Advice on making my coop more suitable?

[phate008]

Basically my coop consists of a 8'x10' she'd connected to a screened in section of run that is approx. 6'x8'. Inside the shed I have a simple and small chicken coop that I bought on Amazon. There is a window in the coop that stays open, and there are 2 sets of double doors. I leave the double doors leading to the run open at all times and I enter thru the other set of double doors so they stay closed. I have a fan constantly going in there and an air purifier that i turn on periodically. I have 3 girls and the issue is that they refuse to go into the small coop at night. They all fly onto the top of it and roost. Every night at dusk I go in there and they look uncomfortable and pushy crammed on the small section of angled roof. They lay eggs in the box and occasionally go in, but not at bed time. I feel bad because I assume it is probably hot in there. I want to do something better for them. Maybe just leave the small coop in there for egg laying and possibly build a roost or something above it for them to sleep on. I am going on vacation for a week in a few weeks and I would ideally like to get them a stable sleeping situation without me having to force them in a box every night. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks for any help.

 

[DobieLover]

Basically my coop consists of a 8'x10' she'd connected to a screened in section of run that is approx. 6'x8'. Inside the shed I have a simple and small chicken coop that I bought on Amazon. There is a window in the coop that stays open, and there are 2 sets of double doors. I leave the double doors leading to the run open at all times and I enter thru the other set of double doors so they stay closed. I have a fan constantly going in there and an air purifier that i turn on periodically. I have 3 girls and the issue is that they refuse to go into the small coop at night. They all fly onto the top of it and roost. Every night at dusk I go in there and they look uncomfortable and pushy crammed on the small section of angled roof. They lay eggs in the box and occasionally go in, but not at bed time. I feel bad because I assume it is probably hot in there. I want to do something better for them. Maybe just leave the small coop in there for egg laying and possibly build a roost or something above it for them to sleep on. I am going on vacation for a week in a few weeks and I would ideally like to get them a stable sleeping situation without me having to force them in a box every night. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks for any help.

Is there a roof over the run?
Is the shed predator proof? If not, can you make it so?
I would lose the tiny coop inside the shed and make the shed your coop. All you have to do is secure it, put a nest box in it and a pop door to the 6x8 run.

 

[limaro]

I think the coop inside the shed is unneccessary. The shed looks roomy. If the chickens like sleeping in the shed, just add some 2x4 roost bars for them. Then replace the coop with some simple nest boxes. I bet they'll like it!

 

[RobertaD1]

DEFINITELY get rid of the little coop, that just seems like overkill...... run to Walmart and get a couple of these.... SEE STOLEN PICTURE



set them where your current coop is. Yep, right on the floor. The first picture already looks like a roost is there, but if not... put up a 2x4 roost and put in a pop door. Your shed will make a great coop!

 

[RobertaD1]

I am assuming your shed has plenty of ventilation???

 

[LadyAchee]

I agree with others. Take out the small coop. They are roosting on top of it because it is the highest roosting spot. There are a lot of great roost and nesting box ideas on here.

 

[phate008]

Basically the run has wire covering it on all sides (top included). I also layed down the steel mesh on the dirt all the way around to prevent anything from digging in. The shed has 2 small vent windows on the top. One 2'x2' window on the back wall, and then the double doors which stay open. I keep a fan running in there just for better circulation and a little comfort on hot nights. I built the coop under 2 large trees so for most of the day it doesn't get beat by the sun and too hot.

I like that storage container nest box idea. Seems pretty simple yet effective. I did make them a roosting spot with multiple levels that can be seen on the left side of the inside picture, but I want to make them a better one that sits atop the nest boxes. For a roosting bar what is the best design? I want to make them something that they won't fall off of in the middle of the night.

 

[LadyAchee]

Here are some helpful articles
Ventilation
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/
Roosting bars
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-perch-experiment.74272/
Nesting boxes
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/show-us-your-nest-boxes-ingenous-design-post-it-here.41108/
Just remember that we overthink their nesting boxes and roosting bars as chickens are very easy to please!

 

[RobertaD1]

In the picture in my last post, they had 2, 2x4's that sat across the top of the totes... I think that would work for a bottom level, but I would raise one about 18" above that one.

 

[phate008]

Thanks. I read through the link provided about the roosting tests that were done, but couldn't really determine the results. I am thinking of putting 2, 2x4's at 2 different heights. 18" difference sounds good. Ideally chickens like them with the wide side up so they have a nice large flat roosting spot? Or thin side up?