Second level, increase square footage?

[schambo]

If I have multiple levels in my coop, do each of the levels add to the square footage of the coop? For example a 5' x 5' coop would have a square footage of 25 sq. ft., but if there were an interior platform (obviously comforably accessible to the chickens) inside running the length of one wall that was, say, 2' x 5', would the square footage of the coop then be 35 sq. ft. (25 sq. ft. on the floor and 10 sq. ft. on the second level) even though the actual footprint of the coop hasn't changed?

 

[3KillerBs]

Adding height is good, especially for ventilation, and creating a 3-D environment *can* help with boredom and flock dynamics, but when you get down to the heart of it, chickens don't stack for storage.

 

[McChooky]

You wouldn't want 30 chickens in a coop if you only have floor space for 10 . The only thing worse than being too small is too hot.

 

[perkolator]

If it's a solid floor 2nd level, yes. If it's a 2nd level of just roost bars/perches, not really.

I have a layer of tree branch perches throughout my setup to utilize the vertical space and give chickens places to escape other than the ground if they were getting chased around/picked on. The chickens DO seem to go up in there during the daytime randomly to hang out for short amounts of time, but solid ground/foraging space would be the best addition. They sometimes go into their enclosed coop and will forage there as it's solid floor with deep bedding that I'll toss scratch into.

Coincidentally all my chickens ended up preferring these run perches as their sleeping roosts vs the enclosed coop itself, so I guess in the end I could have gotten away with an open-air coop and saved myself lots of $ and time building their coop

 

[aart]

If I have multiple levels in my coop, do each of the levels add to the square footage of the coop? For example a 5' x 5' coop would have a square footage of 25 sq. ft., but if there were an interior platform (obviously comforably accessible to the chickens) inside running the length of one wall that was, say, 2' x 5', would the square footage of the coop then be 35 sq. ft. (25 sq. ft. on the floor and 10 sq. ft. on the second level) even though the actual footprint of the coop hasn't changed?

@schambo
Poop boards can help, especially in winter when they are 'coop bound',
but I sure wouldn't factor it into the number of birds.
Putting a poop board into a 5x5 leaves only 3' for them to jump down,
not a good idea, IMO.

 

[NatJ]

If I have multiple levels in my coop, do each of the levels add to the square footage of the coop? For example a 5' x 5' coop would have a square footage of 25 sq. ft., but if there were an interior platform (obviously comforably accessible to the chickens) inside running the length of one wall that was, say, 2' x 5', would the square footage of the coop then be 35 sq. ft. (25 sq. ft. on the floor and 10 sq. ft. on the second level) even though the actual footprint of the coop hasn't changed?

The chickens do use the extra space, but I feel that it isn't quite as good as having more space on the main floor level. There is also the possibility that the floor may be less useful where it is underneath that platform, because it is shaded and less attractive. The higher the platform, the more attractive the space underneath. But in a coop that small, it will be difficult for a chicken to get down safely from a high platform, because chickens like to fly down at an angle, and don't like to run into a wall when they are doing it.

I would probably figure that adding 10 square feet of platform is about as useful as adding 5 square foot of actual floor.

You might be able to put the feed & water up on the platform, which would free up more of the floor and also help keep bedding out of the feed and water. (Possible disadvantage: easier for one bully to keep the others away, so they can't eat & drink.)

 

[SueT]

There is something to be said for cubic footage. It is better to have more height and thus is more spacious. Many of my chickens do get up on the roosts in the daytime and look out the window when it is stormy outside. Others may mill around on the floor. I think it definitely improves the situation to have more height.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I think adding height for chickens and not people just starts making it harder to clean. But if you can't swing a major expansion, every little bit does help. Simple because I've been expanding for 20 years, I now have 112 sq ft. for 11 hens. It's made MY life better in addition to theirs.

 

[McChooky]

I think adding height for chickens and not people just starts making it harder to clean. But if you can't swing a major expansion, every little bit does help. Simple because I've been expanding for 20 years, I now have 112 sq ft. for 11 hens. It's made MY life better in addition to theirs.

My poop boards got a 2 x4 laid flat on the edge and the its covered in linoleum.(for easy cleaning)My next coop will be a chicken tractor twice this size. I've already added a "loading dock" to the run *adding feed to get them to go in it) .I agree 100% with you about space!

 

[McChooky]

If I have multiple levels in my coop, do each of the levels add to the square footage of the coop? For example a 5' x 5' coop would have a square footage of 25 sq. ft., but if there were an interior platform (obviously comforably accessible to the chickens) inside running the length of one wall that was, say, 2' x 5', would the square footage of the coop then be 35 sq. ft. (25 sq. ft. on the floor and 10 sq. ft. on the second level) even though the actual footprint of the coop hasn't changed?

Yes