New coop upgrade…need some advice.

[Lkw]

So, we have several coops. Usually when we upgrade or add a coup, it’s going in a new location with a new group of chickens. However, we are replacing an existing coupe with a much larger one. It will be going in the same exact location (water and electricity are already here and it is bordered by an a fruit orchard on one side, our garden and a fence on two other sides, so it can’t really move too much)… unfortunately they will still need to use it as the new one is being constructed... so, how do I do this, exactly? Do I build the new coop around the old one then take the old one out in pieces? Do you think I should just disconnect it and have the guys move it over right next to where it is now till the new one is built? These are our older ladies and sometimes they have a little bit of a hard time with change. They are free range, and last time we moved their coop (due to a new pasture being fenced) they were very, VERY confused we had to chase chickens around at dusk for hours every night for 2 weeks till they finally figured out their new place. If we didn’t chase them in, they would literally sit down on the ground, where their old coop was. I think once it’s built, they will be fine as they will go into it for food and water… I hate to put a new coop in for this group, but a tree fell on the old one during a storm and it is somewhat patched together temporarily so we need to upgrade. Any advice is much appreciated!!!

 

[ChaosMom]

So, we have several coops. Usually when we upgrade or add a coup, it’s going in a new location with a new group of chickens. However, we are replacing an existing coupe with a much larger one. It will be going in the same exact location (water and electricity are already here and it is bordered by an a fruit orchard on one side, our garden and a fence on two other sides, so it can’t really move too much)… unfortunately they will still need to use it as the new one is being constructed... so, how do I do this, exactly? Do I build the new coop around the old one then take the old one out in pieces? Do you think I should just disconnect it and have the guys move it over right next to where it is now till the new one is built? These are our older ladies and sometimes they have a little bit of a hard time with change. They are free range, and last time we moved their coop (due to a new pasture being fenced) they were very, VERY confused we had to chase chickens around at dusk for hours every night for 2 weeks till they finally figured out their new place. If we didn’t chase them in, they would literally sit down on the ground, where their old coop was. I think once it’s built, they will be fine as they will go into it for food and water… I hate to put a new coop in for this group, but a tree fell on the old one during a storm and it is somewhat patched together temporarily so we need to upgrade. Any advice is much appreciated!!!

If in fact you have the space (including elbow room for tool handling) to build around the existing coop and then dismantle it, that seems the most sensible.

I would guess off the top of my head that you’ll need to be incredibly careful about dropped screws etc. Maybe get a metal detector that works on hardware and do sweeps twice a day.