Need coop design input

[haunani]

Updated drawings using actual measurements. I like the suggestion of using the existing work bench as a roost, so for now, I'm going to do just that.

To increase ventilation, I'm going to do 3 of the windows on the south side, instead of just 2.

I also drew out a cut plan for a sheet of plywood and for some 2x4s.

 

[pawl]

I would think that you'd find them laying eggs under the workbench and covering the top in poo. Instead of a ladder/ramp on the outside of my coop the girls have a porch about 9 inches deep it's about 24" off the ground so not much gets into the coop other than the chickens. You layout has you walking across the coop a lot it seems. I hang my feeders high enough they can duck under and the 5 gal. waterer is on a heat base on top of a solid concrete raised platform built just for the purpose... it allows for deep litter in the winter and it denies rodents a place to hide under. I suspended heavy chunk of wood over the waterer because one of my more stubborn girls was determined to roost there. You could put the water wherever you like and just run an extension through the rafters and drop it where you want it. Chickens make dust, loads of dust, so you'll want to be sure to seal off the other half of the building. Hope something in here was helpful.

 

[Suuuzy]

From your drawings I'm noticing that your roosts are cut from plywood. Those are normally dowels or better yet branches. 1-1/2" diameter works great.

I would also suggest putting your roosts above an area that's easy to clean, regularly. In the beginning it's fun to go into the coop and take care of them but eventually that will be an area that you won't readily want to enter. It's nice to have most of their necessities accessible from outside the coop. My chickens roost at night in the smaller coop area that's easily accessible for cleaning. They're very productive at night and you'll be amazed how the poop collects. Unless your doing a deep litter, that will be a concern.

 

[haunani]

I was thinking we could turn the work bench into something like this. It's about 33" from floor to bench top.

 

[haunani]

I'm sorry if the drawing was confusing. The roost itself would be from a 2x4.

From your drawings I'm noticing that your roosts are cut from plywood. Those are normally dowels or better yet branches. 1-1/2" diameter works great.

I would also suggest putting your roosts above an area that's easy to clean, regularly. In the beginning it's fun to go into the coop and take care of them but eventually that will be an area that you won't readily want to enter. It's nice to have most of their necessities accessible from outside the coop. My chickens roost at night in the smaller coop area that's easily accessible for cleaning. They're very productive at night and you'll be amazed how the poop collects. Unless your doing a deep litter, that will be a concern.

 

[pawl]

Wow, nice but it seems like work to clean... why not angle the tray under the perch to deflect the poo towards the wall

Instead of ramps why not a small lower perch as a jumping off place so the birds can reach the sleeping perch but any predators can't and any sick or injured birds will be easy to spot

 

[Suuuzy]

That works. The roost should be small enough that they can get their little feet around it.

 

[pawl]

For sleeping it's better the perch is wide enough to rest on. With a narrow perch they have to hold on and can't sleep as deeply.... the lower perch for jumping up should probably be narrow to discourage sleeping there.