My husband bought me a chicken coop and some chicks for our anniversary. He was going to build the coop himself but time was running short so he bought this model from TSC (http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/precision-pet-orb-country-classic-coop). I am trying to figure out ways to make it more functional for me and my chickens. He did add a custom built run to it and I let them free range in our fenced in back yard during the day. They "put themselves to bed at night" but here are a few things I am experiencing about the coop that I need to fix.
1) They like to sleep in the nesting boxes. I know this is a common issue, but with the way the area inside the coop is designed, the roosting bars are about the same height as the nesting boxes. Some things we thought of doing are figuring out a way to raise the roosting bars and making "inserts" for the nesting box area (such as putting a box within the box). I'm afraid they will never lay eggs in the nesting boxes if they continue to sleep in them.
2) The coop is designed with a slide out tray that is supposed to be for ease of cleaning. I use pine shavings on that tray and when I try to pull the tray out shaving just get piled up and I have to shovel them off.
Here is a picture of my actual coop and run.
1) They like to sleep in the nesting boxes. I know this is a common issue, but with the way the area inside the coop is designed, the roosting bars are about the same height as the nesting boxes. Some things we thought of doing are figuring out a way to raise the roosting bars and making "inserts" for the nesting box area (such as putting a box within the box). I'm afraid they will never lay eggs in the nesting boxes if they continue to sleep in them.
2) The coop is designed with a slide out tray that is supposed to be for ease of cleaning. I use pine shavings on that tray and when I try to pull the tray out shaving just get piled up and I have to shovel them off.
Here is a picture of my actual coop and run.