New member of the Group

[Freckles58]

I'm awaiting my new coop and would love to hear about your ideas/experiences getting your coops set up. Did you paint the inside? Why? What advice would you give for new coop owners? How did you "decorate" the interior? What piece of advice would you think most valuable when getting a new coop? Looking forward to learning from those more experienced than myself. The attached pictures are from the company I ordered my coop from. Mine will be white with green trim, have more roosting bars, another set of nesting boxes, more ventilation installed and hardware cloth around the bottom once it's set in place. Lots of work getting ready. I'm so excited and relieved to have a coop I know my flock will be protected in this winter.

than I !

 

[TwoAcreHomestead]

Welcome aboard.
One tip, Vinyl Flooring. Makes clean up a bunch easier.
Check your local Lowes, Home Depot etc and see if they have any remnants available.
I was able to get enough vinyl flooring for my coop for $5 by asking if they had any scrap.

 

[Sammi_0411]

Hey from the UK! Welcome to BYC it's lovely to have you here lots of useful knowledge and advice on here and everyone trys to assist with any questions or queries. Your coop looks fab xx
XxSamXx

 

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC! We're glad you joined us!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Good choice on a walk-in style coop.
First, you don't need more than the 4 nest boxes provided.
I used 2 coats of Porch and Floor paint from the Oops section of Home Depot and it's holding up great. I do NOT keep food or water in my coop. They stay in the predator proof run with a solid roof.
Second, the roosting set up is not good. I strongly recommend poop boards with the roosts centered over them. A U-shaped set up like I use would work well for you:

As long as the edge of the poop board lip is higher than the nesting boxes, that should discourage birds from sleeping in the boxes.
I am currently using coffee ground bedding for the litter on the boards and just scoop the poop into old kitty litter buckets and dump them in my compost pile when they are full. It works very well but I may have to go back to Sweet PDZ because the coffee ground bedding isn't selling well enough where I get it and I think they've discontinued carrying it. I clean the coop floor bedding out once or twice a year.
Have all the siding between the rafters left off and have them install 1/2" hardware cloth over the gaps before putting on the trim:

Pair this with a ridge vent an gable vents and lots of top hinged windows backed with HC and you will have a well ventilated coop:

 

[theoldchick]

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC, and Congratulations on your new hobby!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[swampfox440]

Hi, welcome to BYC! pleased to meet you.

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and welcome to BYC.