- Feb 15, 2013
- 11
- 1
- 24
First, I LOVE THIS FORUM!!! Thank you all so much for sharing here!
I am just getting back into chickens, have not had them in 8 or 9 years since I had to leave my farm. I now have a couple acres and am getting a couple goats and have an order for 10 silkies, 5 seabrights and 5 mille fleur d'uccle chicks due April 1.
So, I am now constructing my coop. I have settled on a raised 4x8 box style, will enclose the bottom with hardware cloth and attach a run. My question is about the coop section. I love the idea of a poop shelf and using Sweet PDE and scooping it, but would you suggest installing 1 shelf/roost running across the entire 8 feet or 2 4 foot shelves, one at each end? Would the birds prefer having different areas to roost or would they all try to cram into the same one?
I know silkies are not big on roosting, but the ones I used to have did roost, and I am hoping these will also. The placement of my poop shelves will determine the placement of my doors, either two large doors on the 8 foot side or have each 4 foot end open. Also if I put them on either end, then I could have the nesting boxes under one shelf and the silkies could pile up under the other if they choose not to roost.
Thanks!!!!! I feel like a kid again
Stephanie in Hillsboro, MO
I am just getting back into chickens, have not had them in 8 or 9 years since I had to leave my farm. I now have a couple acres and am getting a couple goats and have an order for 10 silkies, 5 seabrights and 5 mille fleur d'uccle chicks due April 1.
So, I am now constructing my coop. I have settled on a raised 4x8 box style, will enclose the bottom with hardware cloth and attach a run. My question is about the coop section. I love the idea of a poop shelf and using Sweet PDE and scooping it, but would you suggest installing 1 shelf/roost running across the entire 8 feet or 2 4 foot shelves, one at each end? Would the birds prefer having different areas to roost or would they all try to cram into the same one?
I know silkies are not big on roosting, but the ones I used to have did roost, and I am hoping these will also. The placement of my poop shelves will determine the placement of my doors, either two large doors on the 8 foot side or have each 4 foot end open. Also if I put them on either end, then I could have the nesting boxes under one shelf and the silkies could pile up under the other if they choose not to roost.
Thanks!!!!! I feel like a kid again
Stephanie in Hillsboro, MO