Seems every year, our family tries something new. Last year it was a solar hot air collector, the year before a larger garden. Well, this year we will be raising some chickens for egg production. We have had fresh eggs before, so we knew that they tasted great. Our biggest question was how will our yellow lab, bird dog by nature react?
Coop Planning
For anyone who has searched the net for coop plans, probably found what I did. Nothing! And have you seen the costs of built/delivered coops priced at 1K? So how many eggs would the chickens need to lay to pay off the coop?Figuring that our family uses a dozen eggs per week, and that each chicken should lay one egg per day, we decided on four chickens. So 4x7=28 eggs per week under optimal conditions. Any extra eggs will either be sold to pay for feed, or given as a gift to our neighbors.
The coop needed to fit into our neighborhood, so it had to look good. I decided to make the coop house 4x4x4 outside dimensions with a 15 degree slope on the roof. This way total height does not exceed the 8' opening on our garage door. The coop sits 2' off the ground and the wire enclosure adds another 6' to the overall length. The coop sits on skids so I am able to move it about the yard. However, with all the material weight, I estimate this weighs nearly 500 pounds. Still movable, but not with our lawn mover like I expected. Any lumber exposed to the elements is treated, as well as the coop floor. The rest is standard 2x4's, 1/2" chip board(inside coop walls) and 1/2" exterior grade plywood. I chose to insulate the coop with 1 1/2" styro to help in the cold Wisconsin winters.
There are two windows, rear and front. Ventilation will be very important come this summer when temperatures reach 90 degrees. Both windows are wired against preditor penetration and can be close off in the winter. Also note the nesting box on the side of the coop. To gather eggs, simply lift the outside lid and pick the eggs without ever going inside the coop. Having this option is probalby on of the most important design factors you shoull consider. Otheriwise, chicken droppings will coat your shoes.
Remember. It's a coop.
The basic floor design is 4x6 with studs running at equal distances apart. The actual coop size is 4x4. But as you will see later, 2 feet will be used for nesting boxes.
Double up a four 2x4x6 with a 2' 2x4. This is what your floor will rest on.
Check for squareness and screw all four corners to floor joists.
If you measured corrects, the 4x4 treated plywood should fit perfectly. Secure to floor.
Frame in opposite sides. Note the opening for the nesting boxes. Gap in nesting floor will also be covered with normal, nontreated plywood.
Frame the nesting box.
The Final Product
