Chicken Coop Designs
 

The Egg Module is facilitating the design of a sustainable poultry coop.  In conjunction with Open Architecture Network, we a developing a collaborative team. 

A Sketch Up model has been created to showcase leading green building designs.  Local material use is encouraged as an element of green building design. For example, the model below uses wicker siding; other siding options are built into the design. 

 Please download CHICKENCOOP2.skp

Below is another coop design, you can download COOP_MODULE_STRUCTURE_2M~.skp Sketch Up file.

Space requirements
The Egg Module coup design necessitates 1.5 square feet per bird. Therefore, a 600-bird coop should have a minimum of 900 square feet (or 300 square meters). Our building design calls for a building 20 feet wide and 45 feet long, plus an additional 5 to 10 feet in length for a storage room. However, the length can be tailored for different flock sizes. For example, a coop for a 500-bird flock would need to be 20 x 37.5 feet.
 

Scope
The poultry operation will consist of an initial coop capable of housing either 50-to-100 or 500-to-600 birds. The two tiers allow villages to experiment with different levels of risk. The smaller coop may be more appropriate in isolated villages where there is limited access to markets and supplies, especially feed. The issues of disease management, temperature control, and predator theft (human and animal) are key in this design decision.
 

Nests
Birds need privacy when laying the eggs. The glistening and shiny appearance of the wet egg can trigger cannibalism against the egg and against the hen laying the eggs. 4 birds can share a nest; each nest is about 2 ft x 2 ft. A typical flock of 600 birds would need 150 nests. Nests can be double-stacked and run along both the sides and center of the coop.
 

Light control
Young birds need dark conditions, while mature birds lay more eggs with increased light. The birds sense light through their skulls, not just their eyes. The maturation process is enhanced by managing the light. Due to these factors, the ability to control light is desirable and should be incorporated in the design and construction of the barns.
 

Temperature control
Natural ventilation and cooling is critical in considering temperature control through coop design. In cold climates or higher elevations, temperature control will require heating systems. (Heating systems are also required for the arrival of day-old chicks.)
 

Insulation
To hold down the roof temperature and prevent heat radiation during sunny days, it is necessary to insulate the roof to an R-value of 5. Material like 1-inch-thick foam-type insulation with hard fiberglass (or similarly durable material) glued to the lower side should prevent birds and other critters from pecking or chewing away material from the underside of the roof. A thatched roof could provide an effective R-value.
 

Ventilation
An effective method for ventilation would be a continuous 6-inch-wide ridge opening running the length of the building. To prevent rain from entering the coop, the ridge opening should be capped with a small roof-type structure that is 12 or 14 inches wide, located 12 inches above the ridgeline. This will allow warm air to exit the opening without being restricted by this ridge cap.
 

Feed control
Feed should be distributed simultaneously to the entire flock. Otherwise, birds lower in the pecking order will be crowded out and will not get enough feed, while large birds will over-consume.
 

Water 

A continuous supply of water is vital for layers. Nipple drinkers are ideal for preventing disease; a ratio of 1 nipple per 15 hens is preferred.
Capturing rainwater reduces labor and may be essential if the coop is located far from a well. Rain barrels will collect and hold water from the roof during storms. This storage tank will be connected to an interior nipple drinker system. Excess water could also be channeled into a drip irrigation system for a garden around the coop.
 

Floor
Concrete is the preferred flooring material for Egg Module coop designs. A separate roost area helps manage the waste products. It is preferable to avoid hard woodchip floors.
 
Isolation
Coops should be in a relatively isolated part of the village, as isolation is imperative for mitigating the risk of disease outbreak. Therefore, it is advised to keep the coops in the back of the village, away from roads, paths, and other highly trafficked areas. Human traffic should be limited to as few people as possible; ideally only 2 or 3 people would ever have access to the coops. In addition to limiting human traffic, it is vital to limit the exposure to wild animals. Sturdy building, as well as tree-trimming above the coop, will reduce the chances a wild animal will enter or contaminate the coop. Finally, ventilation is an important consideration; building the coop in an open area will facilitate natural ventilation.
 

Coop Architectural Designs
The coops were designed in conjunction with Dr. Jacqueline Jacobs in the poultry Science department and Dr. Larry Jacobsen in the Agricultural Engineering department at the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Dr. Jacobs has had extensive experience in Africa, specifically Kenya.
The design concept has been further developed by Bee Cha, with BWBR Architects.