Coop questions

[emss]

Hi, just put my hens into their new coop. Questions: There is a door that I can close that will keep them from going down to the bottom part of the coop. Should that door remain open? I'm assuming that it is for when I am cleaning? Should their water/food be upstairs or downstairs? The coop sits on the grass, do I still need wood chips on the grass? Finally, do they need nesting boxes and a place to roost? It's a pretty small space. Thanks for any help : >

 

[SgtChikkin]

Hi emss!

Everyone is going to ask for a picture of your coop so they can offer the best advice.

Also, what part of the world do you and your chikkanz inhabit? What breeds do you have?

 

[emss]

They are 3 orpingtons and we are in PA.

 

[Chicken-ed]

I use a chicken tractor (a coop on two wheels) we fertilize garden in off season by changing location weekly. To your questions: I have an elevated enclosure for laying and roosting. I never close the opening since they use it in the day time for nesting and nights for roosting. When they roost we can move the tractor. Don't worry about grass. It won't last a week inside of the run. I use straw for nesting and not shavings. I have 6 buff orpington hens and have never had a better breed.