Does my hen have to roost at night?

[cherylgladys]

You called it.

I do not know if this is prefab. I got it in March, used, and at the time knew I was going to get 3 hens, and after doing some research, it seemed adequate for the girls. As you can see by the picture, it is rather small, but they don't spend any time in there hardly at all, only at night. We built a large pen around it, so they can leave the little coop whenever they want, safely. It will just have to do for now....

 

[ChocolateMouse]

It looks like a prefab from the pictures...
But that's beside the point. It's literally not making do right now, though, since your chickens don't want to use it and try to roost outside and on the ground in their own poop... You can probably make the modifications they would need to be able to live in it more comfortably in a day or two though. A few minor modifications like screened windows and replacing the roost bar with one that's higher up and on a slight diagonal so it's longer, and curtains over the nest boxes to make them darker could make it so that it WILL work for the hens you have. They might like it a lot more and avoid the nest boxes and coop roof for sleeping then.

Your coop is barely big enough for the 3 hens you have (many people would say your coop is only big enough for 2) which means it's a tight squeeze. The smaller the coop/fewer chickens the more critical the minimum 4sqft/bird in the coop rule is. It also doesn't meet the 10 inches of roost bar per bird. You can probably keep using it, but it would be a lot better if you made a few modifications and they might actually use it willingly instead of actively trying to avoid it.

 

[cherylgladys]

Thanks for all your great tips and taking the time to look over the pics. I guess I could raise the roosting bar, that might help. There are screened windows on the coop and it seems like plenty of ventilation, but in the summer it is SO hot in there, I try to cool it down with a fan and hose it down in the evening. (not the actual coop, but the area around it) They don't seem to be croaking or with their mouths open whatever the word is for that! the roost bar is 27" so hopefully I can make it longer by angling it. So helpful!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks for the photos. Here's my suggestions on how to convert a prefab/prefab style coop & mini run into a bigger coop, which should help fix space and ventilation issues:

So to turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise across the newly open space. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, but I don't know how cold it gets in winter - though you also make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for hot and humid summers.

 

[cherylgladys]

Thanks for all your tips! Since I am new at this, and a single chicken mom, I might have to hire a handyman to help me with this, and right now, I am not financially set to do this. But, I can change the roosting bar to make it higher, and put it at an angle to make a longer stretch. I am in Sacramento, and it does get pretty cold but no snow. Summer - it is so very hot now. And smokey. I will keep your tips for the future renovation!