MY NEW COOP IS FINALLY DONE!

[Brian]

Cynthia, I was afraid to put the roosing boards wide-side up. I have read about this being done in really cold climes so that the birds might have warmer feet (since more feathers will cover their feet, since their feet are flat). The reason I didn't do that is that I felt that roosting with feet flat may be just too darn unnatural. I have read that this can stretch the birds tendons, making it difficult to walk as the birds age. Now I don't know if this is true or not. I just imagined birds in the wild. Since trees don't come with flat branches, I decided to let their toes curl a little. Maybe it doesn't matter. (???) What do you think?
Appreciate the feedback.
Brian

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Brian that really is one of the nicest looking coops I've seen pictures of!! You did a super job on that, really nice!!

 

[speckledhen]

Brian, chickens don't grip with their rear toe like wild birds do so something too round isn't good. In actuality, I think a 3" well-rounded board is probably the very best, but hard to come by unless you just make one. Mine roost on some 2x4s and some very heavily rounded rungs stripped from a big pallet we sanded smooth. Those top four rungs on mine are from the pallet and I think probably what I'd like all the rungs to be like, but I only had the one heavy pallet. I hadn't heard that about the tendons, though, so not sure how true it is. Here is the roost in my main coop:

 

[greginshasta]

Brian - this is excellent.

I'm going to throw out the idea that you need to make it easier for the birds to get to the roosts. Those are really well above the floor and it's been my observation with our hens which we got in July that it takes quite a while before they have the ability to fly that high.

Even at over 6 months old, I have noticed some of ours find a shortcut to get up on the roosts.

In the photo below, you see how we framed the cleanout box below the roosts, and oh do they fill that sucker up. Chicken wire is now stretched over a square frame that fits over the cleanout box. Another change not shown in the photo is that we added another step which is placed directly above where the closest edge of the cleanout box appears in the photo. This puts that step about 15" above the floor.

Frequently the birds will hop from the side onto the chicken wire that covers the poo box, then onto the bottom step, then start hopping up to the top. Your chicks will need a way to get to those roosts for quite a while until they are fully feathered. Or at least that's what I believe. Other opinions would be appreciated.

 

[johnnyjack]

ok now the big ? how much money ya got in it.
its nice very nice.

 

[chickflick]

Very nice coop!

 

[speckledhen]

You know, Brian, it also depends on the size of your birds. My Blue Orpington rooster has humongous feet! He'd have a hard time on a 2" surface. Well, actually a regular 2x4 is only 1 3/4" wide unless you get it from the lumber mill. A small standard or bantam would have no problem with it whatsoever. The most important thing is that the roosts are very smooth and are easily accessible so as to avoid bumblefoot and other injuries to the feet.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Beautiful job, Brian... the coop is so well thought out.
Thanks for sharing all the photos with us.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Wow!! Now that's a coop!! I have to agree with Cyn on the roosts though. But your's gave me some good ideas for mine. How high off the ground are your roosts, and then how far apart? I think I could have done a better job on mine. I might have to remake mine like yours.

 

[BeckyLa]

What a beautiful coop, and the extra room is a wonderful idea!

Since you are still taking ideas, there are a couple things to think about.

First, I agree about using 2x4's with the wide side up for the roosts. None of my birds seem to be developing leg problems even my large Marans roo who is nearly 5 years old. I would, however, put the lowest rung not over about 2' high so they don't develop problems from jumping down from too high up. And, as mentioned, your young birds will begin roosting at an earlier age if the bottom rung is lower.

Also, you might think of adding a clean-out door that you can toss the bedding straight outside making clean up easier. From what I see now, you'd have to bring a wheelbarrow into your shed room to clean out the bedding and that could become a real pain, imho.

And you probably will want to put hardware cloth securely over any windows that you will open in warmer weather to keep all preditors and rodents out.

You certainly have done a great job! Are you going to paint or stain your building? And............do you hire out?