Ok, we made a major boo boo...

[Soapfreak]

I bought an automatic pullet door and my husband installed it. We are almost done with the coop and I didn't think a thing of it until now. We didn't allow for the deep litter method! Ugh! The door is now too low. The door is more or less in the corner of the coop. Would I be able to build out of 2 x 6's an L shape box around the door so they would have to hop down into it to go out the door and hop up coming in? Kind of hard to explain. In the summer, I would have my litter 6" deep and winter would be 12" deep. Would I have bumblefoot problems? Can someone help?
Thanks, Kristy

 

[Finnie]

Yes, you can do that.

Why do you think it will give them bumble foot?

 

[tracecom]

I bought an automatic pullet door and my husband installed it. We are almost done with the coop and I didn't think a thing of it until now. We didn't allow for the deep litter method! Ugh! The door is now too low. The door is more or less in the corner of the coop. Would I be able to build out of 2 x 6's an L shape box around the door so they would have to hop down into it to go out the door and hop up coming in? Kind of hard to explain. In the summer, I would have my litter 6" deep and winter would be 12" deep. Would I have bumblefoot problems? Can someone help?
Thanks, Kristy

Sure, that would work. The one problem that you might have is that the chickens will tend to pause on the 2 x 6 box, and defecate, so that boxed off area may accumulate a lot of droppings. Maybe an inch of PDZ inside the box will solve that however.

 

[Soapfreak]

Yes, you can do that.

Why do you think it will give them bumble foot?

Well I'm not sure if I can line the bottom with shavings or straw and didn't know if jumping a foot down on a hard surface will cause it. I'm a newbie to raising chickens. lol

 

[Soapfreak]

Sure, that would work. The one problem that you might have is that the chickens will tend to pause on the 2 x 6 box, and defecate, so that boxed off area may accumulate a lot of droppings. Maybe an inch of PDZ inside the box will solve that however.

What is PDZ Trace?

 

[Soapfreak]

Ok, just looked it up. Thanks!

 

[Finnie]

Quote:
Oh, I see. I don't think that's too big of a jump.

Just make sure their "foyer" is big enough, since they will probably all be trying to get out at the same time!

I was also thinking the same thing as what Trace said, about them roosting on the 2x6s and pooping. You'll have to deal with that, but for just a small "foyer" section, it shouldn't be too hard. Better than having all your deep litter spilling out the door.