New coop

[Rebechenson75]

I bought an 16' x 8' shed that I am converting to a coop for my growing flock. I'm trying to figure out how to set up roosting bars to accommodate around 30 birds. A few are Brahmas and Brahma mixes. I currently have 6 nesting boxes and plan to add a few bins that my larger birds can use as well. I was reading some other posts and found out about Black Jack 57 for the floor and lower parts of the walls. If you all have pictures or diagrams that I can look at.

Thank you all in advance

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How exciting and fun!

There's a lot of coop articles here on BYC, you may want to check those out.

As for how to configure, there's so many ways to do it.

You may want to check out @DobieLover article of the conversion she did to a shed. I think it's a wonderful setup, you may find some inspiration there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-mulligan.74743/

 

[Rebechenson75]

How exciting and fun!

There's a lot of coop articles here on BYC, you may want to check those out.

As for how to configure, there's so many ways to do it.

You may want to check out @DobieLover article of the conversion she did to a shed. I think it's a wonderful setup, you may find some inspiration there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-mulligan.74743/

I've been looking at some u-tube videos. I've come up with some ideas, it's up to DH and what he can do now.

 

[DobieLover]

You may want to check out @DobieLover article of the conversion she did to a shed. I think it's a wonderful setup, you may find some inspiration there.

Thanks @Wyorp Rock! I still really love it. It makes keeping the birds very easy. But the attached predator proof run is also key.

 

[Rebechenson75]

I was wondering what i need to do so my birds will use the new coop. The current coop will be for introducing new birds and other birds related needs.
How high should I mount the nesting boxes? Or do I leave them on the floor?

And Poop boards under the roost. What's a good way to make those and clean them?

 

[DobieLover]

I was wondering what i need to do so my birds will use the new coop. The current coop will be for introducing new birds and other birds related needs.
How high should I mount the nesting boxes? Or do I leave them on the floor?

And Poop boards under the roost. What's a good way to make those and clean them?

If you click the link and read the article I wrote... it's all in there.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How high should I mount the nesting boxes? Or do I leave them on the floor?

My method for determining height.

Determine the height of the coop floor, including bedding.

Design your pop door so the bedding does not fall out. Human or cleanout doors also. The chickens will scratch the bedding so they should be raised a bit.

Install your nests. Some people put the nests on the floor. Some like them high enough so they don't have to bend over to gather eggs or clean the nests. Some stack them in different rows at different heights. People tend to care much more about nest height than the chickens do. Make them convenient for you.

Install your roosts higher than the nests or anything else you do not want the chickens to sleep in. Most chickens like to sleep in the highest spot available. You don't want them sleeping in your nests as they poop where they sleep. I find it very convenient to catch a chicken on the roost at night if I want to catch one instead of chasing it with a fishing net during the day. That might be to inspect of treat one. So make them a convenient height for you to grab a sleeping chicken.

I want my ventilation higher than the chickens' heads on the roost. You don't want a strong cold wind hitting them in the winter. If the ventilation is higher than the roosts that isn't a problem.

And Poop boards under the roost. What's a good way to make those and clean them?

People do that many different ways. My 3' x 6' brooder is under the main roosts with a top that is a sheet of plywood. I scrape it off with a garden hoe that has a broken handle. My juvenile roosts are over my nests so again a flat sheet of plywood. I put the raked poop in my compost pile.

Some people build trays to hold PDZ or sand and scoop the poop out of that like you scoop kitty litter.

Some hang cloth hammocks under the roosts so they can take them down to shake them out. I don't see this one mentioned much.

People use other ways also. Lots of different options.

 

[Rebechenson75]

You have given me much food for thought. I'm getting eggcited about how to set up my coop and brooder area. I will definitely be using some of your stuff. The pictures have been very helpful.

 

[rosemarythyme]

BlackJack in my coop. Note that it's on beams but not specifically on the wall because we have Tyvek on the wall, otherwise it would be up the wall as well.