double decker coop

[sashurlow]

I'm a newbe without any chickens yet. Just collecting ideas for a coop for four chickens. The rules state 4ft/bird of coop space. Would making the coop two layers increase usable space? For instance, I plan on making a 4x4xnot sure how tall coop. The first floor would be 4x4 and the second floor would be 3x4. Will the smaller head room create a problem?
On the same respect, would adding a second layer/hammock to the run add more usable space?
Thanks
Scott

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Heres my old 2 story coops

 

[patandchickens]

Chickens will not really use a 'second story' unless it is totally different from the ground floor - as in the case of the previous poster's arrangement (and many tractors and small coops) where the house part is up on top of the run part.

If you put a second story *in a coop*, i.e. all indoors, they just will not use the upstairs very much. A little, but not much. I would not suggest counting it towards real-world square-feet-available-per-chciken.

(I am not sure what you mean by 'hammock' but chickens do not generally like walking on sway-ey uncertain surfaces, nor swinging perches either for that matter.)

So, I mean, by all means add vertical habitat complexity if you want, but I would strongly recommend making your chicken# decisions based on FLOOR space, i.e. the "real" floor only.

As far as headroom, I would not give chickens less than 24" and really you would want more than that for most chickens so that you can have a distinctly elevated roost. 3.5-4' is a good height for a reach-in coop, as it gives enough room to have chickens very easily walking underneath a roost and droppings board (if used, but I highly recommend it) and still have plenty of comfy headroom while on the roost.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat