The number of chickens is always changing - especially in spring/summer. The coop/run design is also an evolving process. LOL The key is to watch & learn from others. I use whatever I can find on hand & also have neighbors willing to donate materials -like pallets, doors, cage wire, etc.
The shelving was garbage picked 1-2 yrs ago when some new neighbors redid their closets. I got tired of bending to sift the sand, so I tried out raising the roost. It also added more usable sq ft. I had a lower roost below the shelf, but none used it, so it was removed. I also tried a chicken swing, but again no takers. There are a few chickens that love my children's swingset, but none of them used the swing I had made.
One of the many chickens who likes to use the swingset:
LOLBelow is what the tall run looks like when I have chicks/teens. I use "something" like baby gates, dog crate, or rabbit cage to contain chicks & prevent them from being bullied. It also gives a safe place to feed. Lastly, it's easy to add or remove as needed.
I had a shelf to hold my poop cleaning bucket but a few hens kept sleeping there, knocking the bucket to the ground, & pooping on the hens below. I added a hook for my bucket.
Then my Sebright & Dominique kept insisting to sleep up there. They tried balancing on the bucket, hook, power cord, or any tiny ledge. So, I gave in, returned the shelf, & put a feed bag to collect droppings. DD & my dad built some quail cages this summer, so I asked for a small broody-breaker box with the leftover wire. I had to put a feed bag on top because my Spitzhauben decided to sleep way up there.
When it's warm enough to have a hose, I line all of the shelves with feed bags. Dump nightly poop into the bucket & hose off. It looks nice & clean. When it's freezing, I use sand & sift out the poop-cicles.
The run is attached to the coop by a ramp. The chickens love to hang out on it, so I haven't figured out a way to keep it clean other than scraping. Any suggestions?
Inside the coop. I used wall board inside to make it easy to wipe down the walls & removable linoleum for the floor. (I have diff - wider - roosts now) One thing I like is the nest boxes. Instead of grabbing from the top, the door is on side. This way the nesting material can be easily swept out. A simple piece of wood is held in place with an eye hook to keep the bedding in place until cleaning time.
Outside:
The actual coop is small, so many chickens sleep in the tall run. It's cooler like a screened room in the summer and protected from wind/snow in the winter by adding "storm windows" made from vinyl - like shower curtains.
When chicken math hit we added a 3rd short run to give more space. The flock loves to use it as a winter sun room & sand bath. The roof flips up for cleaning. Like the tall run, we made winter "storm windows" for the extension.
Here's the set up ready for snow:
Sometimes we can get a lot of snow:
I know they can get it and out because I've watched them. I don't know what their deal is.
