Woods Style Open Air Chicken Coops

[swar40]

I am making plans to build my Prince T Woods chicken coop (I just finished reading the book). I am struggling with size, I feel like the 10x16 may be too big for our yard, but not sure the 6x10 is enough space. I would like to keep between 30-40 chickens (I am planning on no mare than 30, but we all know how that goes), who have access to about a half acre fenced space to free range during the day. Also, I would like the ability to split the inside of the coop for a broody to be able to raise her chicks. They would have access to a portion (I was thinking a third) of the coop and their own covered run until they are big enough to join the others. When ready I could then either open a door or move a divider to turn the coop back into one large coop again. Also, I would like to be able to get all the chicken food and supplies out of the garage and store them with the coop, but not sure how to make this work on a woods style coop.

1. What size would you suggest?
2. Has anyone divided a coop like this for broody/grow out area? If so pictures and feedback would be great.
3. Does anyone have storage built into their coop for all their chicken supplies? If so where, and how? Again, pictures would be awesome!
4. I live near Raleigh, NC - do I need a solid covered run or just a netting over the run. On occasion they need to be kept inside the run until the hawk moves on.
5. Looking at deep litter method - pros and cons would be great.

Here is a quick overhead sketch of my thoughts. The Covered runs would match the back part of the slanted roof in woods

The more feedback, thoughts and pictures the better. Thank you all so much for your help!

 

[JackE]

If you are going to have 30-40 birds, you should go with the 10X16'. My Woods is 8X16'. I've never had more than 30 in it, at a time. And I really would not want to, either. As far as a temporary, separate broody area goes. I built an extra nestbox, and I section off an area, for the broody, and her chicks. I built a couple of frames out of 2X3"s, and stapled chickenwire to them. The area sectioned off, is 3.5X6', and it's located opposite of the entry door, up front. Sorry, I don't have any pics. But the pic below shows the area that gets screened off. Also, in the pic, you can see the coop's feed storage, the galvanized can there. If you wanted to, you could hang other supplies from the ceiling, there is plenty of room, in a Woods.

Unless you intend to build your coop directly on the ground, and have a dirt floor, I would highly recommend you elevate the coop. Get it up there at least a foot and a half. You want to be able to have a clear view, and access under there. All kind of undesirables love to live in hidden spaces around a coop. Don't give them any, if you can help it.

My 'run' consists of 650' of electrified poultry net. It has proven to be a fantastic barrier to ground preds. But, hawks can be a problem. Can't shoot them, so the birds have to stay in for a couple of weeks, till, hopefully, the hawk moves on.

 

[swar40]

If you are going to have 30-40 birds, you should go with the 10X16'. My Woods is 8X16'. I've never had more than 30 in it, at a time. And I really would not want to, either. As far as a temporary, separate broody area goes. I built an extra nestbox, and I section off an area, for the broody, and her chicks. I built a couple of frames out of 2X3"s, and stapled chickenwire to them. The area sectioned off, is 3.5X6', and it's located opposite of the entry door, up front. Sorry, I don't have any pics. But the pic below shows the area that gets screened off. Also, in the pic, you can see the coop's feed storage, the galvanized can there. If you wanted to, you could hang other supplies from the ceiling, there is plenty of room, in a Woods.

Unless you intend to build your coop directly on the ground, and have a dirt floor, I would highly recommend you elevate the coop. Get it up there at least a foot and a half. You want to be able to have a clear view, and access under there. All kind of undesirables love to live in hidden spaces around a coop. Don't give them any, if you can help it.

My 'run' consists of 650' of electrified poultry net. It has proven to be a fantastic barrier to ground preds. But, hawks can be a problem. Can't shoot them, so the birds have to stay in for a couple of weeks, till, hopefully, the hawk moves on.

Thank you! I feel like there are so many things to think about when planning the coop design. Or maybe I am overthinking it!!! Do you feel like the division up front for sand or other bedding is necessary, or is it a design step that can be skipped?

What was your reason for going with the 8x16 since in the book they mention 10x16? Do you feel like it still works as it is supposed to being a different size?

 

[JackE]

Thank you! I feel like there are so many things to think about when planning the coop design. Or maybe I am overthinking it!!! Do you feel like the division up front for sand or other bedding is necessary, or is it a design step that can be skipped?

What was your reason for going with the 8x16 since in the book they mention 10x16? Do you feel like it still works as it is supposed to being a different size?

There is a lot of planning that should go into it. Proper planning can save you a lot of heartburn, in the future. On this forum, you can read many, many stories of failure, due to bad planning. Build it right, the Wood's is the best, IMO, coop, your chickens can have.

The division/litter board is not totally necessary. I put it in originally, with the idea of keeping the pine shavings from the blowing rain. But that idea evolved to keeping the chickens from dragging the bedding out the popdoor. Rain blows into the side windows, and the screen door, in the warmer months, when everything is open. But it's not an issue at all, because the coop drys out fast, very fast.

I built my coop 8X16', to make it easier to use 4X8' sheets of plywood. And yes, it works perfectly, as the book says it would. In 8yrs, this coop has seen temps from just over 100F, to -10F. I've been in the coop with 30mph+ winds, blowing directly at the open front. And it's as calm in there as you sitting in your living room watching TV. None of my chickens have ever suffered from frostbite, or any kind of respiratory problems.

I don't know if you've seen my coop's page. The link below shows it off. On pg 4 you can see interior pics.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/woods-style-house-in-the-winter.445004/

 

[swar40]

There is a lot of planning that should go into it. Proper planning can save you a lot of heartburn, in the future. On this forum, you can read many, many stories of failure, due to bad planning. Build it right, the Wood's is the best, IMO, coop, your chickens can have.

The division/litter board is not totally necessary. I put it in originally, with the idea of keeping the pine shavings from the blowing rain. But that idea evolved to keeping the chickens from dragging the bedding out the popdoor. Rain blows into the side windows, and the screen door, in the warmer months, when everything is open. But it's not an issue at all, because the coop drys out fast, very fast.

I built my coop 8X16', to make it easier to use 4X8' sheets of plywood. And yes, it works perfectly, as the book says it would. In 8yrs, this coop has seen temps from just over 100F, to -10F. I've been in the coop with 30mph+ winds, blowing directly at the open front. And it's as calm in there as you sitting in your living room watching TV. None of my chickens have ever suffered from frostbite, or any kind of respiratory problems.

I don't know if you've seen my coop's page. The link below shows it off. On pg 4 you can see interior pics.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/woods-style-house-in-the-winter.445004/

I think I could get away with the size you did, if I make sure I watch my numbers of chickens good. Mine are very rarely in the coop, other than at night. I think there would be a lot less waste with that size than with a 10x16. Did you do any other the rubber floor surfaces to help protect the floor.

 

[JackE]

I used Blackjack#57 on my floor. It's a rubberized roofcoat product I got from Lowes. Still looks like it did when I first dumped it in there.

 

[Welshies]

1. What size would you suggest?

3. Does anyone have storage built into their coop for all their chicken supplies? If so where, and how? Again, pictures would be awesome!
4. I live near Raleigh, NC - do I need a solid covered run or just a netting over the run. On occasion they need to be kept inside the run until the hawk moves on.
5. Looking at deep litter method - pros and cons would be great.
!

I would suggest: make it bigger than you think you need! Make it walk in! You will want more birds.
I keep supplies on my nest boxes, they act like a shelf

If you get snow you could cover or just net the run. i don't have a covered run and I am from the Northern Rockies. We get 3-5 feet of snow on average. I just toss hay over part of it so my birds can choose whether or not to enjoy the snow.

I love the deep litter method. It conserves and produces extra heat. It is proven to be better, even for small chicks. I only strip clean my coop twice a year. I absolutely love it. It is cheaper for me.

 

[junebuggena]

With a 6x10, you'll be limited to about 15 to 20 birds. If you want to add in storage, definitely go with as big a coop as you possibly can.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

30-40 birds is a lot of chickens... Go big, size matters.

Gary

 

[swar40]

30-40 birds is a lot of chickens... Go big, size matters.

Gary

Not sure the 40 will happen, but I am planning for worst case scenario. Or would it be the best case!!!! I have some friends that want me to have enough chickens so they can get eggs weekly, which is why I was thinking so many.