Most important things to keep in mind?

[bangarain]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post in, but I'm starting to worry - I did a lot of research on chickens and keeping them but I'm worried it's not enough. Our chicks are doing great - wonderful, even, (the chick-keeping part is easy) but they're getting older (as they do) and I'm starting to worry that their coop (which is yet to be built) won't be good enough, among other things as they progress to adulthood.

So, what's the best advice/information about young-adult chickens that you guys have for a worried chicken mama? I want the absolute best for them so I'm just panicking a little, LOL. Don't want to mess up.

 

[newmarch2014]

ha, make it 4 times bigger than you think you need. Is it entirely roofed, does it have enough ventilation (preferably up high), is it easy to clean, if you cannot get in it can you reach all the areas easily, if you can get it in....can you do so without having to stoop over for the 30 min cleaning session? Is it predator proof, can you get to the egg boxes easily? Can you easily close the pop door (automated is better) if you will use a light occasionally is there a place to secure it? Will they all fit with a little wiggle room on the roosts? ( I have to put in bales of hay on the roosts in the winter right now to give less open space so that they are forced to snuggle more to help conserve body heat since I don't use a light unless it is under 15 degrees).

 

[GuppyTJ]

Can you describe your coop design a bit? That makes it easier to comment. But in general, the main thing is that it is draft-free but with good ventilation (use the search function in BYC to research this). Also I agree the prior poster, try to make it as big as you reasonably can. And as secure as you can. Use hardware cloth, NOT chicken wire. Most predators can get through chicken wire with no problem. Make the nest boxes dark and put fake eggs in them to ensure the chickens understand these are good places to lay.

Other than this, the chickens don't care much about the coop design beyond this. The rest of the design is for our benefit. Ease of cleaning, collecting eggs, replacing food and water, etc.

Guppy