Getting my chickens to use my coop.

[ltaylor53]

No, the nesting boxes are below the window.

 

[ltaylor53]

It does not look like 45"x45". It looks smaller. And if the nest boxes take up the majority of the south wall, that's about all they can use the coop for, laying eggs. It's just too small and lacks ventilation.

 

[RobertaD1]

I would pull the nesting boxes out and make them separate. Turn the whole coop into just roost space

 

[CluckerFamily]

The chickens will want to roost together. Each chicken needs 3 square feet of floor in the coop not counting the nesting boxes (I personally prefer 4-5 but that is me). I think this is why they aren't going into the coop.

 

[RobertaD1]

With only 4, you only need one or 2 nest boxes. Add a small area in the run in which to lay, take the nest boxes out of the coop

 

[CluckerFamily]

With only 4, you only need one or 2 nest boxes. Add a small area in the run in which to lay, take the nest boxes out of the coop

That is a good point! I use to have 6 nesting boxes for my 16 hens but they only used 3 of them so I took out the ones they didn't use.

 

[ltaylor53]

Part of the coup, goes under the deck, which is not visible from the pictures, there is a least another foot and not easy to see. According everything we have read, it is the right size. we have ventilation in the door and there is also ventilation also on the other side.

 

[ltaylor53]

What about the weather?

 

[RobertaD1]

They are way better with the cold than with the heat, they are actually fun if your run is predator proof. They dont care for rain or wind, so if you blocked that, they will be fine. Where are you at?

 

[ltaylor53]

They are way better with the cold than with the heat, they are actually fun if your run is predator proof. They dont care for rain or wind, so if you blocked that, they will be fine. Where are you at?