Need Creative Coop Ideas!

[BrittChick15]

I need some ideas from others who are more creative then me! My fiancé bought the coop for me in April and I’ve noticed that the girls don’t really use the roosts in there. It came like this. And I don’t really blame them it’s set up so stupid. So I’m thinking about redoing it and need ideas of how to do so. Pictures of inside the coop currently. The four nesting boxes closest to the door do not get used at all yet. Maybe I could tear them out? DO NOT MIND THE DIRTY COOP FLOOR! I didn’t get to clean it first before the pictures

 

[azygous]

If those one inch dowels are the roosting perches, get rid of them. They are too skinny and also situated too low to the ground. I use three inch pine branches.

If you move the nesting boxes down low, and then install perches at the level where the nests are presently, it would be more enticing to your chickens.

 

[sealer39]

Is the whole thing at ground level? An overall pic of the outside would help.
If those are the roost bars made from sticks below the nest boxes, you should remount them above the nest boxes. The width only looks about 3’ wide. I’d mount the nest boxes to be accessed from the outside and yes, eliminate the ones you don’t need. This looks like a lot of work just to get it right. If it’s put together with screws it may be easier to dismantle it and rebuild it the way you want using the old wood to save some money.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd tear out (or lower, if you want to keep them) the unused nest boxes and use that area for new roost bars. Aim for at least 2" diameter if round, or use 2x3s, 2x4s.

 

[aart]

An overall pic of the outside would help.

Yeppers!

How many birds @BrittChick15 ?
Also....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Alaskan]

I would lower the nestboxes, make the top of the nestboxes a poop shelf, and put a nice wide 2x4 over that poop shelf.

But... mounting the nestboxes outside would also work, and free up space.

If you dont have many chickens... maybe perch, poop shelf, and a big community nestbox mounted under the poop shelf,all on the skinny end under the window would work, and then the rest of the coop could have lots more open space.

But.... is that tiny window the only ventilation?

Or is the entire door a hardware cloth door?

It does look like a huge hole needs to be added for ventilation.

 

[BrittChick15]

I agree, I hate them as do they! I was thinking of making new ones up on the right hand side of the coop but I’m worried they won’t be able to reach them if I put them too high? Maybe put a long board attached to the nesting boxes and one up higher on the right hand side?

 

[BrittChick15]

I will attach a pic of the coop but making the nesting boxes accessible from the outside won’t work. I will be eliminating a couple I believe and the current roosting bars are maybe a foot off the ground I hate them lol

 

[BrittChick15]

I was almost thinking of doing that. But I think they are built into the wall of the coop I’d have to cut them off without destroying the wall lol

 

[BrittChick15]

I currently have 7 birds. 6 girls and 1 rooster. I’m in Eastern Pennsylvania so yes the roosts are important for me since we get brutal winters sometimes and I don’t want my chickens to freeze on the coop floor