Coop plans ok?

[Sally PB]

@orpingtonnz, where are you located? Just the state is fine, or country if you're not in the US. You can add it to your profile.

Climate matters, a lot. And if you're not in the US, it helps to know that, so we don't suggest products/meds/feeds that aren't available to you.

 

[TooCheep]

^What @Sally PB said. You can put it in the Location field of your profile.

Sally- The NZ in the user name is a clue, but the profile update would still be helpful.

 

[TooCheep]

Also the lady at the shop told me to use bark as litter but I want to do deep litter in the whole shed. Shall I also use bark or just get more pine shavings?

If you want deep litter, then you'll need a fair amount. Pine shavings work well, but you may be able to do cheaper. I don't know if your climate is temperate, but if you get dead fall leaves, those make an excellent deep litter and are free.

 

[orpingtonnz]

I'm going to start by just saying that you are going to have an amazing coop even without any changes other than cleaning it out. Looks big enough to be a run/coop combo for 4 chickens. Coop envy.
More info. Summer and winter temps? Looks lush like you get good rain. Does it flood, rain sideways? Drop down canvas sides or polycarbonate panels you can remove are never a bad idea. Deep litter will work fine.

That's a great idea about the drop down sides, I think that it will mostly be fine but occasionally could have wind and rain together.

Temps are roughly in the between - 1c and maybe 20c in winter, then between roughly 15 to 25c in summer. It does stay pretty green down there, it was just raining yesterday but it is nearing the end of summer here and things are still really green.

Thank you for your advice

 

[orpingtonnz]

Looks like a concrete floor, so deep litter would work well.

It will keep them off the concrete, will stay dry if the open area is away from the prevailing winds/rain, will avoid problems with poop smells and will allow the chickens to create compost/soil for you.

I'd recommend the coop itself be elevated inside the structure. That will give them the entire floor as a run.

I'm a bit confused about the coop bit, if I put a roost and nest box in this whole area can that just be the coop, or do they need a separate little house with the roosts and nest box?

 

[orpingtonnz]

I tarp one part of my wire wall against storms in hurricane season and/or winter. Test the actual roost area with a lightweight ribbon on a windy say to see if it's drafty or not. A gentle waft is OK, fluttering isn't.

If that's a concrete floor you'll have Deep Bedding -- a dry system -- rather than Deep Litter -- a moist, actively-composting system. I like both systems very well, using Deep Bedding in my enclosed coops and Deep Litter in my dirt-floored coops.

Using Deep Bedding in a Small Coop



This is an important consideration.

It's not as critical to keep an Open Air coop perfectly dry as it is for an enclosed coop because the superior ventilation lets it dry out again easily, but you don't want to bedding to get really soggy and you don't want blown rain to reach the roosting area -- which is why I tarp that wall for hurricanes.

Awesome thank you, that is helpful to know. No hurricanes here thankfully but can get windy so I might make some "tarp curtains" that can come up and down as needed

 

[orpingtonnz]

@orpingtonnz, where are you located? Just the state is fine, or country if you're not in the US. You can add it to your profile.

Climate matters, a lot. And if you're not in the US, it helps to know that, so we don't suggest products/meds/feeds that aren't available to you.

I'm in the top of the south island in New Zealand. It's a temperate climate, lots of apples and grapes etc around here in the summer.

Is updated the profile now, hopefully it worked

 

[orpingtonnz]

^What @Sally PB said. You can put it in the Location field of your profile.

Sally- The NZ in the user name is a clue, but the profile update would still be helpful.

Yes I'm in the top of the south island in New Zealand

Just updated in the profile, hopefully it worked OK.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm a bit confused about the coop bit, if I put a roost and nest box in this whole area can that just be the coop, or do they need a separate little house with the roosts and nest box?

No, an enclosed box isn't necessary in a warm climate like that.

 

[orpingtonnz]

No, an enclosed box isn't necessary in a warm climate like that.

Awesome that's good to know. I'll see how they go then.