New coop, first time chickens on the way

[Trenttrent]

Hello, I’m new to the forum and never had chickens before. We have 6 Plymouth Rock laying hens arriving in February.
Coop is 2/3 done and I have some questions about layout and general questions about the chickens.
The coop is about 5.5’ x 6.5’ and about 5’ tall. Coop floor is 2’ off the ground, and will require a ramp or steps down to the run elevation.


What is a comfortable step height for the hens to hop up?
I think the nesting box floor level will be 18” off the coop floor, how much higher should the roosting bars be?
I have some ridged plastic material that has 7/8” holes, Hopefully my picture upload will work and someone can advise me about using it. Can chickens walk on this if it’s flat? Can chickens climb this if it’s used as a ramp?
Thank you!

 

[nuthatched]

I'd just add a stump for a step, or no step at all for two feet.
You want your roosts above the nest boxes but below ventilation , what type of ventilation do you have?

 

[Sefirothe]

Hello, I’m new to the forum and never had chickens before. We have 6 Plymouth Rock laying hens arriving in February.
Coop is 2/3 done and I have some questions about layout and general questions about the chickens.
The coop is about 5.5’ x 6.5’ and about 5’ tall. Coop floor is 2’ off the ground, and will require a ramp or steps down to the run elevation.


What is a comfortable step height for the hens to hop up?
I think the nesting box floor level will be 18” off the coop floor, how much higher should the roosting bars be?
I have some ridged plastic material that has 7/8” holes, Hopefully my picture upload will work and someone can advise me about using it. Can chickens walk on this if it’s flat? Can chickens climb this if it’s used as a ramp?
Thank you!

I dont think I would use this as a ramp. I could see toes getting broken as a chicken tries to go down it and gets a toe caught in the circle cut outs as they slide. Usually you want something protruding up to stop a slide down slope, like cleats or something. These are my ramps from when the coop was still under construction...so still clean

 

[Trenttrent]

I'd just add a stump for a step, or no step at all for two feet.
You want your roosts above the nest boxes but below ventilation , what type of ventilation do you have?

Ventilation plan (thus far), is open front and rear corrugations of roof sheets plus 2 - 4” round louver (highest point of walls) vents year round. Additional venting in summer by replacing glass of the storm door with hardware cloth (about 6 sq ft).

The more I read, it seems people/birds prefer steps over ramps.

 

[nuthatched]

Ventilation plan (thus far), is open front and rear corrugations of roof sheets plus 2 - 4” round louver (highest point of walls) vents year round. Additional venting in summer by replacing glass of the storm door with hardware cloth (about 6 sq ft).

The more I read, it seems people/birds prefer steps over ramps.

Steps are easier in many ways.
Ideally, you should have the equivalent of 1 sq foot of permanent ventilation per bird, I dont think you'll have enough with your current plan.

 

[Trenttrent]

Steps are easier in many ways.
Ideally, you should have the equivalent of 1 sq foot of permanent ventilation per bird, I dont think you'll have enough with your current plan.

Ok. More ventilation (inlet and outlet) that I add should all be near the roofline? Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

Ok. More ventilation (inlet and outlet) that I add should all be near the roofline? Thanks!

Open up the space between the rafters and the top plates of the load bearing walls and secure the area with 1/2" hardware cloth. Add much larger gable end vents and a ridge vent if that is your roof design.
Having at least one opening down low to permit dry fresh air to enter helps promote circulation.