Design recommendation pls. PIC included.

[Katok8607]

We're finishing up on our latest coop and we're trying to give it a better more functioning design than our previous one. We're still fairly new to chickens. My question is based on the pic. The right side is completely boarded up for protection from wind, it's also where we plan on putting the roost(s). Is this not a good place for the roost(s) since it's right next to the laying boxes? Our first coop the hens don't use the roost so were constantly cleaning the poop out of the laying box

 

[Joshua G]

The roosts should be fine there.
As far as problems with the nest boxes though, will you be getting chicks or fully grown birds?
Because you could board up or close off the nesting boxes until they are ready to lay, thus preventing any contamination in the nests.
Also, how high are the roosts and the nests off the ground?

 

[Katok8607]

We have 10 chicks in a brooder right now. The nest box is about 2.5 ft off the ground. The roost is about 5 ft off the ground. The coop itself is 6ft. Tall

 

[Joshua G]

The nesting box sounds perfect as far as how high it is off the ground.
However the roost seems not as much.
5' is a long ways for a young chicken to fly up to get to the roost.
Instead, you might try lowering it until they get used to it for a few weeks and then as they keep growing bigger, you can keep raising it until it is back to the height it was originally.
Hope this helps.

 

[Katok8607]

Great idea thank you.

 

[Joshua G]

Glad to help!