If I could do it differently, next time I would...

[Peepthis541]

I'm sure I am not the only one who has realized how they could have done things a bit differently on their coop after finishing construction and learning tons throughout the process.

What have been some enlightening experiences for you during coop building and what are some things you wish you could have done better, or would do better on the next one?

For me, the things I've learned in hindsight and would improve next time are increasing space, better arrangement of roosting perches, and implementing easier access points for cleaning.

 

[Omran]

For me I did not cover the ceiling from inside and the chicken sterted roosting way up top and making a mess.
Today I went and installed some chicken wires and at bed time one of the hen tried 4 times to fly up there and every time she knocked her head into the wire finelly she realized that there is no more sleeping up there.

 

[dale]

Make the coop three times as large... maybe four times

 

[crazyhen]

Put wire in the bottom and an inch or 3 of sand on that with DE in it. Then the pine wood chips for bedding. I would not worry so much about something being able to dig in.
Also build in a division in the coop so young chickens could be devided from the big girls. The devision should be removable with wire left so later they could see each other. This area could be fairly small 4x 8 sounds right. The coop would be longer than wide. The run would be on the low side of the coup . That way no water would run from the yard into or under the coop as bad.
there would be a covered area of 8x8 with green fiberglass to partially shade the area and give a dry area when it rains. All nest would be accessible from outside the coop.
Ahhh dreams aren't they wonderful. The run would be hugh. I would have to have a fortune to build it but maybe someday if i keep adding i will have most of it.
I would build like a triangular tractor with a small run somewhere else on the property for isolation area .
I would put a couple of electrical plugs in and have water piped there too while I am dreamming and a shed thats secure for feed. The chicken haven. Lol When building the coop I would put large windows on the east and west side with hardware cloth covered screens for summer. At the top I would do the first two feet with the clear fiberglass . More natural light in the coop the better that would still be safe. Jean

 

[lurky]

I would have gotten all bantams

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

We built for the birds we had at the time rather than the birds we would want in the future. So we have a bisic coop 10x10, added isolation coop 3x7, breeding coop 6x8, grain storrage 4x4. Along with garden shed 8x8, mechanical/tractor shed 16x20, wood shed 10x12, toy shed for the kids bikes 8x8....well my yard looks like a shanty town. Neighbors can't tell due to some strategic planting of pine trees but it looks like crud to have so many small buildings that don't match. All of my "out buildings" add up to one large polebarn that I doubt I will ever have enough cash to build outright and since I don't want to carry any debt. The only good thing about this arrangement is that most of my run areas are blocked by solid structures on two or three sides and this gives greater security for the ones that are penned up. If I had know when I made this lifestyle change 9 years ago that I would turn my yard into a maze I would have bit the bullet and taken out the loan for the single big building. When I die my kids will only be able to sell this place to another crazy person...lol.

 

[Sylvie]

I would have built the coop before the chicks arrived.

And as much as I love each and every one of my 16 girls, I would have bought 4 started pullets, period. Our life got very complicated while we were brooding the chicks and trying to build the coop.
Also would have been cheaper considering the amount of feed bought to date and no eggs yet.

The coop has only existed since this fall and hasn't gone through all the seasons so I haven't noticed any glaring drawbacks. I want to add a small feed shed to the side of the coop to free up the floor space the feed cans take.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Make the coop bigger, but we didn't really have any choice since it was a renovation... I think a big sheltered area containing the coop and run is a great idea. Then I wouldn't worry that the girls are being blown around in the run when it's windy around here.

 

[AtRendeAcres]

Nest Box outside
I would have thought out my roosting area better!
(I like the outside access door of my tractors to just sweep in wheel barrel!)

big picture not sure how to resize so, you might have to refresh!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Make the coop three times as large... maybe four times tongue

DITTO this! Saves time and money in the long run...now were stuck making ANOTHER one!​