Fold down bunks in coop

[sherrydeanne]

I need some sage advice

I have an 8 x 8 shed that I'm converting to a coop. Peaked roof. It has two fold down 'bunk beds' attached to the back wall. They're made of plywood. They fold up and latch to the wall if unneeded, or lay horizontally and are about 3x8. I'm guessing the previous owners kids slept out here on summer nights.

The bottom bunk is low, and only sits about 18" off the floor. Once I've put bedding down, I think I should leave it up so that I don't have chickens squeezing under there and laying eggs. However, I'm wondering if I can build their roost above the top shelf/bunk and have a very handy poop scoop tray!!!?

My worry/issue is ventilation and drafts. If I open the windows, the air will be coming in between the roost and the drop pan. In the summer would this be a problem? In the winter, I'd have those windows shut but the roof (with vents installed) would only be about 18" above their heads. Is that too close? Seems that it may be a draft issue.

I can of course put in a lower roost and just hook the bunkbeds up to the walls, but it seems like it might be nice to use it and give them a little more clean floor space under the bunk.

The other, much more labor intensive option is to remove the bottom bunk and move it up a foot or so. I still think the windows in the summer would blow on them, though.

Help!

I can take pics if needed, hope I explained that well!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Can you access it easily (I dunno what height it is, or what height you are? <g>) Remember you will want to be able to scrape the back of it off without lowering it (hinging it down would be the last thing you do for a serious cleaning, *after* first scraping off all the poo, otherwise you're just dumping poo on the floor). Also sometimes you will need to be able to grab birds off the roost, so it is good if the roost is easily accessible to you.

If I open the windows, the air will be coming in between the roost and the drop pan. In the summer would this be a problem?

No, they might actually *like* it in the summer. "draft" and "breeze" are a matter of perspective, depending on what the thermometer says <g>

In the winter, I'd have those windows shut but the roof (with vents installed) would only be about 18" above their heads. Is that too close? Seems that it may be a draft issue.

Could you close up the roof vents and make vents high on the gable end walls. That'd be my first choice. I fyou could, then I see no problem with leaving things as they are.

I mean, worst case scenario you live with it for a while and then decide it isn't working out as well as you wanted and then you take the bunk down and redo the roost. Which is what you'd otherwise be doing *now*. So as long as you can get it 'plausible' and will have time and energy to rearrange later if necessary, sure, why not try it.

JMHO, good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[sherrydeanne]

Thank you Pat, I was hoping you would see this

You're right, of course. Why not do it as is for the summer and then see how it goes for the winter? That gives me much more time to work on the run. The top bunk is about chest height for me, so I could grab a bird off the roost if necessary.

If no one today has told you that you rock, let me be the first. Thanks

 

[patandchickens]

LOL, thank you very much

Have fun with your bunkie conversion, post pics!

Pat