A clarification please

[patandchickens]

You betcha, speckled sussex

(e.t.a. - uh, and just the legs visible of a golden campine, behind the roost. she's in there b/c of antisocial behavior elsewhere. She is the main SS roo's special little bare-backed love toy and follows him around everywhere <rolls eyes>)


Pat

 

[LynneP]

Clay another way to increase floor space is to build platforms. Design so the floor is staill available underneath. We have two in the coop, adding 8x2 and 9 x2, so 34 added in square footage. We also have a large platform 8 x 3 in the run so the birds can rest above the snow on cold days. They also appreciate a sunning spot in spring and fall. The pop door is on the same level so it works perfectly.

 

[ChanceRider]

A month or so ago I put dropping trays under the roost in our coop, and then put the nest boxes below the trays. There's even enough room for the girls to walk under the nests. It was simple to do the trays... just a couple of shelf brackets, a thin sheet of plywood, and 3 shallow under-the-bed type trays from WallyWorld. I use shavings and DE in them, adding more of each as needed, until I just dump the whole thing and start over.

Here's a pic of the trays... (the girls aren't laying yet, hence the empty nest boxes.... sigh).

 

[Clay In Iowa]

Fantastic!! By adding a droppings platform I'll save a ton of space. I'm currently planning a cop 10x16 for 30-40 birds. With roost space at 10"/bird 14" on center we're looking at a significant loss of space for traditional floor mounted roosts. A platform will save me about 40-50 square feet and placing the nesting boxes through the wall for outside access under the roosts saves me even more. About another 10 square feet.

A few small platforms by the windows I'm going to add and we'll have sunning spots and more space.....

Maybe I can get 50 Birds now

So far I've scored 3 free truck loads of lumber (from a farmer friend) and 18 free windows off all sizes, all brand new double pained argon filled. They weren't the correct size for a job a friend was working on so the general contractor said to throw them out and order new ones. Luckily his truck was between the windows and the dumpster. I just need to contact my roofing buddy for free shingles and I'm set.

 

[Chicken Salad]

Quote:
The chickens don't get into the trays?