Chicken Coop "Must Haves"

[Celizwalsh]

I recently purchased a nice prebuilt coop this winter for spring chicks. I started looking around the forum and after seeing everyone's amazing designs and inventions it got me thinking about modifying some things. There are alot of neat ideas like automatic doors and sand boxes under the roosts that I never even gave a thought to. So I would love to hear about or see pictures of your chicken coop "must haves" for keeping you and your chickens happy!

 

[dfgkfghggfasd]

I try to put a lot of effort into minimizing the "chores" of taking care of chickens.
Not that I don't like hanging with the chicks but it can be good to limit non-fun parts.

Some things I've Learned:

Port Feeder:

I built this feeder from a trash can and some parts from amazon.
Holds roughly a whole bag of feed. You can even put it on bigger items like barrels as demonstrated here (not my photo):

Here is a video of the concept in use:
(not my video)

Embedded media from this media site is no longer available

It is very low-waste and easy to use and refill.

Nipple Waterer:

(Not My Photo)
Related Post: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nipple-system-watering-reviews.1302777/

These are also low waste and work by the chickens pecking on these artificial "nipples" to get water. Mine are currently being fixed but they lasted a long time so I can't bring that against them. There are various kits online (example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q3KK3JE/?tag=backy-20)

My favorite part is knowing my chicks will have a long time before I need to clean and refill their waterer. Little worries. You can hook it up to as big of a water supply as you want, some designs even have it connect to water hose to automatically refill.

Open Door Coup
This one is very basic if your coup is but so that there is no wall or barrier on one side you can easily sweep stuff out. My current coup utilizes this method.
You can also find various coups with the door swinging up.
Example:

(not my photo)

If you need any specific needs like for cooling or warmth or strong winds please say so as there are even longer lists of "must haves" for these purposes.
(examples: fans, misters, frozen soda bottles, water heaters, e.c.t)

 

[Irishhenman]

For me either a slide out false bottom or a wire floor underneath the roosts is a must have, to make cleaning easier. Other than the absolute essentials like roosts, ventilation and nest boxes that is the only thing that I put in all of my coops.

 

[hallerlake]

Ventilation is a must have. my premade coop had half a dozen holes in the front. I used a 7/8 drill bit to add a double row at the top in the front and back. I used corks to close three of the holes it came with because they were too low. The ventilation should be high enough that there aren't any drafts on the birds themselves.

The colder it is, the more ventilation they need. Dampness leads to frostbite. On the rare occasion it gets really cold here. I prop the roof up a little by inserting a thin stick.

 

[gander007]

I really go with the wire under the roosting area as it is not cold enough
for a false bottom here where I live with it being in the low 50's this
morning ya freezing but ventilation up high a supper must with the high
winds we do get all the time but safety for the animals a surer must as
predators like bobcats, fox and the stray house cats will devastate a
flock in a hurry ... But nesting box's roosting areas in the coop and
safe secure coop can't do with out at all ......

gander007

 

[hallerlake]

For me either a slide out false bottom or a wire floor underneath the roosts is a must have, other than the absolute essentials like roosts, ventilation and nest boxes that is the only thing that I put in all of my coops.

The easier it is to clean, the more likely you are to do it. I put my prebuilt coop up on cement blocks so I could put a bin under the clean out door, so I can just rake the litter into it. This is my coop. I added a nest box for extra space. I find young birds like to sleep in the nest box rather than on the roosts.

 

[hallerlake]

For me either a slide out false bottom or a wire floor underneath the roosts is a must have, other than the absolute essentials like roosts, ventilation and nest boxes that is the only thing that I put in all of my coops.

Sorry for the double post.

 

[jetdog]

My must have is my auto door saves me the hassle of getting up early to let them out and having to go out at night when it's cold.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Nest boxes
In my nest boxes I fold a feed bag to fit (nest boxes are 1 ft³). When a bag gets soiled; fold a new one; pop out the soiled; pop in the new.

POOP BOARDS are the "BEST" addition yet. Handles well over ½ of the poop in my set up keeps ammonia smell in check 3½" below roost excellent for catching eggs laid through the night (roost are in cups for easier removal and cleaning). I recently friction fit a piece of vinyl flooring over my poop board.it makes clean up even easier; Pop out; Scrap; Hose; Pop in.

Winter months even easier flex over compost bin DONE!

Easy peasy!.

 

[hallerlake]

My must have is my auto door saves me the hassle of getting up early to let them out and having to go out at night when it's cold.

I have chickens who prefer to sleep on top of the coop, so i have to put them inside at night, but an automatic door to let them out in the morning would be nice