1st time chicken owner/coop and run builder

[RW1984]

Hi everyone, relatively new to BYC. For informational purposes I live in North Carolina (Fayetteville area) and have 40 chickens. 7 Roos roughly and the rest are ladies. Most were born in April.

So I’m just asking if anyone has some thoughts or ideas what I could do to improvethe birds home.
It’s cornered up to the woods so there’s shade for most of the day except two hours roughly. They mostly hang out inside or under their little lean to I made them when it’s hot. When it rains, they just hang out in the rain for some reason.
Anyways I’m open to ideas and thoughts on what I could do to make their area better.

they have a gravity feeder (30 gallon trash can)
They have a level based pump activated 5 gallon water barrel connected to a 30 gallon rain barrel
They have an automatic door to their coop which has 10 nesting boxes and some perches and is 10x10 sq ft shed
They have their perch ladder on the 4x4 above their little outside hut

the baby gate is for my four 6 week old jersey giants/australorps thatare being integrated

I do let the birds out on weekends and sometimes during the week in the evenings

 

[RW1984]

Here’s another photo

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

Welcome to BYC!!

I'll tag some people who might be able to give tips.
@aart @cluckmecoop7

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Hello, and welcome to BYC!

I love how you give your chickens so much space!

You have a great feeder and I love the perches, etc.

The only thing I'm seeing that I would try to change is the flat, dirt 'floor'. Is it possible to add some hay bales, piles of pine needles or leaves? Your girls would have a blast digging through that stuff.

I'd also love to see pictures of inside the coop!

 

[RW1984]

thank you! Yes I add some piles of grass clippings whenever I mow the yard/field for them to scratch through every couple weeks.
I’ll be happy to add some photos of inside the coop.
I’m hopefully going to make a window in there tomorrow, and add another perch. Depends on how things go. But I’ll certainly send what I have at the moment

 

[aart]

I’ll be happy to add some photos of inside the coop.

Would love to see the inside.
I see absolutely no ventilation in the coop?
Must get like an oven in there?

I live in North Carolina (Fayetteville area)

Here's show to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[RW1984]

Would love to see the inside.
I see absolutely no ventilation in the coop?
Must get like an oven in there?


I keep the door open for now until I get windows built. I made a door and wall inside three feet from the main door for food and bedding storage

 

[aart]

I keep the door open for now until I get windows built. I made a door and wall inside three feet from the main door for food and bedding storage

Sounds good.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

thank you! Yes I add some piles of grass clippings whenever I mow the yard/field for them to scratch through every couple weeks.
I’ll be happy to add some photos of inside the coop.
I’m hopefully going to make a window in there tomorrow, and add another perch. Depends on how things go. But I’ll certainly send what I have at the moment

I used to add grass clippings to my chickens run, but I soon found out that that can (and probably will) cause sour crop or impacted crop.

Pine needles and leaves are probably safer and more fun for your chickens.

 

[RW1984]

I used to add grass clippings to my chickens run, but I soon found out that that can (and probably will) cause sour crop or impacted crop.

Pine needles and leaves are probably safer and more fun for your chickens.

Sour crop? What does that mean?
I have tons of leaves and needles in the woods lol I could have the kids go collect some