Coop and run modifications

[bhawk-23]

***Bumping up with new picture and ideas***


Hello!
It's been a year with our chickens and our coop. That means a year of a lot of learning and deciding what we like and what we want to change. Poor hubs! Lol

I've decided I love hatching chicks under a broody! Therefore, I need to add a "nursery" to our run. I want to have it inside the run because a lot of time, planning and materials went into making it as predator proof as possible. My plan it to make the "coop/nest" area 20" W x 67" L x 30" H with an attached run (hardware cloth) 20" W x 70" L x 24" H extending the length under the coop. I hope to never have more than 2 broody hens at once with 1 being ideal. I would have an opening to the "coop" area which and an opening at the end of the run also. And a hinged top. Would this size/design work? I want it to be fairly open, but blocked access with hardware cloth, to the rest of the coop because I free range and having mama integrate works perfect (so far!) for us. The first picture is where I want to place it. I will remove the roost above it.

The changes to the actual coop are opening it up to the run. Our hens have not roosted inside it since last July. It's only wasted space at this point. Even though we designed it with the proper ventilation per sq ft (following the suggestions from BYC) I believe it is not enough. I want to completely open the side inside the coop. It would essentially become a 3 sided coop. The 2nd picture is the wall we will remove. We will remove the current roosts inside and replace with natural wood ones hanging from the ceiling. We also have one side that has french doors and a drop down door for clean outs so that can be opened up with hardware cloth if needed. See 3rd and 4th pictures.

During the coldest part of winter I put up thick insulation on the west and south corners. That really took the chill off!

When the girls are not free ranging the whole yard, which maybe 10% of the time so far, we have a roughly 250 sq ft fenced in area that has natural cover, compost pile, dust bath and obviously access into the coop/run. They actually hang out in there even when the have access to the whole yard!

I'll attach some pics but let me know if more are needed.

And I would absolutely love any suggestions to help improve! I'm sure by next year there will be even more

Thanks!

 

[Sally PB]

Can you get some pictures of the whole run now, the way it is, and indicate where you want to put the nursery? Then maybe it would be easier to "see" what you're thinking of doing.

 

[bhawk-23]

Can you get some pictures of the whole run now, the way it is, and indicate where you want to put the nursery? Then maybe it would be easier to "see" what you're thinking of doing.

Ok, no judgement! Lol We have been laying a patio and I've been neglecting pretty much everything else except making sure broodies and chicks are good.

First pic is our old broody pen. But ALL the hens have chosen it to lay in so I've had to modify. The box was added yesterday with the nest and eggs being sat on in hopes to move her to a new location where she will have more privacy using the familiar nest box because moving eggs did NOT go well! Lol
Second pic is where mama hen and chicks are for the night. It's enclosed for the safety of the chicks. Otherwise they are free ranging all day with the others. This is where I would build the "nursery nesting" coop.

Third and fourth pics are under the coop where the nursery run would extend from the nursery coop which would end where the crate now ends. The run would extend to the outside run with an access door.

I've also attached a video which was taken from the door into the run. The wall with the ramp will be removed except for a lip to hold in bedding.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think your idea sounds pretty doable, and if you already experimented with insulating part of the run and that worked well, then an open air coop/run combo should work fine here.

Only concern with the nursery run idea is, how much clearance is there under the coop for you to be able to access the space? Can you get in there and reach every corner if needed, if a chick is sick or injured?

 

[bhawk-23]

I think your idea sounds pretty doable, and if you already experimented with insulating part of the run and that worked well, then an open air coop/run combo should work fine here.

Only concern with the nursery run idea is, how much clearance is there under the coop for you to be able to access the space? Can you get in there and reach every corner if needed, if a chick is sick or injured?

Yes, we can access it. Not really my favorite place to go but hubs, myself and our son have all done it already for one reason or another. We could probably put a third access for easier/shorter reaching.

The NW corner of structure is protected by huge oak tree, 6' private fence and the 3 sides of the coop so complete coverage from elements. The west side is 1/3 coop and 2/3 hardware cloth and about 3.5' from privacy fence. I place the 3" thick insulation board over the hardware cloth.

The south facing is open hardware cloth and was also covered by the insulation board also. The east facing open hardware cloth was covered with plastic. I did not like that last year, I think it held in too much moisture sice they all roost up against it. All added insulation/plastic had 6" open ventilation at the top. I will rethink what, if anything, will go there this winter.

Such a work in progress! Lol

 

[3KillerBs]

It sounds to me like you're doing very well working out what system works for you in your specific circumstances.

Only concern with the nursery run idea is, how much clearance is there under the coop for you to be able to access the space? Can you get in there and reach every corner if needed, if a chick is sick or injured?

This was what I was thinking.

Will you be wanting to candle the broodies' eggs or otherwise actively manage the situation?

Making sure you have reasonable access is the only suggestion I have for you.

 

[bhawk-23]

It sounds to me like you're doing very well working out what system works for you in your specific circumstances.



This was what I was thinking.

Will you be wanting to candle the broodies' eggs or otherwise actively manage the situation?

Making sure you have reasonable access is the only suggestion I have for you.

I'm trying, but sometimes I feel like I'm failing. Then I sit back and watch them enjoying their dust baths, scratch for bugs, sunbathing and follow me around and know they are at least happy hens. Hahaha

The actual nest/coop will be completely accessible. My plan is a lift top plus two pop doors . One for the hens to come into the larger coop while setting and another door to access the run when ready.
Only the "run" part is going to be under the coop.

Once the side panel to the large coop is removed the ladder, which is blocking the full view of my nursery, will not be needed. I will add some fun steps and roosts to get up into the coop.

 

[bhawk-23]

Ok, I removed the roosts for a clean slate. I know we are having ventilation issues. All of our vents are up high along the wall just below the ceiling. I know hubs did the math and did the sq ft ventilation to sq ft of coop but it is clearly not working. On hot days now, I have a box fan, open the doors and will also take the back off the nesting boxes if more is needed. I also put up the solar shades to help keep the sun exposure to a minimum in the early morning sun which has actually worked out well.

Currently, I was thinking to take off the wall with the pop door to make it completely open to the run. My thought is that it would be good for ventilation but hubs is worried that a complete removal will limit options in the future. How I see it? It's wasted space and I want to change that! The only way is going to make it more accessible and open.

If we remove the side, then I wanted to hang some roosts from the ceiling to keep the whole floor open. This is to be able to enclose a corner or set in a dog crate if we need an emergency brooder or pen area.

As for the actual brooder/nursery pens I have decided to just use dog crates wrapped in hardware cloth for the tiniest chicks that can slip through sides or plywood to make it 2 or 3 sided with a roof. We have 6 wire crates from all the different sized dogs we've had or will have so I never get rid of a good solid dog crate. lol Plus, they can be easily set up and removed while we work on reconfigurations.

My girls very obviously love the open air and I will add the insulate again in the winter to give more protection to the hardware cloth run walls.

Please please offer any and all ideas!! What would you do with this space? What potential issues can you see with my plans? Are dog crates ok to use for now while deciding all this?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xVHw4ZHXvjVELgY6A

 

[aart]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xVHw4ZHXvjVELgY6A

Sorry, don't want to log onto google to view pics.

 

[bhawk-23]

@aart
No worries, I wouldn't either! I was unaware you would have to. Sorry.