I need help, is my coop bad for my chickens!!!

[Bruster Rooster]

To catch the poop, we got boot mats at Lowes. They are about 4 feet long, about 2 feet wide, with about a 2 inch rim all around. Made out of tough rubber. You probably only need one. Sit it under your roost & it is just right to catch the poop. To clean, just dump all that good fertilizer & spray it out with a garden hose. It will be up to you how much poop your wife sees.

 

[chickensrock12]

I know, so funny. She was laughing when I told her she needed to get over. She laughed and said I can't.

 

[chickens really]

In reality.....They are your Chickens!!

lol........

Cheers! Merry Christmas!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes, Fix it.....Get rid of the wire floor.....Very tight living space.......The Roost branch is very thin....The 2x4 was better....They can lay on it to cover their toes......

Dry bedding as in PINE shavings or straw.......Keep things clean and that big feeder is not really needed for two Chickens....

They need room....


Cheers!

All this. That looks extremely tight for 2 birds and the roost isn't big enough for them. A single thicker branch would be better. I know some people love wire floors for convenience but it really isn't good for any animals and can lead to bumblefoot and other issues, so if you can cover that floor with a thick layer of quality bedding it'll keep them warmer and keep their feet healthier.

Ideally you might want to consider getting a new coop for them. With only 2 chickens even a run of the mill prefab coop might be better spacewise.

Your wife will have to get over the poop. Chickens poop. Food goes in one end, poop and eggs come out the other!

 

[kellyhubb]

I am glad that you are trying to help your little birds be more comfortable, I think that is great and applaud you for that. I've listed below a few suggestions for how you might be able to improve your coop for the upcoming winter months.

- Seal off any cracks, holes, areas of potential drafts into the coop.

- Insulate the interior walls, roof, and floor of the coop with Foamular board and reflector barrier, which you can for pretty cheap at Home Depot - here is a pic from my Instagram account of the inside of my coop so you can get an idea of what I am talking about (https://www.instagram.com/p/BOLJph8AaZs/?taken-by=quackersandfernie&hl=en). However also think ventilation and air flow. So make sure there is a small outlet up above that will allow air to get out so it doesn't become trapped.

- Ditch the heat lamp, which is a huge fire hazard and buy a chicken heating mat instead. You can buy them in ranges of 40 to 200 watts which, when combined with proper insulation and elimination of drafts, can increase in the inside temperature of the coop by several degrees. In my case, there there is a 20 degree difference. They are also much more energy efficient than the heat lamps.

- Add a thick layer of pine bedding and soft (non-moldy) straw on the floor.

- Get rid of any metal flooring and replace with wood with bedding on top.

- Make sure perch is wood and not of another material.

- Buy a digital temperature/humidity device to place inside the coop and at least track the highs and lows to get a better idea of what the actual temperature is inside your coop (again a photo of an example - https://www.instagram.com/p/BMuMex-BLLr/?taken-by=quackersandfernie&hl=en). You can also go the extra mile and install a web cam that is directed at this device, in order to tract what the actual temperature/humidity is instead of guessing.

I realize this may be considered excessive by yourself or others, but I made it a priority for me because I feel like my little birds depend on me, and I would feel really bad if one of them ended up getting frostbite or sick from the cold

Also, here is a link to a frostbite page on a website that provides very good information on everything you might want to know about frostbite in chickens - http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/frostbite