If you could make your coop again, what would you change?

[highcountrychickens]

Bigger..

Full sized Person Door (easier cleaning)

Better Perch system

nest boxes that I can close ...

gosh... I think I should get my hammer out

 

[wordgirl]

Okay, so big, really big, and BIG....

I like that idea.

Ooh! Lots of great ideas! Keep 'em coming!!!

SuziQ, we love the idea of a poop board. How did you make yours?

 

[catdaddy66]

I would make these changes - higher from ground for easier cleaning, predator proof

, better location.

I am particularly fond of my roosts and nest boxes though!

 

[Gypsi]

I'd have started building in November instead of in March after I got chicks. And I'd have seen the hoop run pics before I spent a fortune on wood for my run. But live and learn. When I get the heavy guage 2x4 fencing around the run, I'll still have enough left to add 5 ft of hoop run.

Gypsi

 

[TipsyDog]

Waaaay BIGGER! I've decided a hen house can never be BIG enough!

ETA: I do like that I have power in my coop now (6 outlets), secured heat lamps, excellent vents and bumped-out nest boxes

Oh and full insulation from the cold and the heat!

 

[PAChickenChick2]

I adored my original coop...it was 4ft wide, 6ft long and 5ft high on a 3ft raised platform. I used it for almost 3 yrs but after my last chicken (out of 6) past due to a hawk snatching I decided to rebuild before I get a new batch of chicks.

Here is what I loved...

Totally loved that the floor was at waist height so I could just scrape out the sand into a wheelbarrow at cleaning time. I loved the sand too..because with my coop it only took 3 bags (150 lbs) and that lasted 6 months without any stink what-so-ever (6 chickens)

Loved that I had tons of ventilation and kept the wood cutouts to pop back in on the coldest of days and made plexiglass pop ins for the medium days.

Here's what HAD to change...

I opted for a pitched roof to save on lumber, which was fine if I had pitched the highest part at the front of the coop. I didn't, so every time it rained and I'd have to let the chickens in/out or change food and water I'd get drenched.

That I didn't paint BEFORE I assembled..for 3 yrs my coop was bare unstained/painted wood that looked terrible and took a beating from the elements.

That my HUGE clean out door (which was really a whole wall on hinges) was soooooo big that it warped from the weight of itself....Will be making all doors in pairs of two from now on.

And finally.... That I didn't have a contingency plan for the future. My coop was a cube for the most part. One of my hens constantly challenged the pecking order and one night she got the whole back of her scalp ripped off. I was able to save her but after that she always got picked on. I had to keep her in a dog kennel inside the coop, which got pooped on daily =( AND when I was down to one lone chicken and thought to get more..I was afraid to mix young chicks with the older one..so I didn't. What I will be doing in my newest coop is making two "doors" on each of the four sides so that if push comes to shove I can insert plexiglass walls in and have four cubicals if needed (or some combination there of). If I can ever figure out how to load a "sketchup" file on here...you'll be able to see it...lol

And what I'd like....

Is to make a waterer and feeder that I can access from outside the coop (so they don't try to run out on those days weather is bad but I still have to feed/water them) And that feeder/water should hold a small supply so I can go on vacation if needed.

Hope that was useful in some way =))

 

[chichichickapea]

Best thing I did was put a remnant piece of linoleum on the floor of my coop. I am using the deep litter method. I have a trap door at the end of the coop adjacent to my compost pile. I open the trap door and sweep all of the litter out with a push broom....takes less than 10 minutes!!!