New Coop - Modified Open Front

[arion]

I just finished the permanent coop. It's built off the side of a small workshop and is 7'x10' and modified open front design with open eaves and a 12"x24 inch windows on the North and East face. The coop itself is facing South. I made it with ac3 treated lumber and plywood except that the door is particle board as I ran out of the plywood.

I have a pneumatic roofing nailer which worked perfect for the hardware cloth and saved me the trouble of pounding staples. It also has hardware cloth around the perimeter and a metal roof. I only have four Rhode Island Reds that are 18 weeks old and a cockeral that is 10 weeks old and I don't know what type he is. I'm using wood pellets on the floor and put 5 bags in and need to get one or two more and threw some aspen chips in as well. And there is a little box in the corner with garden soil as well as a plastic nesting box. And there is a metal roof on it. About all I need to do yet it to put an outlet in the coop for supplemental lighting as well as the aquarium heater. They seem to like it so far and just fly up to the roost and don't bother with the ladder I made for them.

 

[pennyJo1960]

maybe a small table of pallet nature for them to sit on or
a roost bar ? rest looks great

 

[Nardo]

Goofy chickens.My ladder goes 1/2 way and then turns and continues because I was not wanting to obstruct the walkway. Anyway, they jump 1/2 way up and then climb. OR they climb 1/2 way up and then jump. But they are fine either way so what do we know. . .

 

[arion]

maybe a small table of pallet nature for them to sit on or
a roost bar ? rest looks great

There are two 4' roosts, the first one is attached to the ladder and the second one about a foot higher above the lower one and they were all on the higher board last night. Once they are acclimatized to the new coop I might kick them out for a bit and then use a circular saw and take out that upper board and put a narrower one or a circular limb for them to roost on. That board is so wide they are pooping on it at night instead of the droppings falling to the floor.

 

[pennyJo1960]

That's why I use pallet for my tables leaving the spaces poop falls to the lower boards or floor

 

[boz]

is that afternoon sun because it looks they are trying to stay in the shade

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I'm worried about little to no shade in that chicken coop.... perhaps you can implement some sort of shade area for them?

 

[arion]

Morning sun and they were trying to stay away from me. I got them as pullets and not as chicks so they are still getting used to me. Even in full sun out they have shade in the back in the morning. During the afternoon most of the coop is in the shade. And in the U.P. of Michigan right on Lake Superior even in summer it rarely gets 'hot'.