Calling all Coop experts!!

[Buugette]

Quote:
I'm assuming this is what you're talking about:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/bonbonjm/Chickens/chickencoop2006.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/bonbonjm/Chickens/chickencoop2009.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/bonbonjm/Chickens/chickencoop2010.jpg

Another coop built by hubby for someone else. I'm still bitter about it.

Oh my... I have the same vynal flooring in my coop as the first picture...

 

[bonnylass79]

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Isn't it great? It's in the nest boxes too. Makes cleaning so much easier. Hubby found it by the individual square with self adhesive back. It's so easy to put in.

 

[CityChook]

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Remember, even with those clever doors (which I think are a great idea), you will need to lock them for predator protection. That might make it difficult for children to check for eggs by themselves. My 5 y/o can unlock the coop door by herself -- I use luggage locks on the hasps -- but I don't know if she could have done it at age 3. JMO.

I don't know how cold it gets in Iowa... 40 degrees in the winter time might not be realistic. But no fear -- my coop averaged around 10 degrees all last winter and my hens did just fine. Choose winter hardy breeds (small comb) and make sure the coop is draft free and well ventilated.

Most of all, have fun. What a gift for your children.

 

[Qi Chicken]

thanks everyone!!! Bonnylass your chickens have awesome red combs! And that is a great setup. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get photos to the builder in time and when I got home from work the nest boxes were mounted (outside). Hopefully they will be airtight etc. as he is used to building people houses. It really is awesome so far. I can't wait to post pictures. To do list: BUY CAMERA! I've finally given up on ours. Have to have a good one before the chicks come! Good point about the lock. I read somewhere that a racoon can do whatever a 5 year old can, we may have some issues. Neither of them will be able to get the eggs.

 

[patandchickens]

IMHO the 'bump-out' style exterior nestboxes are pointless and undesirable for large coops. Pointless b/c boxes hung on the wall a couple feet above the floor of the coop (which is what you do in a large coop) are not taking away any usable space from the chickens ANYhow; and undesirable because they are a weak point for predators and weather to enter, and will cause ongoing headaches (plus being much more of a pain in the butt to build in the first place).

Bump-out style exterior boxes DO make good sense for a very tiny and/or short coop, where nestboxes could not be placed high enough to give walking-around room beneath them.

If you have a large coop (like big enough for you to walk into), and want to be able to collect eggs sometimes from outside the coop, whatcha want isn't exterior nestboxes, it's an exterior nestbox DOOR. Build your nestboxes indoors on the walls like normal, but add an access hatch thru the wall so you can open it and reach in and get the eggs. There are still some weatherstripping and predatorproofing issues, but nowhere near as bad as if the whole nestbox is cantilevered outside the coop, it's no more complication than (say) a popdoor. And all the convenience you were looking for

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[gsim]

You can go both ways, but if coop big enough to enter, then I would just do internal boxes. Mine are 12x12 but I only have experience with 4 breeds, and only 5 months of that. I like idea of going in to check coop at same time I am getting eggs. I can top off feed, check for broken eggs or those maybe laid on floor somewhere in litter. Just a thought. I like bump-outs for small coops where every inch of space counts.

 

[rileysgranny]

We put the nestboxes inside our small coop, but put the hinged doors, flush mounted with the back of the coop so that we could reach in and get the eggs. We did put the boxes inside our large coop, but it is big enough for us to walk into, whereas the smaller one is not. My grandchildren get a kick out of collecting the eggs from the small coop. They are not thrilled about walking into the large coop because "the chickens might get us" and there is poop in there!

We lock the doors with carabiners like this.

In fact, this is what we use for locks on the doors to the coops and the doors to the pens. It works great and everyone that needs to get in can get in without having to carry a key.

 

[Chickenfarmer 1-2-b]

I am in the process of building a "bump out" nest box due to limited space inside the coop. My question is should I make one big box with a width of 30 inches (height is 16 inch, ?? deep - have not cut it yet) or divide it into 2 boxes of 15 inches each? I am a newbie and dont have any chickens yet. Thinking of raising 5 hens. Appreciate any comments.

 

[rileysgranny]

We have a nesting box divided into 6 openings. All 7 of my layers lay in one box most of the time, even though it is only about 12 x 14. Sometimes they will lay in 2. I figure that box #1 is occupied so they move to box #2. I've seen 3 girls try to get into one box at the same time! Silly girls!

 

[chookchick]

Chickenfarmer--I have one big nestbox and that works well for me--I read of too many people that had built several boxes or dividers, and still had their hens lay in only one box, and fight over it. They still fight over one corner, it is ridiculous.....

My nest box is kind of cross between inside and outside--half of it hangs outside the coop, and there is a door about 8" high and 30" long that lifts to check it. I LOVE it! It is so easy to check for eggs. My son checks it every day on the way home from school also (or he did when my hens were still laying...). If you have kids looking for eggs, this is definitely the way to go. No worry about chickens running out, forgetting to latch the coop, poo on your shoe, etc..I do keep it locked with a latch and caribeaner, and re-check it at night when others are looking for eggs.