Woods Style Open Air Chicken Coops

[cholland]

Will be great to see your build. I'm planning to build a Woods coop in the next couple of months. Do you use Sketchup? I've drawn the basic framing and sheeting for an 8x12.
I figured I would start with an 8x12, because of standard lumber sizes. And if I need more room in the future, I'll just build another one. 8x12 is also small enough to be moved easily.
I've also pondered the best way to incorporate a brooding area.

 

[grp]

Will be great to see your build. I'm planning to build a Woods coop in the next couple of months. Do you use Sketchup? I've drawn the basic framing and sheeting for an 8x12.
I figured I would start with an 8x12, because of standard lumber sizes. And if I need more room in the future, I'll just build another one. 8x12 is also small enough to be moved easily.
I've also pondered the best way to incorporate a brooding area.

This thread is the first I have heard of this style of coop but i think its genius.
I would love to see your sketchup model! any way you could link it for me? 8x12 sounds about perfect for the space i am working with

 

[swar40]

Will be great to see your build. I'm planning to build a Woods coop in the next couple of months. Do you use Sketchup? I've drawn the basic framing and sheeting for an 8x12.
I figured I would start with an 8x12, because of standard lumber sizes. And if I need more room in the future, I'll just build another one. 8x12 is also small enough to be moved easily.
I've also pondered the best way to incorporate a brooding area.

I have not used sketchup before, I was just going to go off the other threads. Plus, my husband and dad are both pretty good with tools and building. My ideal size would be a 10x12, but I don't think that size would work with a woods coop. I am going to stick with the sizes that have proven to work. We also want to collect as many materials as we can free/cheap, so we will need to start collecting so we can start a build in a month or two.

 

[cholland]

Ther is another thread on 3D modeling that discusses the woods coop.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3d-modeling-for-coops-appliances.1146094/

Link to my sketchup model
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/4b95e6b6-534b-4c01-8f35-30eff7f29fdd/8x12-Woods-Poultry-house

I also drew an 8x16. If you search Woods house or woods coop, seems there are a couple other models on there too.

I pretty much followed the measurements in the book. Except for the width. Also make it 3in narrower than 8 feet and then you can roof it easily with 8 foot plywood.

Any size should work if you follow the size ratio. Personally I think the 8x12 is a good size for most. It puts the center beam about 6' high, so most won't hit their heads, but also leaves the monitor windows low enough to easily operate.

 

[JackE]

My coop is 8X16'. If I wanted to get more birds, I would not hesitate to knock out one wall and bump it out another 8'. That's another great thing with this coop, easily expandable. In the book, (Fresh air poultry houses) you can see many pics of expanded Wood's coops. When this coop was used in the commercial egg industry, when they wanted to get more layers, they bumped out and expanded the coops. Perfect coop.

 

[swar40]

My coop is 8X16'. If I wanted to get more birds, I would not hesitate to knock out one wall and bump it out another 8'. That's another great thing with this coop, easily expandable. In the book, (Fresh air poultry houses) you can see many pics of expanded Wood's coops. When this coop was used in the commercial egg industry, when they wanted to get more layers, they bumped out and expanded the coops. Perfect coop.

You would think at some point it would be too wide and wouldn't work anymore. But I noticed that too in the book. I think I am going to go with the 8x16 like yours, just due to size of the lumber. We will see though, once I go over the design with my husband and dad that may change some. I will keep everyone updates.

 

[swar40]

Has anyone seen any posts about woods coops in the south? I am in the Raleigh NC area and we get anywhere from 10F to 100F throughout the year. And its not uncommon to get 30-40 degree swings in one day.

 

[cholland]

I think you will be fine in that area.
My climate is similar, 25-108 degrees. I plan to have good size windows in the front part, on the sides, and just open it up in the summer. It should be far better than the current shed style coop I use.
I am also planning to have at least an 8x12 covered area directly off the front. Not connected, just additional covered area (no sides) because we mostly get rain and the birds like to be outside and not wet.

 

[swar40]

I think you will be fine in that area.
My climate is similar, 25-108 degrees. I plan to have good size windows in the front part, on the sides, and just open it up in the summer. It should be far better than the current shed style coop I use.
I am also planning to have at least an 8x12 covered area directly off the front. Not connected, just additional covered area (no sides) because we mostly get rain and the birds like to be outside and not wet.

Mine could care less if they get wet. I actually lost two not too long ago because they got so wet then at night it got down in the teens and super windy. I just have a cheap coop from tractor supply, so it's not the best. I need to do better for them!!!!

 

[grp]

Thank you so much for the Sketchup model. This coop is fantastic. I hope to use recycled wood for most of the construction. When (if?) the project gets underway i will post some shots for you guys to see.