Coops done! What do you think?

[Faisonfarm]

Just finished the run today and put in our coop. I know we need to level out the dirt in the front since it's on a slope, add a tarp or something to the back, any other recommendations?

Also, we have 8 chicks right now. 3 are suspected roosters. Should 11 chickens fit in here? 8x10x6 run, coop has 8 nesting boxes and 6 roosting bars.

 

[DobieLover]

The coop is way too small to fit those birds. You need 4 sq ft of floor space per bird. You will need to rehome at least 2 of the cockerels.

You need to put some branches attached across the run in there for the birds to perch on. It is also very barren in there. Chickens like things to scratch through. Add some old wood chairs and/or stools, a pallet leaning against the wall, some stumps at varying height. Give them things to do.

What is that in the ground?

I think it would be better to just convert the rear of the run into your coop. You can use the tiny pre-fab for egg laying. Just install some weather proof walls back there to block the weather and the wind and a roost that runs the entire width of the run. Position it about 18" from the rear wall and install a ramp parallel to it so they can access it that way if they want. I would also install a poop board under it but that's always my preference to manage the nightly poop load.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Hello! It looks pretty nice. One thing to note is that many predators can remove the staples holding the hardware cloth, it might be a good idea to reinforce with some screws and washers.
Most recommend 10 sq ft per chicken in the run, so 11 is pushing it. Are they going to get out to free range at all? Do you have any closer pictures and measurements of the coop? Just going off these pictures, it looks too small for 11 birds. As a general rule, they should each have 3-4 sq ft of floor space in the coop and 1 ft of roost space.

 

[Faisonfarm]

Hello! It looks pretty nice. One thing to note is that many predators can remove the staples holding the hardware cloth, it might be a good idea to reinforce with some screws and washers.
Most recommend 10 sq ft per chicken in the run, so 11 is pushing it. Are they going to get out to free range at all? Do you have any closer pictures and measurements of the coop? Just going off these pictures, it looks too small for 11 birds. As a general rule, they should each have 3-4 sq ft of floor space in the coop and 1 ft of roost space.

Thank you for the feedback!

 

[Faisonfarm]

The coop is way too small to fit those birds. You need 4 sq ft of floor space per bird. You will need to rehome at least 2 of the cockerels.

You need to put some branches attached across the run in there for the birds to perch on. It is also very barren in there. Chickens like things to scratch through. Add some old wood chairs and/or stools, a pallet leaning against the wall, some stumps at varying height. Give them things to do.

What is that in the ground?

I think it would be better to just convert the rear of the run into your coop. You can use the tiny pre-fab for egg laying. Just install some weather proof walls back there to block the weather and the wind and a roost that runs the entire width of the run. Position it about 18" from the rear wall and install a ramp parallel to it so they can access it that way if they want. I would also install a poop board under it but that's always my preference to manage the nightly poop load.

They've been perching on the wood inside but we're planning to add more perches in the corners like a ladder kind of. That's a long stump, I appreciate the feedback! We've got work to do for sure. Thanks!

 

[Faisonfarm]

Hello! It looks pretty nice. One thing to note is that many predators can remove the staples holding the hardware cloth, it might be a good idea to reinforce with some screws and washers.
Most recommend 10 sq ft per chicken in the run, so 11 is pushing it. Are they going to get out to free range at all? Do you have any closer pictures and measurements of the coop? Just going off these pictures, it looks too small for 11 birds. As a general rule, they should each have 3-4 sq ft of floor space in the coop and 1 ft of roost space.

The coop is way too small to fit those birds. You need 4 sq ft of floor space per bird. You will need to rehome at least 2 of the cockerels.

You need to put some branches attached across the run in there for the birds to perch on. It is also very barren in there. Chickens like things to scratch through. Add some old wood chairs and/or stools, a pallet leaning against the wall, some stumps at varying height. Give them things to do.

What is that in the ground?

I think it would be better to just convert the rear of the run into your coop. You can use the tiny pre-fab for egg laying. Just install some weather proof walls back there to block the weather and the wind and a roost that runs the entire width of the run. Position it about 18" from the rear wall and install a ramp parallel to it so they can access it that way if they want. I would also install a poop board under it but that's always my preference to manage the nightly poop load.

Would you recommend enclosing this portion, and having a door to open and close at night? Or let it remain open 24-7 since the run is enclosed with hardware cloth/roof? My husband likes this idea you gave him.

 

[DobieLover]

Would you recommend enclosing this portion, and having a door to open and close at night? Or let it remain open 24-7 since the run is enclosed with hardware cloth/roof? My husband likes this idea you gave him.

I wouldn't completely enclose a coop area at all. For the very reason you just mentioned. My coop and run are set up similarly and I never close the pop door between the coop and the run. They can come and go as they please. You would just have to walk through your run to clean off the poop boards. But that's not a bad thing. You need to be interacting with and observing your birds on a daily basis just spot problems early on.
If you want, you can move the tiny coop anywhere you want in there as long as it's sheltered and let them use it for their nest boxes. You could put it closer to the run door.