Better use of space ideas

[Harmoni]

Coop is 5x7. We are thinking of putting an addition on with a bump out for the nest boxes on the wall where the boxes are currently. I feel like we have a lot of unused space as it is. Any ideas?

 

[Sally PB]

Can you post some pictures from the outside too?

 

[Harmoni]

Can you post some pictures from the outside too?

This is the side where the nest boxes currently are. We could easily build a box under the window and move the nest boxes out there, but I'm not sure it will give us more roost room.

 

[mowin]

How many birds do you have? You might not need both roosts. Plus it looks like the one roost is higher than the other. If so, The birds will most likely choose that one over the lower one.

You could continue the right side roost along the back wall. In a "L" shape and remove the left side. I'd relocate the fan if you do.
You could then relocate the nest boxes under the right side poop board, and that would leave the left side completely open.

 

[Windrider]

I agree with @mowin

Making the best use of a small space is something I give a great deal of thought to, since I live on a small property and my little coop for bantams has to be efficient. I make use of hopper style feeders and wall mounted waterers, since the round ones take up so much floor space.

Personally, I like to have uncluttered space in the coop to make cleaning easy. I don't know how you navigate those ramps to clean your poop boards! Simplify the ramps. Unless you have silkies, your chickens should be able to hop up to the nest "landing board" without a ramp.

Looks like you have something around 14 linear feet of roost space already, but you said you want more. What you have already should be plenty for the amount of birds appropriate for a 5x7 coop, unless you have some that really don't get along.

An L shape roosting area, like mowin said, would give you easy access to clean. @DobieLover originally had roosts like that, though it was later modified to a U shape for a larger flock. All on the same level to minimize squabbling for the highest spot. I hope she doesn't mind me reposting her pics:

L-shape:

U shaped with addition:

 

[Harmoni]

How many birds do you have? You might not need both roosts. Plus it looks like the one roost is higher than the other. If so, The birds will most likely choose that one over the lower one.

You could continue the right side roost along the back wall. In a "L" shape and remove the left side. I'd relocate the fan if you do.
You could then relocate the nest boxes under the right side poop board, and that would leave the left side completely open.

The nest boxes are already under the right side roost bar. I currently have 10 birds in there. My heavier birds (rir and bcm mix) choose the lower bar, along with one EE who has decided my roo is her bf .
I have 7 eggs in an incubator with 4 definitely growing well. I will be adding a second smaller coop with just over 14sqft plus a bump out for nest boxes.
Our secure run could technically be used as coop space if I add a roost bar but I doubt anyone would choose to roost there.

 

[Harmoni]

I agree with @mowin

Making the best use of a small space is something I give a great deal of thought to, since I live on a small property and my little coop for bantams has to be efficient. I make use of hopper style feeders and wall mounted waterers, since the round ones take up so much floor space.

Personally, I like to have uncluttered space in the coop to make cleaning easy. I don't know how you navigate those ramps to clean your poop boards! Simplify the ramps. Unless you have silkies, your chickens should be able to hop up to the nest "landing board" without a ramp.

Looks like you have something around 14 linear feet of roost space already, but you said you want more. What you have already should be plenty for the amount of birds appropriate for a 5x7 coop, unless you have some that really don't get along.

An L shape roosting area, like mowin said, would give you easy access to clean. @DobieLover originally had roosts like that, though it was later modified to a U shape for a larger flock. All on the same level to minimize squabbling for the highest spot. I hope she doesn't mind me reposting her pics:

L-shape:
View attachment 2974418

U shaped with addition:
View attachment 2974419

2 of the 3 ramps fold up lol. But yeah the ramps are excessive. My husband insisted they needed them
I was thinking a L or U shape layout, but I'm not sure where I would relocate the exhaust fan too

 

[perkolator]

I don't feel adding protruding nest boxes is going to gain you very much space. If it was mine, I'd probably simplify the roosts/poop boards into the L or U shape. Then add the nest boxes underneath the right side like you indicated - but instead of building outward, I'd just leave them underneath the poop board and make an access door on the exterior to get the eggs - that way you won't need to deal with fabricating a protruding structure that needs to be weatherproofed.

 

[Windrider]

I was thinking a L or U shape layout, but I'm not sure where I would relocate the exhaust fan too

Yeah, with that roof line, you don't really have options if you want a U shaped roost. Except putting it on the door.

I see you are in Florida. Have you ever thought of converting it to an open air coop? Then you wouldn't need a fan at all. If your run is truly predator proof, you could just knock out that whole wall and make it open to the run. That's what I have: no real coop, just a sheltered area at one end of a covered run.

Here's someone who did it better (and bigger) than I did, but the idea is the same no matter the size:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/jens-hens-a-southern-texas-coop.75707/

 

[Harmoni]

Yeah, with that roof line, you don't really have options if you want a U shaped roost. Except putting it on the door.

I see you are in Florida. Have you ever thought of converting it to an open air coop? Then you wouldn't need a fan at all. If your run is truly predator proof, you could just knock out that whole wall and make it open to the run. That's what I have: no real coop, just a sheltered area at one end of a covered run.

Here's someone who did it better (and bigger) than I did, but the idea is the same no matter the size:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/jens-hens-a-southern-texas-coop.75707/

The run is on the left side. I can only knock out half that wall because the coop attaches to our kids' playhouse. So I could cut open 2ish or so feet of it. I also want to add more ventilation on the window side. I think if we took the fan out, I could do a U shaped roost bar and keep the ramp to the nest boxes.