Coop remodeling

[DerSchoeneBahnhof]

My existing coop nesting area is currently a rectangular box about 18" wide and 48" long. I am planning to add a nesting box area to the right side of the coop (just like other designs) with nesting box compartments.

Now the question is, in the nesting area (in red) what's the best way for the hens to sleep? Currently they sleep on the nesting area floor with straw. Straw becomes quickly messy with the accumulated . I am thinking having them sleep on 2x4s, maybe a staircase like structure, with 3 or 4 2x4s, each a bit higher.

Another idea would be an L shape structure with 2x4s, raised from the nesting area floor with some posts.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Christian

Nesting box draft...

 

[Buckingham Palace]

I built in roots for my chickens as they like being high up when they sleep. If you do put in roots make sure they are higher then the nesting box’s. A staircase idea sounds cool. i hope thus helps. You have a very nice chicken coop.

 

[Percheron chick]

How many hens do you have? That's enough nest boxes for 10-12 hens. Each hen needs 1' of roost space. It needs to be a minimum of 15" away from the wall and they need approximately 2x the height of the roost horizontally for flying down. Finally what are the dimensions of the coop portion?
I'm sorry that you bought that setup but if you have no other option, remove the interior wall to the run and make the entire structure into the coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

Finally what are the dimensions of the coop portion?
I'm sorry that you bought that setup but if you have no other option, remove the interior wall to the run and make the entire structure into the coop.

I have to agree.

How many chickens do you have? Full-size or bantams?

Here's some useful information for you,

The Usual Guidelines
For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

 

[DerSchoeneBahnhof]

I'm sorry that you bought that setup but if you have no other option, remove the interior wall to the run and make the entire structure into the coop.

Well, I built the coop myself from plans I found online. Obviously the plans didn't really take into account roosting bars or nesting boxes, just one nesting area. If I had to do it all over again I would build a larger square coop.

I have no room to expand inside . There are plastic feeding tubes on the side opposite to the ramp and a water dispenser. So I need to live with what I have.

The Usual Guidelines
For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

3 chickens in the coop, run area is 32 sqft.

My addition could be part roost part nesting box (maybe one nesting box is all I need).

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Where do you live? What is your climate like? Like others have said, maybe you could take the front facing the run, off of the "coop" and make it an open-air coop. 18"x48" is such a tiny, enclosed space.

 

[3KillerBs]

3 chickens in the coop, run area is 32 sqft.

You need 3'x4' for the coop section -- double what you have -- PLUS the nestboxe. 32 square feet of run is OK.

 

[DerSchoeneBahnhof]

Where do you live? What is your climate like? Like others have said, maybe you could take the front facing the run, off of the "coop" and make it an open-air coop. 18"x48" is such a tiny, enclosed space.

CA, SF Bay Area. It does get close to freezing in the winter though.

I know, it's too tiny . The website with the plans claimed it was "good enough for 4 chickens". Bantams, perhaps?

I'll enlarge the coop area, I can probably expand to about 3 sqft per chicken. Still low by the accepted standards, however I am planning an outdoors run later this year. Too many projects going on as always.

 

[3KillerBs]

CA, SF Bay Area. It does get close to freezing in the winter though.

Perfect climate for an open air design.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Bay Area has the best weather! I miss it....

Open air coop is a great idea!