Need quick opinions on nest box/roosting bar arrangement

[chanceosunshine]

We’re building a new coop. The outside dimension is 8x6. I’m trying to figure out if I should put the nesting box off center of the back wall or on the right wall next to a chicken door.
Centering it on the back wall would crowd the roosting bars, I think.
Also, I’m struggling between a ladder type of roost or a table type of roost to allow more floor space.
I need to decide today…asap.
Please help!

The other side of the wall is a mirror image. I want the option of splitting the coop off in case I Need to separate chickens. It won’t be perfect but I want the option. It’s where I want the roosting bars

 

[Dakar2009]

I know this is unsolicited advice, but from what I've been reading as I get ready to build their permanent coop (and it's been A LOT...to the great concern of my fiance), you may have a situation where the hens will start laying underneath those nesting boxes. That looks like a safe, dark spot to me, and if I was a hen I might consider dropping some butt nuggets down there.

To your questions: Will you have to enter the coop to get to the eggs or will you build an access door for to get to the nesting boxes from outside? That would determine placement to me. If you need to go inside to get them, you'd want to put the boxes in a more convenient place (ie: not against the back wall). If are building an access door outside and you put them next to the chicken door (which I assume will lead to an enclosed run), can you get into the run every day to check the boxes?

And who else will be retrieving the eggs besides you? (ie: do they want to walk in chicken poop to get to them?)

All things to consider.

For roosting, ladder roosting may lead to jossling for higher positions (or so I've heard) but may help preserve floor space somewhat. I'd need to see an image of what the "table roost" looks like but it does sound more "space consuming". Why not run 2x4s diagonally across the walls?

 

[chanceosunshine]

Thank you for the unsolicited advice, lol. I'm open to anything. I actually plan to close the underside off...OR I will lower it to about 6" off the floor to keep them from going under.

I'll be using deep litter on the floor and it will be myself or my husband collecting eggs from the inside. Honestly, the back wall or side wall will require the same amount of effort.

I'm certain that I'm using the wrong term for the roosts. I found some examples of the versions I'm thinking of.

OR

 

[Dakar2009]

I'm certain I am using the wrong understanding for the roosts, lol!!! The pics are perfect.

With these pics, I like the "table" design if you are planning to use a poop board underneath the dirty girls. More work up front to build, less with the maintenance after they move in.

I like the idea of the ladder roost, but to me that would suit a deep litter method better than putting multiple poop trays underneath it and would take up more real estate (depending on how large it is). A slide out poop tray could work but that would get HEAVY if it spanned the entire ladder. Of course you couldn't put anything else under there either

The amazing people here have made all kinds of systems work. What would you be more comfortable building and working with? The latter part is the bigger consideration to me.

 

[chanceosunshine]

Thank you!
I'm actually pretty proficient (not perfect) at carpentry and I enjoy it, so I'm willing to do some extra and reap the benefits. And my husband has bought me almost all the cordless Milwaukee tools a person could ever need, so that makes things so much easier.
The deep littler is just because I have to have something down as I don't want to scrape poop off the floor nightly.
I want them to have lots of floor space available.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Nests: either location is fine as far as the chicken go. Only downside to having them closer to the pop door is it gives them less opportunity to scrape stuff off their feet before they hop into the nests. But if closer to pop door is more convenient for your layout, it's not a huge deal.

Roosts: So I have laddered roosts. If flock harmony is an issue, having roosts at all same height helps to spread the birds out (because all of mine try to stuff at the top).

Poop boards are a great way to open up floor space, but you do need to sift the poop off of them regularly. If you're set on deep bedding, then you actually don't want the poop boards underneath as the poop should be accumulating in the litter below.

 

[chanceosunshine]

Nests: either location is fine as far as the chicken go. Only downside to having them closer to the pop door is it gives them less opportunity to scrape stuff off their feet before they hop into the nests. But if closer to pop door is more convenient for your layout, it's not a huge deal.

Roosts: So I have laddered roosts. If flock harmony is an issue, having roosts at all same height helps to spread the birds out (because all of mine try to stuff at the top).

Poop boards are a great way to open up floor space, but you do need to sift the poop off of them regularly. If you're set on deep bedding, then you actually don't want the poop boards underneath as the poop should be accumulating in the litter below.

I went with the poop boards.

Just curious of what I would go with on the floor if not deep litter? Probably sounds like a dumb question but I’m feeling a bit brain fogged trying to get this coop done.

That’s a great point about the nest boxes being close to the pop door allowing dirty feet. I’m going to center it on the back wall and poop boards will be on both sides.

I finished on poop board yesterday.

 

[mowin]

I have my rent deposit boxes underneath the poop board. There probably 16" off the floor. I find having the roost, poop board and nest boxes stacked saves space.
Regardless of your setup, eventually you will have a hen decide the floor is the best spot to lay. Then the others come in to lay, and see a egg in the corner, and think, great idea... I'll lay here too, and before you know it, there's a dozen eggs in the corner. Keeping the nest boxes 16" off the floor make gathering those eggs easier. Closing the space off just reduces the usable square footage of the coop.

 

[chanceosunshine]

I’m still deciding on the height of the boxes. If I go with 18” I’ll need to close it off. Otherwise, I’m tempted to go 6 inches. I really don’t want to close it off, which is why I went with poop boards to begin with. Maybe I’ll go 18” and see what happens.
I have some baby silkies that will share that coop with the rest and I fully expect them to lead everyone astray on where to roost and or lay.

 

[mowin]

I’m still deciding on the height of the boxes. If I go with 18” I’ll need to close it off. Otherwise, I’m tempted to go 6 inches. I really don’t want to close it off, which is why I went with poop boards to begin with. Maybe I’ll go 18” and see what happens.
I have some baby silkies that will share that coop with the rest and I fully expect them to lead everyone astray on where to roost and or lay.

Why would you close that area off? You will be loosing valuable square footage. The reason I went 16" was to be able to reach any eggs that might be laid there.