building a coop/barn

pipes · Post by **pipes** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:28 pm

Is there anyone in the Woodstock-London-Brantford-Tillsonburg-Stratford area that might be interested in showing or discussing their coop/barn layout. I'm looking at something about 12-15 x 20 ish. With enclosed runs. Apparently we have kyotes. Not sure on quarantine or breeding areas, as I might try this later on. Planning on about 10 egg layers to "start", yes I know it is an addictive hobby and will only grow. So I would like to plan for the future too. Design perameters seem to be a stumbling block at the moment.

Let me know.
Thanks

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:31 pm

if I was in your shoes I would start with this question: what is the layout of your property: where's the sun, wind, trees, house etc. will it be chickens and storage, greenhouse, etc.

My next building would be a coop/ shed with these elements: 1. tin roof or better plastic panel roof that lets in light (keeps the birds laying: i just figured that if the birds get enough watts of light you might not need extra lights)
2. Collect water off roof in a barrel for birds or garden
3. Birds need shade from sun in summer so a tree or trellis wall (grapes?) or northern kiwi plants
4. Electricity and a room for chicks/brooder so they're not in the basement
5. 4 bird yards so you can plant a space with corn and rotate yards
South facing sun wall, maybe saltbox style (google saltbox shed)...

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:37 pm

Check these: http://poultrytalkontario.net/forum/vie ... =23&t=1906

http://poultrytalkontario.net/forum/vie ... =23&t=1047

Post by **WLLady** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:27 pm

I am kinda close to london....you can come see my barn if you want....i have a loft built with 15 pens for chickens and turkeys in smaller horse stalls downstairs...but it would have to be this week/end since i am in surgery on monday i will see if i can find the photos from the actual build....

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 8:45 pm

Welllllllll..i just built a new coop...12 x 18.. It has 3 separate pens 6 x 8 and an alleyway for access and feed storage...It'll do fine for a while but IT'S TOO SMALL!!!!.....oh well...lol.

JimW · Post by **JimW** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 11:35 pm

TomK wrote:QR_BBPOST Welllllllll..i just built a new coop...12 x 18.. It has 3 separate pens 6 x 8 and an alleyway for access and feed storage...It'll do fine for a while but IT'S TOO SMALL!!!!.....oh well...lol.

We need photos Tom.

I am trying to finish a small 8'x8' coop, but almost think I should partially tear it apart instead and double the size. But I will probably finish this one over the winter and then build a second one that is bigger.

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Wed Dec 14, 2016 1:07 am

I've discovered that for me, more is better than bigger. More breeding groups, more breeds, more species lol. Seriously though, if you think you might ever want to breed seriously, or add something messy like ducks or geese, (or even if you never will) partition it off now while you're building. At the very least, make a separate area for quarantining new or sick/injured birds that you won't have to go through your main coop to get to and from. That way you're not left scrambling or with birds in the house when one is bleeding or that pretty Polish hen just happened to hitch a ride home with you

Post by **Killerbunny** » Wed Dec 14, 2016 5:11 am

I'm on 5 acres and am heavily restricted (Rural zoning) on what I can build re size and setbacks to house. We built smaller coops sheds but more of them.

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Wed Dec 14, 2016 9:02 am

Yes that's the other thing: zoning, taxes, building permits. The last time I checked any building bigger than 15 feet needs a permit. Then the building needs a serious foundation and maybe architects design drawings and stamps etc. etc.

A building not deemed permanent: such as a greenhouse does not need a permit.

Thus the discussion on greenhouse barns. http://poultrytalkontario.net/forum/vie ... Greenhouse

Thus the reason farmers today don't build real barns but big sheds.

Not to mention property taxes.

Post by **Home Grown Poultry** » Wed Dec 14, 2016 10:16 am

or do what my fil did... of course bylaw dependent... build one 108 sq/foot shed then add another 108 sq/ft addition every year, moving the one exterior wall over to its new spot LOL. I think he had ten of these in a row LOL. he never did get to build the other half before selling the property and well 20 years to build a garage is a heck of a long time. LOL.

on a different project he built and was told by the city to take it down (kinda sorta.) he built 2 very strong fences, then made homemade trusses and built a roof over top of the fences... his in fraction was because the truses were not stamped with an engineers approval. they were strong as heck and would have definitely held up to a heavy snow load. he was told he could keep the fences but not the trusses. his solution was to use 2x8's instead and the city was happy. I ended up with all those trusses and they are now fenceposts around my run.

I completly gutted and converted an 24' RV trailer into a coop. one big pen and one small pen with a small walkway in from the door, it works amazing! lots of windows, lots of light and lots of ventilation. I breed RIR and they have big single combs and i havent had any get frostbite in it at all.

of course getting a blue print and a permit can almost allow you to build whatever you want... when I build I like to stay on the legal side of things and review the local bylaws for fences, ponds ect... I only want to build it once. you should see WLLadys set up! a brand new barn, with the poultry loft... oh its amazing!