I put my roosts in hangers so they are removable.
I put my roosts in hangers so they are removable.It works great for cleaning. Just pop them out and then back in. I have to add another high roost because the pecking order affects who gets to be on the higher roost so I am going to add another one at the same height.
For storage, we put about a 3 1/2 - 4 ft wide storage room with the nest boxes sticking into it in our coop. That way we can store our feed and have access to eggs without going into the actual chicken coop. It keeps our feed dry and accessible. Ours is 12x16 for the large coop. Our small coop is I think 10x10. We moved it here from another location. DH built a wall in it to add a storage room in it. It is set up the same way as the large coop. I like the nesting boxes to be inside the storage room as it can get pretty cold here in winter. It keeps them warmer in winter and cooler in summer. We got this idea from Storey's guide to raising chickens. We also have a window facing N and S. That way you can get good cross ventilation. My DH is a carpenter, so the windows were from a window replacement job he had. We just screw the window to the N side for winter and add plastic over it, as the roost is under that window. In summer we just unscrew it and take it down. We have hardware clothe over the window openings. The S windows (we have 2 to catch the sun for winter) are attached with hinges on the inside of the coop. The hinges are on the top of the window so we can just pull them up and hook them to a wire and hook attached to the ceiling. We open them and hook them up overhead all summer and when we have a warmer day in fall and winter. Then just unhook them and close when we need to.Hey, will you guys give me some ideas on designing a coop, the inside part? It will be 6'X18'. The back of it (18' across) faces north, the front faces south. The sides (6' deep), east and west. The front side that faces south is shaded by a metal roof that will cover the coop and run (one roof). I am putting a window in both east and west sides and the door will be in the middle of the south side. Once you go in the door I plan to have the roosts on the left and the nests on the right side. I may possibly make it where eggs can be gathered from the outside, below the window.
*Somewhere I need feed storage.
*Do I need windows in the front (south) side along with the door?
*Do I have to have a window in the north side? I'm thinking to just keep the north side sealed up good, no window.
*2X4's for the roosts, all one level or ladder-like? How much space?
I'd really appreciate some ideas. Thanks
Sounds better than good! That's how I made my first vinegar...just juiced my own apples and let it sit and draw in aceti. Took awhile but I had some very strong vinegar. The vinegar made that way is stronger than what one finds in the store, so a little dab will do ya!
I'd place as many and as big of windows you can possibly place in at least two walls of the coop, if living in a warm clime, three walls. You can never have too much light and too much air and windows are easily covered in the winter with plastic if need be. They don't have to be actual windows one buys, but just a framed out hole in the wall with 1" welded wire over it and then an additional frame over the wire placement. This keeps the wire secure.
The last coop I had was built back in the 50s and the old fella had placed huge windows that covered almost the whole eastern wall and had built storm frames one could cover with plastic and had built turn latches to keep the frames in place. Each year I put them in place in the winter, took them down in the spring. LOVED that coop...the sun came in the windows in the morning and warmed things up, but the overhang was big, so then the coop was shaded for the rest of the day. I cut an additional window on the western side, higher up to get more airflow.
Chickens like to roost near a window so they can look out, so you might think of that when you build. Rosemarie mentioned the easiest and most efficient roost design...it's easiest for you and for the chicken if those roosts are at least 3- 4 ft. or higher so that you can easily access under the roosts without being a contortionist. I'd place the roosts on the north wall.
I'd place those nest boxes on your long south wall, with outside access...that way you don't have to go anywhere but the front of the building for all your chores. I'd make the outside access have single doors for each nest or each two nests. On the east wall, you could have space for a broody nests and pens...you could even give them their own pop door that leads to their own little run.
To the left of the door I'd have my feed cans and feeders. Life is easier if the feed storage is next to the door and the feeder is next to the feed. I'd place water next to the door but to the right between the door and the nesting area. Helps to have the water next to the door as well.
I'd build a wall cupboard to the right of the door that mimicked and was built just like the nest boxes, but as storage space for equipment and such. It could blend in with your nest box unit and look like part of the whole thing from the outside. You could even give it outside access as well.
There...that's how I'd do it if I were building it and designing it.
My others don't go to the roost until dusk, so too late to let out the roosters then. I've changed my mind yet again and am going to form them a bachelor pen out on the grass with a roll of fencing I have here. Not very large but sufficiently so, that can be moved easily and be sheltered on one end with some tin roofing I have. That gives them sunshine and grass, shade and air on all sides and it keeps their poop out in the grass.
