Limited access to the coop

[SaraiD83]

We recently purchased 2 acres and I've been agonizing over where to put the coop... we have a shop that's perfect... my husband says that he isn't going to use it so I'm doing some thinking... there are already boxes inside it that will be perfect for nesting I think and it's safe and protected with electricity already running. The only problem I have is that there's no real accessibility to the outside.. we can gather them up and take them out to the run or tractor... not sure which we'll be using yet... but they won't be able to get back inside unless we let them in. My question is can we put some nesting boxes in the run or tractor? Will they lay in them alright? I'm trying to decide if it's worth redoing the shop or if I should simply rethink my entire plan and make sure they can have access to a run and the coop. Our primary goal with chickens is eggs so it matters how they'll lay.

 

[ECBW]

Herding or rounding up chickens gets old fast.

 

[Toddrick]

Herding or rounding up chickens gets old fast.

Not to mention it is practically impossible .

You need to cut a hole in the wall so they have direct access to the run. I definitely recommend an auto door, so they can come and go as they wish, and still be protected at night. Otherwise you need to make the run completely secure with hardware cloth on all sides and the top must also be covered.

 

[SaraiD83]

Thanks that is what I was thinking.... I wish I could make my plan work on to plan b! Lol

 

[aart]

Attach run to the side of the shop and cut a pop door in the the wall.

 

[Blooie]

Yep, I certainly agree with aart and ToddRick. You haven't lived until you've tried to herd ad grab chickens to put them someplace they really don't want to be! A pop door doesn't have to be large - just 12" high and maybe 10" wide will do it. We found an old doggie door at a Habitat Restore and it's working fantastic for us! If you're not going to be using the shop, you'd be miles ahead to convert this building into a great coop. Don't forget lots of ventilation! Make a pop door, attach your run to the building so that they can go in and out through that pop door, and you've got it made! There will always be times when, due to weather or time or other circumstances, you won't be able to let them go out into the yard. Those are the times having a run attached to your coop will save you lots of grief!

 

[SaraiD83]

That's what I wanted to do, but there are only 2 directions I could go with the run & neither is really a good option.... :-( the previous owners left tons of junk everywhere around the shop & it doesn't open up to the yard we want them to be in... :-/

 

[Blooie]

We had an odd situation here too, There was a tree on the south side Ken didn't want to lose right where the only logical place for the run would be. Solution? We offset the run. Instead of the run coming off the the coop in a straight line, we put it in front of the run and the chickens access it through a slight "tunnel". Harder to describe that it was to do!


This was taken right after we finished the run. That gray "box" you see almost dead center is their covered tunnel into the run. The run isn't really attached to the coop at all - it just sorta sits at the corner of it.

The tunnel. You can see how the angle blocks wind so we can keep the door open 24/7 year round. The top is covered as well.


Better angle showing the offset run. There are a couple of chickens lounging in the tunnel, visible on the left.


The pop door into the tunnel with the door open.l


And with it closed. This has worked very well for us. We just had to get out of the mindset that said the run should either totally enclose or come straight off the side of the coop.

 

[aart]

That's what I wanted to do, but there are only 2 directions I could go with the run & neither is really a good option.... :-( the previous owners left tons of junk everywhere around the shop & it doesn't open up to the yard we want them to be in... :-/

Hmmm....maybe you need to wait, live there a while and think about it...a solution may become apparent in time.
I've always heard, and found it to be true, that it's good to wait to do major at a new place.
But then I've always been a 'look long before you leap' kinda gal......
.......sometimes that theory makes for missed opportunities, sometimes it makes executing ideas much easier when finally installed.