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chickenrunrescue.org Page 6 9/14/15 -‐”Poultry Your Way: A Guide to Management Alternatives for the Upper Midwest”, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 2005 COOP: The house, closed structure or enclosed room which provides shelter from cold, heat, wind, rain, snow and predators for protected roosting, nesting, feeding and watering space. Construction & Materials – Coops can be purchased ready made or in kits, constructed within an existing structure or built from scratch. Local building codes should be followed to prevent damage from snow, wind, etc. NOTE: rabbit hutches, plastic igloos, dog houses and such are not appropriate structures. Required features: size: 4 sq. feet of floor space minimum is required per bird for the interior (an area 2 ft. x 2 ft. per bird). So 4 birds will need a coop with at least 4 feet x 4 feet inside floor space not including nest boxes. Outside dimensions should be about 5 feet by 5 feet x 6 ft. high. Overcrowding is the most common cause of behavior problems, injury and disease. Coop should be high enough for a human to stand up comfortably for cleaning, maintenance and egg collection. It also allows for additional roosting. Temperament and social structures should be taken into account, and partitions should be available for birds who are sick, injured or lower in the pecking order. access to electricity is required in free standing structures. floor – The floor should not collect and hold moisture, be easy to clean, retain heat in cold weather and exclude rodents/predators. A dirt floor draws heat away and is not easy to clean or rodents/predators proof. A wood floor is adequate provided it is at least a foot off the ground, insulated and sealed properly but is difficult to sanitize because it is porous. a concrete floor is ideal since it discourages rodents/predators and ids easy to sanitize. Regardless of the floor type, bedding strewn on the surface is needed is to absorb moist fecal matter and facilitate cleaning. Leaves or wood shavings work best and can be composted or easily bagged and disposed of as solid waste. walls-‐ Materials that are resistant to moisture and mold and easily cleaned are best. Chemically treated materials should be nontoxic. A good compound with anti fungal agents is good for humid areas. Clear varnish is also good. Everything should be treated or painted before it is assembled. Wooden structures should be draft free and built with double walls that have at least 1 1/2 inch insulated layer between them. roof: The coop roof should be made of a material that will not collect and hold heat and should be built with double walls that have at least 1 1/2 inch insulated layer between them. The roof surfaced should be covered with an insulating tar paper to protect from heavy rains. The roof should be slightly inclined, to allow water to run off and if it overhangs at the front wall it will protect from downpours. A few small openings along the eaves allow moisture to escape and provide fresh air. doors: One human-‐size door is needed for daily access. Doors for chickens should be just large enough for the largest bird and can be positioned anywhere from ground level to about 2 feet high with a stable ramp with cleats. Chickens are ground dwellers, not parrots-‐small doors at heights greater than 3 feet with flimsy, unstable ladders are not appropriate. Doors must be able to be secured against predators at night. windows: Chickens love windows and need natural light. Double glaze for warmth. Cover with 1/2” metal screen so they can be opened for ventilation in hot weather. Allow one square foot of window for each 10 square foot of floor space. roosts: Lumber or branches can be used. They should be strong enough and mounted securely enough to hold all birds. The surface should be rough for good grip with no splinters or sharp edges. For medium sized birds, 2” or 4 “ flat or 1 1/2” diameter is best for foot comfort. The longer roost the better to prevent competition. They should be set 18” from wall, 2 -‐3 feet off the floor. If mounted higher, rung steps are needed spaced 8-‐12 inches apart. The addition of a dropping board underneath and elevated roost will collect droppings and keep floor space below clean and inhabitable. climate: Shelters should be kept at a comfortable temperature for the animals. “Minimum Temperature 55°(f) , maximum temperature 70°(F)”