Building 4 x 8 coop need help setting up the inside - Please send pics

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
I keep the food in the coop year round and since it's starting to get down to freezing here at night the water will be moving in there too. I have eye hooks bolted into the rafters and hang the feeder/waterer from them to cut down on shavings getting in. Be sure to post pictures of yours when you get done. You never know when you'll inspire somones next project or quick retrofit.

 

[banks]

I have my roost on the left and the nest boxes on the right. The feeder was hanging to the right of the pop door. I now have a feeder built in the wall using the studs as the sides. I put the waterer outside in the run.

 

[harrisville chicken]

For what it's worth, I have pics of my 4x8 coop on my BYC page.

 

[harrisville chicken]

{oops, I duplicated an entry}

 

[gsim]

If possible build a bump-out for the nesting area/boxes, accessible from the outside, if terrain and site space permits. Make nest boxes lower than perches/roosts.

Use PVC guttering and end-caps to make two troughs wall-mounted. (saves floor-space and will not allow spillage of feed or water) One for water, one for feed, both 8" above floor. Put 2x4 and 4x4 steps for baby chicks to be removed later when they can reach it from floor level (8 to 10 weeks old). Make so cannot be tipped, but can be lifted at outside edge tipping inwards and then sliding back towards you to remove. Put two screws in two wall studs just abo e rear edges to prevent tipping. Put a 2x4 on edge in rear half of feeder . Fasten a flap of linoleum or vinyl siding above your wall-troughs. Put a 2x2 under that, just above troughs to where your flap will cover the rear half of the 4" depth of the troughs. (they can't perch on it that way and cannot poop in it either.) I love mine and would not want any other feeders or waterers. My floor stays dry. (I do put water outside too, but never food for fear of attracting birds or squirrels.)

 

[M To The Maxx]

Quote:
I keep my food and waterer for the chickens in the run.

 

[SpringChicken2010]

Thanks so much to EVERYONE! I really appreciate the help!!! I love this community and can't wait to get my chickies!!!!

 

[MIKE555444]

 

[KnitswithChickens]

Check out my BYC page, I have a pretty tiny coop, but there are pics of the interior that may give you some ideas.

 

[CityChook]

My coop is 6x8, so pretty similar in size to yours. I like to feed them inside because it's easier to control the rodent problems (no squirrels/mice eating all the food or scaring me when I walk in) and the electricity is inside to keep the water thawed. I have two windows: one the east (sunrise) and one on the south. Both open and are double paned. People door is on the west, pop door is on the north side and goes into a covered run. (I wish I had a window in my people door for a little western sunlight - coop is shaded by trees in the summer and it's a little dark inside). Vents are in the ridgecap/soffets (8 ft) and the eastern gables (2 at 10x10). Food is on the left, directly inside the people door. Photo is from last summer -- they use ceramic cereal bowls for food/water now. Nest box is inside (my eggs tend to freeze if I don't collect them quick enough, so the exterior box was not realistic), communal and uncovered. The shelf over the nestbox holds a small amt. of food, scratch, DE, grit. A switch to control the light fixture (that is over the roost) is on the inside left of the door, as well as the electricity outlet. The roost runs the 6 ft. length, which is about twice as much as they actually use, and it sits in front of the eastern window.

Hope this helps.