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Your chickens do look happy and healthy. Since you've asked for suggestions, I'd probably make covered nestboxes (you'll need 2 for 7-8 hens), so that they don't poop in the boxes. I've seen people use open ones, but it's nice to be able to pick up fresh, clean eggs everyday instead of poopy ones. If you don't want to make them, you can always buy used cat litterboxes (the covered ones). I bought two at garage sales and our chickens like them as much as the wooden ones we made (you can also check craigslist). There's also lots of other nestbox ideas on BYC - milk crates, 5 gallon buckets on their sides, etc.
That's a great idea! I had noticed that the nest box gets really dirty & I wasn't sure if they were doing that while IN the box, or it was coming from when they are roosting. I like the cat litter box idea!
I am also trying to see if I can't put the feeder and waterer outside, hanging under the coop (even tho there's only slightly more space there than the height of the feeders); I think then they would stay outside more.
When I went out to feed them this morning, I was looking at the sides to see how I could put in some window space; I'm sure it can be done, but the tin roof doesn't extend far out on the edges so I'm concerned about rain getting in. I guess I could just nail up a slanted piece of tin/wood/something above the new windows?
Any ideas about how I can put some kind of tray or shelf under the roost bar? Again, the problem is having something running the full length of the roost bar would be very difficult to get out the front door....
