opinions on coop

[Fishslayer]

This spring I decided to replace my guinea hens with chicks (finally!!, don't worry I found the guineas a good home). I currently have 5 black Sexlinks and 5 RIR's. They are about a week or two from going out into the coop. I modified my old coop for the guineas and i was hoping to get some feedback. The run is 10'x10', chicken wire, fully enclosed top and with 2"x6"'s dug into the ground. coop is 4'x4', stands 8" off the ground. 1/2"x1/2" hardware wire floor. 3 windows, 10"x10" (almost complete) with slide closures. I went with communal nest boxes, 46"Lx12"Wx15"H, hinged roofs for easy access. i figured this gives them 4 nice dark corners to lay in. I mounted two 1"x2" roosting poles above the entrances to the nesting boxes. i will put staw inside the run when i put the chicks in, and shavings in the laying boxes.
What do you guys think? I have a decent amount of lumber/wire/cloth








leftover and can easily make modifications.

 

[Folly's place]

This need major modifications, IMO. Chicken wire will not keep predators out, at least add 1"x2" or 2"x4" wire over the chicken wire. Chickens need AT LEAST four or five sq. ft. per bird in the coop, and about ten sq. ft. in the run, for times when they can't free range. A solid coop floor with shavings as bedding is a much better choice, too. The roosts need to be about three inches in diameter if saplings, or 2x4s if lumber. Ten hens equals at least forty or fifty sq. ft. of coop! Mary

 

[21hens-incharge]

Tons of great info on here.
I agree on some changes needed. I would make it at least 18 inches off the ground so the girls can go under for shade and so if someone is
needing fished out it is easier to do so.
I would skip the straw since it stays wet. A hard floor or dirt floor in the coop is better on their feet. Linoleum makes cleaning very easy.

Speaking of cleaning easy... Is there a cleanout door? Does the roof lift for cleaning?