Introducing 2 new hens

[aart]

The two senior ones have been sleeping in their boxes when I got them last year.

The reason they are sleeping in the nest 'boxes' is because the roosts are too low and probably too small to be comfortable.

Here's a fix you might be interested in pursuing:
Here's an excellent modification to that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535

Or you could turn that whole mini coop/run combo into a coop by removing the interior wall of the coop....since you have to 20 x 40 run area.
Pics of the 20-40 run area?

 

[rosemarythyme]

The reason they are sleeping in the nest 'boxes' is because the roosts are too low and probably too small to be comfortable.

Here's a fix you might be interested in pursuing:
Here's an excellent modification to that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535

Or you could turn that whole mini coop/run combo into a coop by removing the interior wall of the coop....since you have to 20 x 40 run area.
Pics of the 20-40 run area?

x2, that's what I'm thinking - if the run is that big there's no reason to not use the entire prefab as a coop, plus this will also help with the roosting issue.

So to turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise across the newly open space. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

An example of a renovated prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

 

[rgspine]

x2, that's what I'm thinking - if the run is that big there's no reason to not use the entire prefab as a coop, plus this will also help with the roosting issue.

So to turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise across the newly open space. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

An example of a renovated prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

Thank you guys for these ideas. I like it. Everybody on these forums are very helpful !!

 

[rgspine]

If the nesting boxes remained in the same place would you add a ramp from the floor to the nesting boxes?

 

[rosemarythyme]

If the nesting boxes remained in the same place would you add a ramp from the floor to the nesting boxes?

At most I'd add a perch bar a few inches away from the front of the nests, so they can fly up, land, and hop into the boxes.

Other option is to add nests elsewhere (which is what I did, I just gave the birds access to a small dog house).