Making a coop in an upper garage mezzanine? With access down to a run?

[mrkeeg]

Hey guys,
First post here, but I've been reading for a while.

I know a bit about chickens from the parents farm, but am looking at getting myself a few in town now.

I keep going around and around trying to brainstorm the best coop option.

I have a large, fenced, backyard, that I may let them range around in occasionally (When I'm around, and not during garden season....), but generally they will be confined to a run and a coop.

I live in Alberta, with relatively long, cold winters, so I want to make sure they have adequate space inside, and that I have ready access in the snowy months.

I could build a free-standing coop, but I've started wondering about making them a spot on the raised mezzanine in my garage. They would have ample space, some warmth, I would have easy access for maintenance, eggs, keeping an eye on them, etc. Cleaning would be a bit of a pain, but I could shovel it out the window up there.

I know it's a bit of an odd-ball idea. What do you guys think? Would they be able to use a long, zig-zag "staircase" down to an outdoor run, from 8ft high?

Thanks,
Keegan

 

[Wrooster]

I've never had chickens where it snows but sounds OK to me. You'd want to be sure that wooden parts of your garage are extremely well-protected from chicken droppings and any water. Dust and bedding (with droppings) will escape if at all possible.

 

[duckman14]

I live in northern Minnesota so I hear ya in the winter thing.
How many chickens are you thinking of getting and how big of a coop would you build? I have a 4'x8' coop and I use pine shavings for bedding. I clean my poop board every day and the shavings once a week( just spot clean) and I get a 5 gallon bucket full and that's it. So you may not need to be shoveling it out the window.