How can I make this coop better

[BarrettG]

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I have 3 doors on the coop with a basic lock. The bottom is all chicken wire but the chip is raised about 3 feet off the ground. I live in S Florida so I'm not really afraid of the cold weather. I have leghorns at the moment so do I still need a stick so they can roost? Please give me some pointers. I am 3 weeks new at this. Thank you for your time.

 

[BarrettG]

I let them out to free range every day!

 

[PapaChaz]

they will be happier if you give them a roost I do believe. I can't believe they're comfortable walking around on that chicken wire bottom. I put mine in a hutch with a hardware cloth bottom and they wouldn't walk on it at all, they hated it and would stay on the framing around it as much as possible,

I couldn't bring myself to leave them in it, and moved them back to the brooder until I finished the coop build

 

[BarrettG]

Papachaz I had it made like this so I don't have to clean as much. They don't seem to mind at all. Is this bad for the chicks?

 

[SkyWorld]

PapaChaz is right. Maybe lay some wood slats that you can pull out and scrape clean. I would also build a perching palace out in their free range area. Make a dust bath area and make sure you have your own seating area to watch then grow and enjoy the antics.

 

[PapaChaz]

don't they seem happier to be able to run, jump and play when they have solid ground under their feet? I can't imagine they're all that happy having to walk on that chicken wire bottom. I guess they get used to it, it just doesn't seem like they'd like it very much. I'd worry about getting a foot caught and injured

 

[PapaChaz]

ok looking at the picture better, I see it's hardware cloth on the bottom, chicken wire on the sides. That's a little bit better yes. I do know that's what I was going to use for a temp hutch while I finished the coop and mine didn't like walking on it at all. but in your post you said it was chicken wire on the bottom and I didn't look that close

 

[BarrettG]

Ya I'm new at this and bought the coop already built. Sorry bud

 

[Sonya9]

I would worry about bumblefoot. Also when those birds are big their poops will be MUCH bigger and won't fall through that hardware cloth anyway, it will pile up in the grate so now you have possible sore feet AND they have to walk in a poopy mess.

That cage may be big enough for tiny chicks but will be way way too small for adult birds. I would put in a solid floor, add some nest boxes and give them access to an outdoor run all day. Turn that whole coop/run into a covered area for sleeping and egg laying.