Adding a place to roost

[Mark]

I'm looking into remodeling our chicken-tractor It is 8' x 8' x 2'. It has a nesting area in one corner (2' x 2' x 1'). The nesting area is 1 foot off the ground. It has a side door for our chicken which we can close from the outside, and a door on top for us to remove eggs. We built it last October and 1 hen has called it home.

It seemed to do fine though the winter, but I'm worried about the 'nesting box' when our 100 degree days start rolling around. Also,we have 3 new chicks, the summer is coming and we have had 7 months of life with a chicken, so I'm trying to decide what to do.

First, I'd like to differentiate between roost and nest. When I built this, I thought egg laying and sleeping took place in the same place. We were worried about predators from snakes to mountain lions (and our dogs), so I created a secure plywood box with a door for us and a door for the chicken. The outside chickenwire was just supposed to keep our dogs out during the day.

Now, I am beginning to understand that chickens roost at night in one spot and lay eggs in a nest somewhere else. So, here is my problem. How should I add a roost to this thing?

My first idea is to build a chicken high rise on the 2' x 2' space just to the right of the 'chicken box'. The high-rise would be a 2x2x3 add-on providing 5' high roost.

DW thinks we should scrap the tractor and build an entirely new permanent structure. She points out that we open the tractor every morning so the chicken can roam all day. Thus the 'tractor' function is moot.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Mark

 

[BeckyLa]

Well, I totally agree with your dw.

It only makes sense to build a nice big permanent structure since you are into the addiction (evidenced by the new birds). Meanwhile, till then you could put a concrete block, 4x4 piece of wood, whatever would get them off the ground in there to roost on. It only needs to be inches off the ground. You could nail a long piece of 2x4 onto a couple of pieces of 2x4 raising it just a little off the ground. It would work for the short term while you are building your new coop.

btw-very nice tractor! I wish my dh would use paint when building things.......

 

[allen wranch]

I agree. Build a new coop.

 

[Judymae]

I'd build a new coop too! We are in the north Tx area also--remember to put in plenty of ventilation! We get more heat problems than cold problems. Today we are getting wet probs! Finally!!! Anyways we are building a new coop and I'm making the dh put in lots of ventilation covered by wire. Lets in air keeps out critters. While we are getting all this rain I'm out standing on the deck looking for the highest area to put the coop. You can tell by where all the water is standing.