Designing a new coop

[Bantam chooks]

Hello

We currently have 4 pekin bantams, and we are going to make them a new coop as their old one is literally falling apart. We live in the UK so the only predators we have to worry about are the foxes and maybe cats, but we've never really had any severe problems with either.

Their current coop has many flaws, the main one being the water that gets into their house and has made all the wood rotten and made the hinges rusted

Anyway,
I was just wondering, what are some things that you'd have added to your coop, like convinience of cleaning it out being the main factor. But also so that they are warm during the winter and can keep cool during the summer.

Also, what substrate is best in the run? I was thinking straw. + for bedding, we've always used wood shavings

I'm hoping that they'll have an area up on the raised bed where the dirt is but also some space on ground-level (on concrete) so that their feet feathers stay nice during the winter when it rains a lot and is muddy.

 

[rosemarythyme]

To keep them cool in summer, warm in the winter, you need ample draft free ventilation (even though it sounds contradictory for winter, but it lets moist air out, and a dry chicken is a chicken that stays warm).

Best substrate depends a lot on location and what materials are available. Straw can harbor mites or mold if it gets wet, so that's one thing to consider. I use deep litter as it's free for me and took care of my mud and odor issues.