Newbie questions

[bnew17]

Im planning on building a very basic coop to accomodate 3 hens. The enclosed picture is the basic idea im going to use. A few questions i have.

Do the chickens poop and all outside on the ground or will they go inside the house? Or both?

What should i put on the floor of the house?

What goes in the nesting boxes? Wood chips?

Im going to try and have this coop built this weekend. I found a guy who is selling some light brahmas and is going to hold off taking them to the sale so i can buy them. Thanks alot

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and ! That's a fine coop and you will have happy hens!! As to your questions:
-Chickens poop pretty much wherever they are and whenever they want. So, yes...count on poop in the coop.
-Some folks use sand in the coop. Others use hay or straw or pine shavings. You can put down some scrap linoleum if you wish for hosing out on occasion but you have to.
-My birds quickly quick out shavings in the nest box so I use hay or straw.

Good luck to you!

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! x2 on redsoxs's advice, too bad they can't be trained to poop in a certain location

 

[BantamFan4Life]

 

[drumstick diva]

the coop looks nice my only suggestion would be if he is using chicken wire, to upgrade to 1/2" hardware cloth which is a good deterent for an assortment of predators. Chicken wire, is too thin, too flimsy(it droops) and only keep chickens in, doesn't keep predators out.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Welcome to the site! Best of luck to you and your flock

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

I second both Redsox and Diva's advice - and would also suggest a trip to the Learning Center to look into some of the basics of chicken keeping.

 

[bnew17]

How high above the floor of the coop should the nest boxes be? It looks like they are flush in rhe picture above

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!