Coop and run help please

[richjan]

inside the coop. I'm cleaning this out everyday of poop. My 3 girls don't even sit on the perches! Why? They are big girls. Buff orpington rhode island red and white sussex pure breeds. They are about 18m old. They preger to huddle up together. They are now only laying eggs in 1 of the boxes?
Their coop is inside this run we built so we can lock up securely. Their food and water are inside the run in the bought coop set up.
In the run I just rake over the poop and dirt. Is this OK to do this?
We in kent UK so it's been really muddy lately. Do you Bath your chickens? Their backsides seem mucky. Although I have trouble catching them.
Thank you. Jan

 

[21hens-incharge]

The boards above the shavings are the roosts?

if so I think they are to low. You may need to get creative in how to raise them.

if it were me I would see if there was a way to put them going across the other way a nd not just in front of the nest boxes.

them all using one box is certainly not unusual. I have over 20 birds in my main coop and only see eggs in 3 or 4 of the nest boxes.

As to getting their bums cleaned up.....can you get some dusting box things like fine sand peat moss, wood ash (no bbq ash as there are chemicals) and or dry top soil? If so I would make them a 2' x 2' box 10" or deeper to dust bathe in. You would need to put a roof over it to keep it dry. If their bottoms are super dirty you may need to give them a soak in plain water on a really warm nice day.

 

[jthornton]

Add your location to your profile so it's always there. Chickens want to roost on the highest thing they can find. Read about Stack Up.

JT

 

[richjan]

The boards above the shavings are the roosts?

if so I think they are to low. You may need to get creative in how to raise them.

if it were me I would see if there was a way to put them going across the other way a nd not just in front of the nest boxes.

them all using one box is certainly not unusual. I have over 20 birds in my main coop and only see eggs in 3 or 4 of the nest boxes.

As to getting their bums cleaned up.....can you get some dusting box things like fine sand peat moss, wood ash (no bbq ash as there are chemicals) and or dry top soil? If so I would make them a 2' x 2' box 10" or deeper to dust bathe in. You would need to put a roof over it to keep it dry. If their bottoms are super dirty you may need to give them a soak in plain water on a really warm nice day.

 

[richjan]

Hi thank you. Yes I thought they need to be higher. I bought this as a chicken coop from amazon! Trouble is they will probably be too near roof. If I put them the other way round and higher up they cant get out of door. I worry that they are sleeping in poop so constantly cleaning. Think we have to build something better. I've just bought baby bath for dusting lol I did have something else but they won't go near it. They've had run in garden today thank you for replyang x

 

[jthornton]

Hi thank you. Yes I thought they need to be higher. I bought this as a chicken coop from amazon! Trouble is they will probably be too near roof. If I put them the other way round and higher up they cant get out of door. I worry that they are sleeping in poop so constantly cleaning. Think we have to build something better. I've just bought baby bath for dusting lol I did have something else but they won't go near it. They've had run in garden today thank you for replyang x

Raise them up a few inches and see if they use them. Sometimes it only takes a little bit to be in the chickens mind a safer place to roost than the floor. You could put a couple of 2x6's across the bedding and fasten a roost to it in the middle. A photo more level and showing the back wall along with the now roost will help.

JT

 

[21hens-incharge]

You do have a very nicely sized run for them.

Looking at your pictures gives me an idea.......

Perhaps enclosing the run that came as part of your coop can be a simple solution.
It would turn your entire premade coop/run into the coop. You could then relocate nests into what is now the small run and incorporate raising the roots a couple inches. Then no walking through poo to lay eggs and no sitting in poo at night.

I am certain there are more solutions but this makes sense to me.

If you pull out the tray (assuming it has a tray under the roosts) will it be open to the ground below? If so then modifying it so the tray is lower may work too. It would take just a couple short 2x2" pieces screwed in a few inches lower to support the tray. Then some small boards to close any gap around/ above the new location of the tray.

 

[richjan]

Raise them up a few inches and see if they use them. Sometimes it only takes a little bit to be in the chickens mind a safer place to roost than the floor. You could put a couple of 2x6's across the bedding and fasten a roost to it in the middle. A photo more level and showing the back wall along with the now roost will help.

JT

Ah thank you x added pic

 

[jthornton]

Take that middle one and put a couple of cleats on the wall and place it on top of the cleats about 6" above the bedding and see what they do. If you make the cleat with a U shaped cutout you can leave the roost loose for easy cleaning you can take it out.

JT

 

[richjan]

You do have a very nicely sized run for them.

Looking at your pictures gives me an idea.......

Perhaps enclosing the run that came as part of your coop can be a simple solution.
It would turn your entire premade coop/run into the coop. You could then relocate nests into what is now the small run and incorporate raising the roots a couple inches. Then no walking through poo to lay eggs and no sitting in poo at night.

I am certain there are more solutions but this makes sense to me.

If you pull out the tray (assuming it has a tray under the roosts) will it be open to the ground below? If so then modifying it so the tray is lower may work too. It would take just a couple short 2x2" pieces screwed in a few inches lower to support the tray. Then some small boards to close any gap around/ above the new location of the tray.

Brilliant idea! The tray had a base under it. I could lower this right down. It would have to be enclosed though? With wood. They do like to go under this though but I can set something else up for that. It will take a bit of thinking out but like the idea of making this the coop.
What do you think of the run situation. I'm taking poo in with dirt. Do you think this is OK to do?
Thank you so much