designing coop interior for XL birds

[Acre4Me]

RIR standard weight for a full grown Rooster is 8.5 lbs. He'll be bigger than the RIR hens, but isn't generally considered XL.

Roost bars: using poop boards can be nice bc the area below is protected from the nightime pooping. We used a ladder style bc it could offer much more roost space than if we put up poop boards/single roosts. We have a window in the coop, that is low, and we didn't want roosts in front of the window, so the ladder style worked for our set up - giving space and avoiding the window.

 

[KSH1]

It's not just the "getting up" issue ... chickens are good "jumpers" ...

But they also need room to come down ... they have wings to assist, but ... do they have enough room to use them inside the coop??? Ramps can help in "walk up/down" ... if they (chickens) are so inclined ...

How soft is the landing area?

Right now it's nice cushy concrete lol. I think I'll incorporate ramps and/or steps of some sort. Once there are roosts and net boxes in there, I'm not sure if there will be a lot of open space for flapping, although I don't know their wingspan.

 

[Acre4Me]

Here are pics of our set-up. Easy up/down for the birds. The smaller ones fly up between the slats onto the roosts. We recently added a fixed 5th/highest roost. The hinged roosts can still move up and out of the way.

Here's the top 3 roosts, including the sized one. This pic is from a few days ago, after we turned the roosts to the narrow side of the 2x4.

 

[KSH1]

Here are pics of our set-up. Easy up/down for the birds. The smaller ones fly up between the slats onto the roosts. We recently added a fixed 5th/highest roost. The hinged roosts can still move up and out of the way. View attachment 1688555View attachment 1688556View attachment 1688557


Here's the top 3 roosts, including the sized one. This pic is from a few days ago, after we turned the roosts to the narrow side of the 2x4.
View attachment 1688558

Thanks, that's very helpful! How is your roo doing now?

 

[Acre4Me]

Thanks, that's very helpful! How is your roo doing now?

Getting better. We’ve given him a treatment break to see where he’s at after wound has been allowed to air out and his body to heal it. We will possibly need to drain more puss, so I’ll be assessing that this coming week.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

RIR standard weight for a full grown Rooster is 8.5 lbs. He'll be bigger than the RIR hens, but isn't generally considered XL.

Roost bars: using poop boards can be nice bc the area below is protected from the nightime pooping. We used a ladder style bc it could offer much more roost space than if we put up poop boards/single roosts. We have a window in the coop, that is low, and we didn't want roosts in front of the window, so the ladder style worked for our set up - giving space and avoiding the window.

Good to know, thank you. I just ordered a small chicken coop from Amazon (yes, I know they aren't the best quality). My dear Randy has started roughing up some of the girls so I want to give him his own bachelor pad. This was the quickest option since there is still snow and ice on the ground and we're expecting another 6 inches or so tonight. I would like to keep him, however the girls need a time out from him.

 

[Acre4Me]

Good to know, thank you. I just ordered a small chicken coop from Amazon (yes, I know they aren't the best quality). My dear Randy has started roughing up some of the girls so I want to give him his own bachelor pad. This was the quickest option since there is still snow and ice on the ground and we're expecting another 6 inches or so tonight. I would like to keep him, however the girls need a time out from him.

Good idea. While pre-fans may not be the best long term, they are easy, quick and fine for a small number of birds. If you protect it from the weather to some degree, it will last longer.

My neighbor started with a prefab, then built a taller, bigger structure (completely unattractive, but completely functional). His pre-fab is in the run, and there is a piece of plywood over part of the run which provides shade and rain protection for the hens. However it also protects part of the prefab, and it is holding up pretty well in the area where it is protected. The plywood looks worse and worse as the months go by, but it’s taking more of a beating than the pre-fab.

Good luck!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Thanks. I still have a 2' x 8' foot of corrugated roofing left over from the original run build. I thought I would add a 2' x 8' run to the side of the main run but still separate from the larger run. I can attach the prefab to this. The one I picked out got some pretty good reviews. I just need to go to Lowes in Hudson Ma where they have a good selection of hardware cloth to cover the floor and two sides. This should be easy as long as the weather cooperates. Also, side note on HC on the floor of the run: I have seen a mouse tunnel or two under the wire. They haven't broken in (yet). I'll be doing a thorough inspection inside the coop during spring cleaning. And hopefully address any breaches. Thanks so much for your advice and support.