Best ideas for low maintenance coop?

[Carson213]

I assume that many of you have kids, activities and travel. What are the essential chicken coop “hacks” to make chickens as low maintenance as possible? If you want to leave for a weekend or a week, what are the best coop modifications to make that seamless?

 

[Callender Girl]

I not only have too many birds, I have too many coops (though I believe there are worse vices!). My favorite coops have exterior nesting boxes which are easier to reach and way easier to clean, and I firmly believe in using poop boards under the roosts.

 

[3KillerBs]

I wouldn't leave for a week without someone coming at least every other day to check on the chickens.

For a weekend I'd want a hardened run so that the chickens can have free access in and out, two feeders in case something happened to one, and two waterers in case something happened to one.

Even then, I'd want someone to stop by and at least collect eggs and check for major disasters.

 

[Alaskan]

I wouldn't leave for a week without someone coming at least every other day to check on the chickens.

For a weekend I'd want a hardened run so that the chickens can have free access in and out, two feeders in case something happened to one, and two waterers in case something happened to one.

Even then, I'd want someone to stop by and at least collect eggs and check for major disasters.

X2. All of it

The problem with leaving eggs... is that egg build up, especially over several days, will often end up with an egg getting broken, egg getting smeared over the rest of the eggs and then, tada.... you have a coop full of hens that have now learned that eggs are yummy.

If you install roll out nest boxes where the eggs roll away, are completely out of the hens reach, AND can hold a week full of eggs.. that would solve that.

However... more than a weekend away and I would super stress... it just takes one stray dog barking at the coop, freaking out the hens so the waterer is busted.... and then they have no water....

If someone could just check every other or every third day... it would be easier to relax.

I have found asking neighbors (so no driving involved) and telling them that they may keep eggs, has always worked well.

 

[Purlsnponies]

I'm a newbie, but make it as big as possible and don't overload it (mine's 12x12 for 7 chickens).

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm a newbie, but make it as big as possible and don't overload it (mine's 12x12 for 7 chickens).

New but wise.

The more space per bird the easier the maintenance.

 

[NatJ]

I assume that many of you have kids, activities and travel. What are the essential chicken coop “hacks” to make chickens as low maintenance as possible? If you want to leave for a weekend or a week, what are the best coop modifications to make that seamless?

I would go for:
--big coop, few chickens
--secure run, so no need to open/close a pop door
(That means the run is dig-proof, and has sides made of sturdy wire mesh in an appropriate size. Chicken wire is not sturdy enough. The run also needs to be covered, either with wire mesh or a solid roof.)
--food & water, with multiple dispensers for each
--no poop boards, just let the poop drop into a deep layer of bedding, and the chickens can scratch it around
--no high-maintenance chickens. Any with health conditions that require daily care, or any that regularly bully or are victims, would get butchered or re-homed.

You can never be positive whether THIS night is when a dog or bear will come, a tree fall on the coop, lightening strike it, or something of the sort. So I would prefer to have them checked at least twice a day.

But if I had cameras I could check them myself remotely. I would arrange the cameras to show food & water containers, and enough space to see whether the chickens are acting normal. Then I would arrange with someone that I COULD call if there's a problem. (Of course, it would be important to watch the chickens on the cameras regularly before going away, to recognize what behavior is normal.)

 

[woodworm]

I think the main things are food, water, security and cleaning.

We have a water bar connected to a water butt. Other than an occassional clean and checking the nipples are working, etc there's nothing to do.

For food I made a feeder from a 5litre bucket, this holds enough food for our 10 hens for at least a week.

Automatic door on the coop is great regardless of whether your away or not. I've also added cameras to my coop and run so I can check on them when I'm not there.

Our hens need a fair amount of cleaning as some of them are sleeping in the nest boxes. As they are ex batt's and featherless (to varying degrees) I'm guessing they keep warmer huddled in together so I've left them to it for the moment. We haven't had them long so haven't been away from them but I'd guess you'd need someone to collect the eggs as well.

We are very lucky in that we have someone willing to come and stay at our home when we're away to look after the animals. A bottle of gin and a hot tub helps here

If you search for feeders and waterers on here there are a lot of great DIY designs.

 

[woodworm]

I not only have too many birds, I have too many coops ....

No such thing

 

[aart]

I assume that many of you have kids, activities and travel. What are the essential chicken coop “hacks” to make chickens as low maintenance as possible? If you want to leave for a weekend or a week, what are the best coop modifications to make that seamless?

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