Coop-building guidance...

[UrbanMama]

Thank you, Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,!!!! For all of the warm welcomes and for all of the wonderful advice!I wishI were more computer savy and able to post the design I'm working on...maybe something I can bug my hubby to do

LOL

Here are my thought so far..... 8x10, garden shed style with barn doors on the front for easy cleaning. Window(s) on the right, pop door on left ( definitely at least 12 inches off the floor to keep litter in...thanks for that tip!

Nesting/roosting areato the back with access from outside.

Now the floor...still wavering between dirt floor with hardware cloth (and deep litter method) or wood with vinyl.

I think I'm going to go with 6 nest boxes, (just in case I catch the BYC bug and end up with more....

) .....and would you all recommend roosts above the nest boxes

I'm going to try the metal roof w/ wood (and hopefully insulation).

I'm also going to cancel our hatchery order and try to find some fertile eggs to hatch ourselves....just can't pass up the educational opportunity!

(We're homeschoolers

)

Thanks again....and keep the wisdom coming....it's so very appreciated!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Sounds fine to me!

Make sure you put in a bunch more ventilation openings (actual big rectangular openings, not little holes, and screened w/hardwarecloth and coverable with hinged or sliding flaps) in addition to the window.

I think I'm going to go with 6 nest boxes, (just in case I catch the BYC bug and end up with more....

) .....and would you all recommend roosts above the nest boxes

It is real easy to add more nest boxes, you know -- it is probably perfectly fine to save the extra labor for later if you want

I love roosts above my nestboxes, because my nestbox roof (which sticks out well past the opening of the nestbox) doubles as a droppings board. THis allows me to clean it off every morning, removing nearly 50% of the daily poo from the coop in about twenty seconds. If you are NOT going to have it set up as a droppings board, though, I would not recommend roost over nestboxes b/c you will end up with poo problems.

Have fun!

Pat​

 

[UrbanMama]

I love roosts above my nestboxes, because my nestbox roof (which sticks out well past the opening of the nestbox) doubles as a droppings board. THis allows me to clean it off every morning, removing nearly 50% of the daily poo from the coop in about twenty seconds. If you are NOT going to have it set up as a droppings board, though, I would not recommend roost over nestboxes b/c you will end up with poo problems.

That's exactly what I was thinking! I don't want to end up with poo all over the place (while researching on-line, I've seen some pretty gross looking coops...you'd think they'd clean the coop before taking a pic!)

I figured the roost over the next boxes would be easier to clean up and a better way to utilize the space.... I think I'm going to raise the nest boxes about 12-18 inches off the ground to allow a bit more floor/play room for winter confinement too.....

I'll be sure to post pics as we go!​