My Coop Design Flaws

[jthornton]

When I built my coop I did not know about this wonderful place. I found some photos on the net a based it off of that. I think I have enough ventilation with the two gable vents and the 4 eve vents. However the big flaw I see now after hanging around here is the roost and nest boxes. Here you can see the roost is below the nest box and the floor level.

This is the other side, the nest boxes are just a slide in so easy to remove and clean or what ever.

My question is should I clean out the lower one and make it nest boxes and move my junk up to the top one? I have about 2 months till my first possible egg... for now the nest boxes are blocked off by the cardboard.

JT

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would, otherwise you will have chickens roosting on the box edges.

 

[N F C]

I saw the article you wrote about the way you could have/should have built your coop. I think that sort of information will be helpful to others starting out new. Good job on the article!

 

[Chickassan]

Yep,move your junk up and your boxes down.

 

[aart]

I would, otherwise you will have chickens roosting on the box edges.

Agrees.

 

[jthornton]

Well I got some things started to fix my design flaws with the coop. I raised the roost 1 1/2" today, I figure I'll raise it a little at a time so they don't notice it as much. Right now the top of the roost is 18" from the roof. I'd like to raise the roost an additional 3" so its a bit above the nest box openings. Is 15" enough height above the roost?

Building Inspector at work.


JT

 

[aart]

Is 15" enough height above the roost?

Do you mean above the nest?
I would say, yes.

Did you switch the nests with the 'stuff' storage, so nests are lower?

 

[jthornton]

Do you mean above the nest?
I would say, yes.

Did you switch the nests with the 'stuff' storage, so nests are lower?

No, I talking about the distance from the top of the roost to the roof. Unfortunately the roost will be about 3" above the top of the nest boxes when I'm done. I'm thinking of extending the OSB that will be on top down some for the illusion the roost is higher than it really is in relation to the nest boxes.

Working on the switch now, it's a multi phase project. I have to move some wires and make a floor and a wall for the upper space and move my chicken cam.

JT

 

[aart]

Oh.... 15" from roost is OK, more would be better depending on your climate and ventilation 'drafts'.

 

[jthornton]

The vents are above the main roof in the ends of the monitor, at least I got that right when I built the coop.

Also the coop is sheltered by the house. The coop is the red thing behind the run in this photo.

JT