How Far Should Roof Extend Over Chicken Coop

A good chicken coop roof has these qualities.

How far should roof extend over chicken coop.

The base length of the roosting bar for every chicken is around 8 inches. In order for a roof to be durable you need a material that doesn t absorb moisture doesn t rip off in the wind and doesn t break down under the sun s rays. Today we have a coop which is raised 4 off the ground with a drop down floor for easy cleaning. Create at least 10 sq ft 0 93 m2 of outdoor space per chicken.

For example if you have 10 chickens you would need 100 sq ft 9 3 m 2 minimum for your chickens to be comfortable. Be that as it may the chicken would require less length particularly amid winter season. In that season your chicken will unquestionably nestle together for warm. I haven t yet done any experiments to discover the critical angle where the chickens slide off.

Plan for 8 12 of roost space per bird inside the chicken coop. A good rule of thumb to remember when deciding how much ventilation a chicken coop needs is to assume a minimum of 1 square foot of ventilation per chicken inside the coop. Using rough recycled lumber was also a mistake since it couldn t be effectively washed down or cleaned. Perhaps with a seven foot height in front and a five foot height in back.

Count how many chickens you have and calculate the total area your run needs to be. For climates with heavy snow loads a chicken coop roof needs to have a minimum pitch of 4 12 or 18 5. What makes a good chicken coop roof. A house eight feet deep would have a roof that slopes down two feet front to back.

Position roosts at least 12 from the nearest parallel wall 12 from each other and no more than 2 3 feet from the floor unless a ladder is provided. 2x4s are commonly used as roosts but natural tree branches accommodate the natural grip of a chicken s foot better. Keeps moisture out of the coop. But you need to give them enough space to keep them healthy.

Traditional shed roofs often call for a one in four slope. Chickens will eat almost anything but leftover vegetables are a favorite treat. If you allow your chickens to free range give them about 250 to 300 square feet per bird. If you choose to keep the chickens confined to a chicken run allow 8 to 10 square feet per bird.

However if you live in an area that tends to get pretty hot during the summer months you should plan on providing even more ventilation per chicken. Chicken coops should have smooth surfaces painted or whitewashed that are easy to clean and maintain. A chicken coop roof needs to have a minimum pitch of 3 12 or 14 in most climates.