Our very first coop! Please offer feedback

[JohnL11935]

Very nice.

Might I suggest adding some cleats every 6-8" going up that gangway? It looks like a smooth board and when you combine some rain and the steep grade they may need to help gaining traction to get inside.


Enjoy.

 

[Delphinium]

I think it looks fabulous! It looks like it will be easy to clean and maintain. Great job!

 

[hanselong]

1) Is hardware cloth for the floor inside the coop that sits off the ground okay by itself? Does it also need litter or can I simply put litter in the nesting boxes once they are completed? We are in Central Texas so it is very warm, but it does freeze occasionally so I worry about what I'll do with all that open air coming through the wire floor! I've read about the use of linoleum on coop floors. Maybe I should throw that down to insulate when we actually get a cold snap. hmmm....

2) I'm confused about nesting boxes. I understand they need to be about 12 x14 or so, but can they be as simple as woven baskets or a dish pan? How necessary is it to have a perch or something so they can look and see before choosing a nesting box?

First of all, to join all who has said it: good job! It looks very nice and roomy!

Then to answer your questions (keep in mind I'm also very new to this myself):
1. I personally use thick contractor plastic cut and taped (or stapled)to the bottom of the wire to keep drafts from coming in. My chicks are about 8 weeks old, but I'm paranoid they'll get too cold/wet from all the rain we get here in Seattle, so I actually have contractor plastic wrapped all around their tractor in my back yard. Works very well to keep wind and water out as the contractor plastic is almost as thick as tarps. I briefly contemplated fiberglass or clear PVC sheets, but the contractor plastic is much more "economical"

2. I don't have a nesting box (for eggs) for my chicks yet, so I'd love to find out the answer to this question, too!​

 

[suzeeg]

HI, pen looks great. I was going to suggest maybe building your nest boxes on the back of your box with a lift lid that way you can access the eggs, still keeping the original space for roosting.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

That's great! Love the design, and it looks like you have some happy girls.

 

[rockwoodfamilyflock]

Quote:
Wow thanks! Speaking of cleaning... Approximately how often will I need to clean it? Since we have that 1/4" hardware cloth, the poop often sticks to it as opposed to falling to the ground below. I'm tempted to add some linoleum over top for easy cleaning. I could pull it in and out somehow. Thoughts?

 

[victoriamarie1138]

It looks lovely.

It's making me wish I'd been able to leave more space under the coop on the one I'm building, though.... It now seems inadequate next to yours.

 

[rockwoodfamilyflock]

Quote:
We actually did add some after that photo was taken, and it helps but they still seem to slip going down. I feel like they start out walking, but end up flying down because it's still kind of steep.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Dogfish]

Nicely done! I would add the nest boxes off the back like mine.

What part of the country are you in? It must be warm most of the year.