Newbie in the throes of designing a coop

[daxigait]

I am a newbie, but I have found they are good at going to roost in my chicken tractors before dark even if I only get home for them to be out a little. If you built a timer antenna door system like the guy describes on this site that can **** the door at a time that would help.

 

[daxigait]

I work 60-65 hours most weeks so mine only get out for short periods, but they go up well. I even sing out chickens in the coop, chickens in the coop if I need them to go in so I can leave before dark on like Saturday if I let them out but leave in the afternoon. The first few times I had to gently herd them that way but by the third time when they hear that they go to the coop and I give them a handful of corn. I have two tractors and the ones on the south side of the barn will be already in their coop by the time I get the ones on the north side shut up. It helps them get free range time until I can get the automatic door system built.

 

[aart]

I built my coop in an existing building, close to the house, and I love it......
......still was spendy as I made a 6 sided 'envelope' to over-ensure that no predators would ever get inside the coop itself.

I would not recommend doing a composting DLM in a wooden floored coop as the floor may eventually compost away too. I used single sheet vinyl flooring and keep things bone dry inside to prevent any floor rot and reduce humidity, especially for winter.

Design can indeed produce throes as there are so many ways to do things, you've got all winter to decide and plan and draw and gather materials.