Newbie to chickens, starting plans for first coop :) Input appreciated

[Hunny]

Almost finished the coop today!

Ended up changing quite a bit ! I'll take some pictures tonight.

Used the whole 48longx24widex48 tall. Enclosed the whole box.
The access door took the longest!

Put some 20 cent vinyl squares on the floor.

And stacked 2 over 2 nesting boxes in the back wall (near access door). Will be securing the roosting bars after the kids go to bed. The Hens door is finished and I'm REALLY happy with it ! As well as securing a pcv pipe across the top inside of the hen, so I can hang stuff (food, water, light perhaps).

You are going to ask why so many...and well, the chicks came in today YIKES
You all were SO VERY right, so hard just to get a few. We ended up leaving with 8 !
So now we are looking at making another coop !

Any more ideas/suggestions appreicated !

 

[savingdogs]

Do you have an outside area for them, like a pen or yard? They may not need a ton of space inside. My 17 sleep in a very small area because they all grew up together and cuddle in a mass (after a few squabbles about who is closest to the roo).

 

[RockwaterFarm]

Quote:
i have six nesting boxes and only 10 layers. although most of my chickens sleep in them too, and one is reserved for a hurt chicken or a broody chicken. the front of the box is covered with 2inx4in welded wire. so i actually have 3 to 4 boxes, but thats still a lot i have to go through every box and dig through the straw to find eggs. i think my chickens think its funny that i have to find the eggs they hide. Darn chickens.

 

[Hunny]

Quote:
They will have free run of the yard during daylight hours, providing the kids and I are not going into town etc
I have considered a moveable run, open bottom, 2 ft wide and fairly long. How tall would this have to be to make it work?
I am encouraged to hear that yours sleep in a small area. Perhaps instead of another coop we can focus on a secure run to attach.