Questions for those with two story coops.

[lilchick]

I bought a 10 ft. by 12 ft. barn type shed from Lowes.. It was their demo for Heartland sheds. Has a loft and rafters in it as well as 2 levels of work shelves all the way around 2 sides.
I build a ramp going up to the waist high back shelf and my chickens, guineas and even tom turkeys go up it then fly up to the next level of shelves and then to loft and rafters!
It gives them lots more roosting and hanging out space especially the winter days when you cannot turn them out.
For the shy birds I place water and feed up there so they do not have to come down unless they want to....

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Hmmmm.... So maybe they would all just squeeze into the top? I'm just concerned about overcrowding. If they use the addition it will double the square footage but that's irrelevant if it's unused, right? Or will they naturally use the new bottom level if they feel too crowded and they're all on each others' nerves up top? I'm a newb! I need some experienced words here!

 

[Chicky Jean]

I'm curious how this will work for you too! I'm new to this and have just started out with 4 chicks in a converted rabbit hutch. I enclosed the bottom with chicken wire on three sides and the front is open to the run. I'm wondering how they will all fit in the top when they get bigger so I thought of doing the two story thing as well by adding a place for them to roost down below. I will probably will enclose the lower half with siding when the weather turns colder so they'll be more likely hang out in there. I've also built a nest box to attach to the outside of the hutch to give them a little more room - it would be super crowded if I built a box inside there! So far my chickies like the upper part and they all cram together at night. We'll see how they do when they're fully grown!

 

[lilchick]

Most likely they will roost highest when it is cold.

 

[FarmrGirl]

Rachel, my coop is L shaped so it has two "wings" of equal size. My girls like to hang out in one wing during the day and sleep in the other at night. They're kind of particular about where they perch each night... everyone sort of has their own spot. I do see that they all sort of crowd in together no matter how much space I give them

since they only seem to use half the coop at one time.

Chickens are funny.

I'm interested to see how it goes with your gals.