deep litter issue..possibly..

[BullChick]

Your coop is adequate. Everything we are telling you are just improvements that we feel are best. You know about prefab coops, and have already done much better for your flock!

The roof should be taller to keep the air from ventilation off their heads, and you didn’t mention roosts. Will they be miserable without roosts? Not necessarily, but if you can build that addition, a 2x4 laid flat about two feet up is probably best.

I am reminded about sand. Playground sand catches the poo, and you can rake/scoop it daily. It’s also a great dust bath year round!

 

[rosemarythyme]

In a smaller coop deep litter probably isn't going to happen no matter what, as it'd be difficult to get the volume of material in there plus having to watch moisture build up and all of that. Deep bedding is more realistic, with deep litter in the run.

 

[mike48851]

Your coop is adequate. Everything we are telling you are just improvements that we feel are best. You know about prefab coops, and have already done much better for your flock!

The roof should be taller to keep the air from ventilation off their heads, and you didn’t mention roosts. Will they be miserable without roosts? Not necessarily, but if you can build that addition, a 2x4 laid flat about two feet up is probably best.

I am reminded about sand. Playground sand catches the poo, and you can rake/scoop it daily. It’s also a great dust bath year round!

I do have a roost in the coop for them. About two feet up. Again, that may have to be lowered as they get bigger though. I have two roosts in the run and then a roost between my two archery bags in my yard for them.. I think I may add an addition though...all this input is awesome!

 

[mike48851]

Thank you for all the advice everyone!

 

[aart]

That’s an even better idea. I built this coop thinking it was plenty big enough. And now I’m looking at these chickens thinking it’s not. They free range all day for the most part and basically only sleep in the coop. But, like you said, come winter time, they will be spending a lot of time in there.
Thank you

Pics of your coop, inside and out, would really help us give you viable advice.
Coop size can maybe be 'minimized' if you have a weather and predator proof run in our climate.
Chicken Cabin Fever is Real...and it can be Ugly!
BTDT (too many birds with too little coop space and an open run).

 

[mike48851]

Pics of your coop, inside and out, would really help us give you viable advice.
Coop size can maybe be 'minimized' if you have a weather and predator proof run in our climate.
Chicken Cabin Fever is Real...and it can be Ugly!
BTDT (too many birds with too little coop space and an open run).

Thank you for all the advice everyone!

 

[aart]

I see a couple issues here.

Roost look likes it's hanging by a rope?
Might be unstable and looks to be too close to wall(12" is good).
Do they use the roost?

Those nipple waterers will not function during winter in Michigan's temps.

I would raise the roof if you can....here's some tips about heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[mike48851]

One end is tied up with a piece of paracord. I did that temporarily while thinking things out lol. Yes, they hop up there every night. At one point I had it further from the wall and they wouldn’t use it and would just sleep on the ground, right up against a wall.

I did not even think about the water nipples. I actually have my water box outside insulated but then it will probably still freeze in the inside pipe. Ugh

I have a feeling I’ll be raising the roof and or adding an addition

Thank you for the input!

 

[mike48851]

Honestly, the roost bar isn’t trrribly close to the wall. 7 1/2”. I feel that 12” and it won’t be high enough or they’ll be hitting their heads (time to raise the roof).

This is frustrating. Haha. I did a fair amount of research and threw this together thinking it was great. Now I’m second guessing it and finding out issues. Owell. Live and ya learn

 

[Ribh]

You will always learn more with chickens. I have 2 runs. I don't deep litter in the coop itself but my situation is very different; I'm sub~tropical. I deep litter in the coop run & with 12 birds in 2 months I have 3~4 inches of litter in the run. I clean the coop every other day. I am now throwing my litter into the 2nd run, which is much larger. If I were you I think I would bite the bullet & expand before you have winter issues when it sounds like you won't be able to fix problems.