Is the coop tall enough and food placement....

[MissSavie]

We are in the middle of building our coop. My husband drew up the plans from something we saw in a book. It's a large tractor type coop. The 1st floor (ground) is about 2' tall. It's 8'X3'. It'll have an access door to a larger run once we get that built. The upstairs is their coop with roosts and nesting box. It's also 8'X3' and 2' 6" tall. It was supposed to be 3'2" tall and my husband didn't realize that. I'm really worried that won't be tall enough for the girls to roost in. The sides of the coop are 1' tall with a roof pitch up to 2'6" (approx...I think the ridge bar might take up some of that space). The roosts are set at 1' high. We have 2X2's across the 3' space with a longer 55" roost (might be a 2X2 or a branch) spanning the 2 other roosts. That only gives the girls about a foot +- of headroom. Will that be enough or so I need to make my husband add another wall? We don't yet have the siding on or the rafter's built so now's the time. It'll involve lots of work, money and maybe choice words on my husband's part but I'm really worried. We're new at this. We're also using the plastic roofing and having a difficult time finding flexible PVC for the ridge line. The roof opens for cleaning. We' haven't figured out all the logistics for that yet.

Also, I was going to put the food and water under the coop to keep the coop cleaner but won't the girls get hungry and thirsty at night? Should I have food and water in their night area?


Autumn

Owner of 5 chicks. 2 Buffs, 2 Americaunas and 1 Gold Laced Wyandotte.

 

[sillybirds]

You might be able to get away with a coop that tall, but I think it would be better to have it a little taller. How are you constructing it? It would be easier to make suggestions on how you might alter your plans if you post some pictures.

 

[KMHunter]

My hen house is 30in. tall, also a raised coop. I am going to take the thing apart and make it taller. It will make things easier like placement of the roosts, and I plan on having a small feeder and waterer in there this winter. I would make it taller if you can.