Dog house converted to coop

[ArchersMom]

You can kind of see the gap between the floor and the wall there. For now, my little pullets are just hanging out in the garage with the roof propped up like so. My other issue is that while I have their feed and water in the coop they won't stop pooping and getting their bedding in it! I'm thinking I should build a small platform.

 

[aart]

I'm thinking I should build a small platform.

Feed and water should definitely be raised off ground after the first week.
I use bricks and/or blocks of wood.

 

[jthornton]

I kept raising the food bowl to keep them from pooping in it. I used a vertical nipple in a piece of pvc pipe so no worries about them pooping it it. Do they run away from you when you open the lid? If you can approach them from their level they accept you much faster.

JT

 

[ArchersMom]

I had a platform in their original pen, but they just knocked it over as soon as the water is half empty or stand on the platform. They don't really run unless I try to grab them. They were raised up on top of a chest freezer before today.

 

[jthornton]

If you can make them come to you it's better IMHO.

My first group were very afraid of me and I used to reach in the top of the brooder.

I modified the brooder for front entry and well the video shows the result of that.

JT

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, that coop also needs a window. Otherwise, it's just a dark box, totally inhospitable to them. Windows are super easy to build. I second Aart's suggestion to build a separate nest box, and put it in the run. Or you could cut it into the side of the coop, but have it not take any space up within the foot print of the coop. Ventilation should be = to 10% of coop floor s.f. or 1 s.f./bird.

General recommendation is for at least 4 s.f. in coop and 10 s.f. in run per bird. You will need more than that if you have a cockerel/roo, or if you EVER intend to integrate a few new birds into the mix. For many reasons, space being the primary one, I recommend that you NOT get a roo.

 

[PirateGirl]

Also you probably only need one roost bar in the coop (I think your photo shows two, but it's hard to tell). If you do this it will more easily allow you to position it so that the poop doesn't end up in the nest box and/or feeders.

 

[ArchersMom]

I bought myself a jig saw to add windows. So far I just have one, because I haven't determined yet where I'll place a nest box if/when I add an external one.