First coop & run, what do you think

[Milkjug]

It took way to long to complete - a full day for the coop and another 4-5 hours for the run. Nothing is square, but I'm pretty happy with it. The chickens are struggling to learn how to use the ramp and prefer sitting halfway down it. I had some questions about the nesting boxes. I built some 1'x1' boxes for them, but there aren't high walls (they're bottom of interior picture). Is that sufficient?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Looks nice. They like a more enclosed space for laying though. They like privacy.
I like them to be about 12 or more inches off the floor so feces isn't scratched into them.

 

[jetdog]

It would be easy enough to enclose the boxes leave an opening to reach in and get the eggs, if that little dowel is the roost you should lift it higher and change to a 2x4 laying flat, they will be more comfortable.

 

[Nevaschickens]

Looks great! I agree with @ChickenCanoe . How many hens do you have?

 

[Milkjug]

Four hens. If I put walls (three-sided, divider down the middle) with no cover so that I can reach in, will that be good?

How high should the roost be? There's one in coop and in the run, outside is about 4 inches up, inside, maybe two?

 

[jetdog]

Yes the boxes will be better if you do that you might want to add a lip so dirty bedding doesn't get kicked in/poopy eggs, the roost should be higher than the boxes or they will sleep in them. I would go at least a foot and a half off the floor, forgot to mention the coop looks nice.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The roost needs to be significantly higher than the nests or they'll sleep and defecate in the nests.
Put the roost as high as you can get it without being close enough to the roof that they can hit their heads when they jump up. That will preclude broken necks.
As jetdog said, a 2X4 is superior to a dowel, especially in cold weather when they need to cover their toes. They're not really perching birds like sparrows.
Try to arrange the roost, nests and pop door so the chickens don't have to walk under the roost when they come in to lay. That may cause them to track feces into the nest.

 

[Milkjug]

Interesting, thanks for all the tips. Two more questions - Is a foot between the roof and roost enough space? The roof is only two foot from the floor. Also, how do others place food/water. Currently it's in the coop because I lock them in at night (only ~3 months old), but do others keep everything outside the coop all the time? Also, do you guys keep the coop open to the run all the time or lock them in at night?

Thanks again

 

[jetdog]

You might want to keep it a little more than a foot from the ceiling, my food and water is out in the run but my run is covered so nothing can get wet, with just chicken wire on the run lock them in at night anyppredators can rip through it like butter, you might be able to hang it under the coop to keep it dry or put a tarp on the run.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I keep food inside because of wild birds and water outside because of humidity. They don't need food and water at night because they can't see in the dark and they won't move.

That's a pretty short roof. Most chickens are more than a foot tall so that's probably not enough space.

If you're positive a predator can't get in the run, you can leave the coop open. Otherwise lock them up at night.