Advice on coop

[SuperNerdSteve]

Hello!

I've frequented this website for a while ever since I got my two brown hens 3 months ago.

This forum is so great for advice from proper keepers, so I'd like to know if there's anything I can do to improve on my own coop?

My hens seem very happy and lay gigantic eggs! We have a large garden they roam around in every day, have a scratch, eat the bugs and take dirt baths! They absolutely love the little boxes of food I make for them every now and again as a treat (Basil plants seem to be their favourite!)

I would just like a second opinion from the people on this website about anything I could do better or improve on (All for the sake of my ladies of course!)

The floor is a spare kitchen work surface we used because I was afraid the concrete would harm their feet and the garden isn't suitable for the coop, the water hangs a little off the surface because I found it would get dirty quickly, I took down the perchs from the inside because they would never use them and always knock them down!

 

[jthornton]

Welcome to BYC!

You should put your location in your profile as weather makes a difference in the answer.

JT

 

[SuperNerdSteve]

Welcome to BYC!

You should put your location in your profile as weather makes a difference in the answer.

JT

Ah I see! I'm from the UK, West Midlands

 

[aart]

Where do they sleep?
Honestly, sorry, not much you can do to make a too small coop better.
It's really small.
Can elevate both feed and water about chicken chest high to help keep them from scratching bedding into them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since it's just 2 hens and you give them outside time this is probably adequate for them. Definitely don't add more!

Just curious, where do the hens sleep now? In the nest box? On the floor of the coop? They likely weren't using the roosts because they were too low and there probably wasn't enough space to maneuver around them. If you're fine with them not roosting then just leave things alone, but figured I should explain that.

 

[SuperNerdSteve]

Since it's just 2 hens and you give them outside time this is probably adequate for them. Definitely don't add more!

Just curious, where do the hens sleep now? In the nest box? On the floor of the coop? They likely weren't using the roosts because they were too low and there probably wasn't enough space to maneuver around them. If you're fine with them not roosting then just leave things alone, but figured I should explain that.

They tend to sleep on the floor bedding - They only go into the nesting box in the morning to take turns in laying an egg!

 

[SuperNerdSteve]

Hello again all!

After reading your kind responses, I have moved the coop onto the garden proper instead of the hard surface!

 

[Cryss]

Hello again all!

After reading your kind responses, I have moved the coop onto the garden proper instead of the hard surface!

Just wanted to say I love this picture . Makes me "homesick" for my husbands home, England. Such a typical English garden with brick houses in the background. -Must fly over soon for a visit with the mum n the dad.-
Thanks!

 

[SuperNerdSteve]

Just wanted to say I love this picture . Makes me "homesick" for my husbands home, England. Such a typical English garden with brick houses in the background. -Must fly over soon for a visit with the mum n the dad.-
Thanks!

Ah yes! Brick houses and grey skies - Definitely indicative of England!!

Does anyone know if the chickens need anything like straw on the grass in the bottom? Or is the grass and soil ok? I'd clean them out every day when they were on the hard surface - Would they still need daily maintenance on the grass?

Thanks again everyone

 

[rosemarythyme]

Does anyone know if the chickens need anything like straw on the grass in the bottom? Or is the grass and soil ok? I'd clean them out every day when they were on the hard surface - Would they still need daily maintenance on the grass?

They'll eventually kill off the grass, so at that point you'd need to add some form of litter to help manage waste. Not a fan of straw especially if it gets wet, as it's prone to mold. For a smaller set up like yours wood shavings are an option, otherwise wood chips or possibly sand.