- Aug 17, 2016
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Hi all-- I'd like to get some outside thoughts on this before I start building.
This is my bantam pen (save one Marans who thinks she's a bantam). I also use it as a growout pen from time to time. Right now, the henhouse/nesting box are on the back, as pictured. However, I need to convert that area into a rabbit hutch; I don't have space for a separate rabbit hutch with a run, and want to allow the rabbits access to the chicken run from time to time for exercise. This means I need to build on an additional henhouse/nesting box area.
I would rather not increase the footprint of the existing coop, so I feel like I have three options--
1 (yellow): Put the hen house/boxes UNDER the rabbit hutch. This would be quite low, essentially ground level, which concerns me, especially since I do have one full sized hen in there. I could bring the rabbit hutch floor up a bit, but it would still only be about two feet tall and ground level. It would also be underneath the rabbit poop catch tray, but I don't think that would be a huge problem.
2 (red): Build on top of the current henhouse. This would be quite high, and I don't love that it would block more of my view of the backyard area-- but if this is the best option, I can do it.
3 (blue) add a triangular henhouse/egg box onto the door. This would take some engineering, but I can do it (I'd put two braces/wheels to allow it to roll/move). The entire triangular egghouse/door would roll out to access the right side interior of the rabbit hutch (which I wouldn't need to access all that often anyhow). This is definitely the most complicated solution, but it's an idea all the same.
I'd love to hear any additional ideas you might have, or additional thoughts!
This is my bantam pen (save one Marans who thinks she's a bantam). I also use it as a growout pen from time to time. Right now, the henhouse/nesting box are on the back, as pictured. However, I need to convert that area into a rabbit hutch; I don't have space for a separate rabbit hutch with a run, and want to allow the rabbits access to the chicken run from time to time for exercise. This means I need to build on an additional henhouse/nesting box area.
I would rather not increase the footprint of the existing coop, so I feel like I have three options--
1 (yellow): Put the hen house/boxes UNDER the rabbit hutch. This would be quite low, essentially ground level, which concerns me, especially since I do have one full sized hen in there. I could bring the rabbit hutch floor up a bit, but it would still only be about two feet tall and ground level. It would also be underneath the rabbit poop catch tray, but I don't think that would be a huge problem.
2 (red): Build on top of the current henhouse. This would be quite high, and I don't love that it would block more of my view of the backyard area-- but if this is the best option, I can do it.
3 (blue) add a triangular henhouse/egg box onto the door. This would take some engineering, but I can do it (I'd put two braces/wheels to allow it to roll/move). The entire triangular egghouse/door would roll out to access the right side interior of the rabbit hutch (which I wouldn't need to access all that often anyhow). This is definitely the most complicated solution, but it's an idea all the same.
I'd love to hear any additional ideas you might have, or additional thoughts!
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