Coop pics. thoughts please

[Dukes7779]

Hey all, I’m putting up some pics of my coop build, it’s almost complete. Chickens going in soon so I’d like to make any big changes before that (if needed). Let me know what you think!

Coop is 8’ x 8’ with 5’ walls.
Using deep litter method with hemp. Linoleum lines floor and will go a foot up the walls. It also lines the poop board that will have PDZ in it. LOTS of ventilation with large windows, open eaves, and open roof ridge to keep cool in the summer and dry in the winter. May have to seal the front window and window behind the roosts in the winter to avoid drafts on the chicks, thinking the other window and the eaves will provide enough ventilation in the winter.
I have the pop door and nesting box closed off for now. Will keep pop door covered for a few days after they’re in to get them accustomed to the coop. Will keep the nesting box opening covered for a couple months until the start getting close to laying.....too long to keep closed?
The box under the poop board is a rabbit hutch/hide. Chicks and bunnies have been around each other for several weeks and doing fine together.
Will add more pics tomorrow and as needed. Thanks!

 

[gtaus]

Very nice. I see a lot of the Carolina Coop design on YouTube in your coop with the deep litter method. I like the long big drop down panel for cleaning out the litter. The two doors with removable windows is another idea I hope to incorporate into my design. I already bought some lift off hinges.

I can't tell how high off the ground your 8X8 foot coop is built. It looks less than 2 feet high. High enough for the chickens, but how do you access the area underneath the coop if you need to for any reason? (sick or dead chicken, stray egg laying, etc....).

I find your inside setup very interesting. I used to raise rabbits, so I like the idea of having rabbits in with the chickens. How many rabbits will be in the coop?

Your idea for a poop board/shelf under the roosts took me by surprise. I thought most roosts in a deep litter method just let the poop fall directly unto the deep litter. It looks like you would have to clean out the poop shelf daily, or did I get that wrong?

I am debating whether or not to have external nest boxes that are accessed on the outside. A local guy told me that external boxes are great 9 months out of the year, but are a real challenge in the dead of winter. They can be drafty and the eggs freeze fast. I might go with a walk-in coop and have nest boxes completely within the coop. I don't know yet.

Thanks for the pics. You have given me some more ideas to think about. Very nice setup and I hope it works well for you.

 

[Dukes7779]

Hi thanks! Yes, I like the Carolina Coop design and modeled it after that. It is about two feet plus off the ground, I’m able to crawl under there without any problem. I have considered an access door at the back too.
We have three rabbits that will be in there.
Yes, poop board with deep litter is a bit contradictory. My initial design was deep litter only but as I got into it I read about the cleanliness off the poop boards with PDZ.....so I ended up with both. If for some reason I don’t like the poop board I can easily rearrange everything. Also, the rabbits played a role in the poop board decision (rabbits were the kids request well into the building process).
I have considered the eggs freezing with the external nest box and plan to use rigid insulation for winter and monitor closely.

Thanks for your reply, gtaus!

 

[Col1948]

I have poop boards under the roost and clean off daily, it only takes a few minutes, it's so easy.
Some people leave it for days/weeks then it becomes a chore, next time you go to the toilet don't flush it for a few days or even a few weeks lol.

 

[Celticdragonfly]

I think it's beautiful. I was showing my husband how you did the ramp up to the poop board, and asking him to do something similar for ours.

 

[tpatricco]

Hey all, I’m putting up some pics of my coop build, it’s almost complete. Chickens going in soon so I’d like to make any big changes before that (if needed). Let me know what you think!
Coop is 8’ x 8’ with 5’ walls.
Using deep litter method with hemp. Linoleum lines floor and will go a foot up the walls. It also lines the poop board that will have PDZ in it. LOTS of ventilation with large windows, open eaves, and open roof ridge to keep cool in the summer and dry in the winter. May have to seal the front window and window behind the roosts in the winter to avoid drafts on the chicks, thinking the other window and the eaves will provide enough ventilation in the winter.
I have the pop door and nesting box closed off for now. Will keep pop door covered for a few days after they’re in to get them accustomed to the coop. Will keep the nesting box opening covered for a couple months until the start getting close to laying.....too long to keep closed?
The box under the poop board is a rabbit hutch/hide. Chicks and bunnies have been around each other for several weeks and doing fine together.
Will add more pics tomorrow and as needed. Thanks!

Really nice job! Looks great and appears really well thought out!

 

[aart]

I'd remove the nest ramp and put a perch about 8" out at bottom of entrance.
Move poop board/roost ramp down to far end.
Both these mods will make it easier to clean poop board.

 

[gtaus]

... Coop is 8’ x 8’ with 5’ walls....

So can you stand up in your coop or do you have to bend over? I'm at an age now where I think about those things...

 

[gtaus]

...Yes, poop board with deep litter is a bit contradictory. My initial design was deep litter only but as I got into it I read about the cleanliness off the poop boards with PDZ.....so I ended up with both.../QUOTE]

Understand. I am designing my coop and will be using the deep litter method, too. I have not seen any Carolina Coop design that has poop boards. One BYC guy strongly advocated that I use a poop board even with the deep litter method. I asked a local guy who builds coops (for people that can afford them) and he did not have any poop boards in any of his designs. This is my first year with laying hens and building a real coop, so I don't have strong opinions one way or the other.

I don't like the idea of cleaning a poop board every day. And the people I have talked to around here in northern Minnesota don't clean their coops out during the winter because the poop freezes solid. So I can't imagine a poop board being a good thing as compared to stirring up the frozen poop in the deep litter. But I guess I'll figure that out on my own this winter. Like you, I think both options might be in order. I, however, am going to build my coop without the poop boards installed but have it designed so that I can add the boards in if needed.

Again, very nice coop.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Isn't there diseases that rabbits and Chickens can contract from each other?