Please critique my coop

[Chickendilly]

Hello!

I am a new chicken owner. I have three Easter Eggers, two Blue Silkies (one may be a roo), one Welsummer, and one Spitzhauben. They are about seven weeks old. I'd like to move them outside this week before it gets too crazy hot in Central Texas. I've been bringing them outside in their run during the day to acclimate them to the weather. This week's highs will be in the high 80s/low 90s, and then next week will start the miserable 100+.

Please look at my coop and tell me if there is anything missing, anything I need to change, etc. And, I have a few questions. First, should I move them into the coop for the first time at dusk and set them on their roosts? If yes, should I leave them in the coop for the next day and night so they understand that's their home base? Is it better to move them in the morning and just leave them in their through the night? I will obviously put food and water in there for them. And, I have a Blink camera in there so I can monitor them and the temp of the coop.

Top left clockwise: Brillo (EE), Suds (EE), Mrs. Meyers (Welsummer), Swiffer (top Silkie, suspected Roo), Duster (other Silkie), Sponge (Spitzhauben)

I bought the coop premade but stained it, added the electronic door, added locks, added hardcloth to window and roof, and built out the inside.

Locks all around. It is on bricks to raise it so they can get under for shade.

The bedding is a mix of pine shavings and hemp. I sprinkled DE on the floor of the coop before I added the bedding. The two pink boxes will be nesting boxes but they are turned around for now. I have another one that I can put in the corner opposite the start of the ramp. I built the ramp for the silkies and put a stopper against the droppings tray so they can get to the roosts. I sanded all the wood on the ramp and the roosts.

Two removable roosts over a removable tray with PDZ.

A closer look inside.

The run is almost done. I am in Austin in a subdivision. We do have opposums, skunks and probably raccoons. And snakes (and I will DIE if I ever see a snake in there.) There is hardcloth all around and on top with a hardcloth perimeter skirt that is staked into the ground at the base and the end with lawn stakes and then goes up the sides of the run with zipties. Our ground is limestone here so I couldn't bury it. We still still need to trim the zip ties and secure the door better. And, we will install a shade cover over the back half to cover the coop. I am working on an igloo waterer, a sandbath, and a container with a paver to fill with water. I will put either cinderblocks as planters or pavers with plants on top around the perimeter on the hardcloth skirt.


I appreciate any feedback. It's just me and my teen daughter so I know the construction isn't the greatest but is it functional and comfortable? Is there anything I'm missing? Anything I need to add or fix?

Thank you!!

 

[Debbie292d]

Wow! That looks spectacular. I was looking for ventilation, and found it! You've thought of everything it seems!

I love the silkie ramp. Great forethought! I don't know if your silkies will use that roost as ours had the option of taking the ramp to the nest boxes, then jump up on top of those and that's where they chose to sleep, there or in the nest boxes. We switched to horse bedding pellets in the nest boxes thinking that would change their minds and nope, they sleep on them anyway. Easier to clean though that way! So we took the roosts out.

Great job!!!

 

[Chickendilly]

Wow! That looks spectacular. I was looking for ventilation, and found it! You've thought of everything it seems!

I love the silkie ramp. Great forethought! I don't know if your silkies will use that roost as ours had the option of taking the ramp to the nest boxes, then jump up on top of those and that's where they chose to sleep, there or in the nest boxes. We switched to horse bedding pellets in the nest boxes thinking that would change their minds and nope, they sleep on them anyway. Easier to clean though that way! So we took the roosts out.

Great job!!!

Thank you!! I put the shorter roost bar in the droppings board tray for the silkies but I know they may end up sleeping on the floor.

 

[DSJMHenDen]

I'm not super experienced at this chicken keeping business yet, but looks like a good set up to me! I love your coop I'm sure someone will have some more insightful critiques. I'm finding for myself it's all a bit of trial and error since our setups can vary so much. Some things I thought were great ideas didn't work out so well, and you adapt as you go. I tried to make my little show girl a mini roost like you did but she never did roost. I did set my younger bunch on the roosts before dusk, but I didn't lock them in the coop. I have read lots of people do though. I have 3 older girls though and I don't think they would have liked that much haha.

 

[FrostRanger]

How big are your coop and run in feet?

You can just place them in the setup and put them in the coop at night. They might peep for a bit their first night but they'll settle down after a bit

 

[Chickendilly]

How big are your coop and run in feet?

You can just place them in the setup and put them in the coop at night. They might peep for a bit their first night but they'll settle down after a bit

The run is 13x10 and the coop is about 4'x3'. So, put them in the run tomorrow (if we get it finished) and then show them how to get inside the coop tomorrow night? Should I just help them up the ramp or should I put them on their roosts?

 

[FrostRanger]

The run is 13x10 and the coop is about 4'x3'. So, put them in the run tomorrow (if we get it finished) and then show them how to get inside the coop tomorrow night? Should I just help them up the ramp or should I put them on their roosts?

The coop is half the size it needs to be for 6 birds, you generally want at least 4sqft of coop space per bird. Too little space can make it more likely you'll have issues with bullying and feather picking

I would just put them in the coop when it gets dark (having them in the run during the day would be preferable if for no other reason than it being fun for them) and let them figure it out. They probably won't roost tonight but they'll figure it out eventually

I would also consider at least temporarily blocking off underneath the coop with hardware cloth unless you fancy trying to coax birds out from underneath it. How shady is the area? Especially since we're in the summer chickens need deep dark shade (especially if it gets very hot where you're at)

 

[Cpgrnwd]

I would start at night and put them on the roost the first night. Then let them into the run for food and water the next morning.

Enjoy the adventure

 

[Slothinc]

Love the short roosting bar, my silkies tend to line up on the edge of the PDZ filled tray under the main roost bar. So that is great that you have that tiny one!

 

[Chickendilly]

The coop is half the size it needs to be for 6 birds, you generally want at least 4sqft of coop space per bird. Too little space can make it more likely you'll have issues with bullying and feather picking

I would just put them in the coop when it gets dark (having them in the run during the day would be preferable if for no other reason than it being fun for them) and let them figure it out. They probably won't roost tonight but they'll figure it out eventually

I would also consider at least temporarily blocking off underneath the coop with hardware cloth unless you fancy trying to coax birds out from underneath it. How shady is the area? Especially since we're in the summer chickens need deep dark shade (especially if it gets very hot where you're at)

Thank you for the advice. I think we will end up with five, since we think one of the silkies is a roo. I think I'll try to finish up the run tomorrow and put them in and then coax them into the coop tomorrow night.

We can get them out from under the coop pretty easily. I want them to have that shade because summer in central Texas is no joke!