My Coop Design Flaws

[Wise Woman]

Cute coop! I agree with the others to switch your nestboxes to the lower level. Otherwise, I think it is a very nice coop.

 

[jthornton]

I got phase 2 done today, moved all the electron containing devices up to the top after adding a shelf. Still need to remove the lower cover and install an upper one and move the chicken camera yet again...

JT

 

[Wise Woman]

Good job!

 

[jthornton]

Well I got the roll out nest box installed today so now I need to move the electron devices outside to gain 4' of roost space.

JT

 

[jthornton]

I got the new home for the electron devices done over the holidays and increased the roost box floor area by 20%, they now have a whopping 20 square feet to roost in. I'm going to stop calling it a coop because it only does a single function provide a place to roost at night. Well two functions if you count the underneath gathering spot with a wind break. This photo does not show the roof panel I added...



JT

 

[Wise Woman]

So did you make the nest boxes outside then? Your coop looks very nice.

 

[jthornton]

Yes, I had no choice with my limited space inside the coop or roost box as I call it now.
This is how it is today, I had to make a change or two after watching the chickens. I added the second little step after watching them look down a few times before hopping into the nest box, now they can step in and don't even look down.



This is the outside, been a bit wet lately waiting for an above freezing day to caulk the rain cover and paint it. The lid slides under the rain guard about an inch. The hasp prevents an animal from getting the lid off at night and gaining access to the run.



JT

 

[Wise Woman]

Glad you got it all sorted out. It looks good to me! Hope the chickens enjoy all your hard work.

 

[jthornton]

I got another design flaw fixed today... the punch list is getting small. I now have 11 feet of roost for 10 birds lol room for one more now. The center is "pinned" to the sides with some split pins I had laying around. I can take it apart in seconds and it does not move at all when in place. The center is a tad long so it puts a bit of compression on the sides. I just drop the right side in and the long side bends easy to pop it in. I also moved it down to 10" off the floor so the gals have more head room.



JT

 

[jthornton]

One more item off the punch list... removed the old east doors that at one time was the nest box and electronic cabinet and installed the cabinet type doors for easy access to clean poop on that side. Now if I can brave the cold one more time today I'll replace the west side door with new doors.

Old Doors


New Doors


JT