I can just rake everything into a wheelbarrow. If I build for 10 I'll probably have my coop be 8×6 with a 1×4 exterior nesting box. And possible a 16×10 run so thay it gives the birds plenty of space to frolic about.

I'l consider a walk in coop but that sucker is gonna have to be at least 6'6" because I'm not planning on squating the entire time I'm in there lol

As for where I live, I am in central IL and I attached the average temps per month. We can hit 0ºF to almost 100ºF though on the extremes

 

[SeanClark5879]

Also here is an inflated early morning winter picture of my yard lol

This summer we are prunning/taking out that tree as you can see a large branch fell from it, that shed is getting removed as it was here when we moved here and it' rotten, and we are wanting to put up a privacy fence along that back side behind the old shed and a long the side where the Rose of Sharons are growing. I have yard space but it' kinda narrow and long, but this is where I'm planning on keeping my birds

 

[jreardon1918]

Our coop is a 4x8 raised. It is working out fine for 7 almost year olds. No rooster. The coop has 6 nest boxes. Only opened 3. Other 3 used for storage. The coop article is to the left. The run will be expanded soon to 8x16. Next time will brood in run.

 

[aart]

Go walk-in, better for everyone, better for ventilation too, both summer and winter.
Here the height info LG mentoined:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

Go bigger, you'll need it to add chicks and Winter Cabin Fever is real.

How's your snow load there?
Don't put a garden on roof of run, put a solid roof to extend weather proof space(snow and rain) and provide shade in summe.

Welcome to BYC!
You will be inundated with information, it will take time to weed thru it all.
First year of chickeneering(including the planning stage) is like getting a sip of water from a fire hose.
Sketch out your coop and change it often until you are are sure of what you want.
Think long term.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I would consider using the shed as a coop instead of getting rid of it... Even if it needs work to fix it up it is big, it is already in place. add a run and you are done.

Gary

 

[SeanClark5879]

I would consider using the shed as a coop instead of getting rid of it... Even if it needs work to fix it up it is big, it is already in place. add a run and you are done.

Gary

The shed is pass rough shape, the entire thing is rotting and the ceiling is caving in, the last owner didn't take care of it well. I wouldn't trust it to protect my flock

 

[Conan]

I have attached some pics of my coop - both sides open entirely making cleaning extremely fast and easy (without being a walk in). I only have three in there right now, but four bantam hens and four standard hens being added over the next few months. They only sleep in there seeing as they are free range and go where they please