Questions for those with two story coops.

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

I'm over my capacity by two bantams AND there are a couple more birds I'd like to get. I've been thinking about expanding my hutch style coop by walling-in the space underneath and turning it into a two story coop. I'm also going to at least double the run, regardless of whether or not I expand the coop.

For those of you who have similar setups, what has your experience been? Will the birds use both levels or just all squeeze into the top level? Is this completely pointless to attempt? If I decide to do this, should I make some kind of access door from the bottom to the top level or should I just have a pop door into the run and a big door for cleaning? Also, could somebody please post pictures of their multi-level coops?

Thank you!

 

[faykokoWV]

Luckily I have a big coop, but I'm interested to see what others say. Sounds like a good idea in theory, but I'm like you, I have to wonder if they would just all go to the top.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

I wish I could have a big coop, waaahhhh! I guess if this doesn't seem like a good plan I'll either have to nix the idea of getting more birds (NOOOOOOO!!!) or figure out how else to expand.


Come on, I KNOW there are people on BYC with multi-level coops! I did a search and it appears that some people had similar plans in progress. Please let me know how they turned out for you!

 

[faykokoWV]

ok, this might be hard to picture, but I can see it in my head.

bottom coop with its own entrance goes to one run, upper coop with its own entrance goes to the second run. Divide chickens so that they each have their own coop and run, kinda like chicken condo.

 

[Big Chicken Little]

Quote:
I like this idea as I have 10ft headroom and could easily loft the coop and build another run.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Definitely an option! I can picture it perfectly, actually! I'd prefer to have one big flock instead of two flocks, but I might actually consider that, thanks!

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Guess not!

well I may just try it.

 

[fiftyfifty]

I'm planning something similar. My coop has a 4 x 4 ft floor space and is 6 feet high (a Lowe's playhouse). I have 5 chickens, and last winter it felt like there wasn't quite enough floor space. But I did notice that a couple of the chickens really liked to hang out on the 1.5 ft by 4 ft dropping board which is about 3 ft off the floor. So before this winter comes, I am going to expand the size of the dropping board to 3ft x 4ft. It will basically be a partial second level. I plan to put the water on one level and the food on the other level to encourage them to use both. I'll let you know how it goes, but it's a few months off still.

 

[tomato lady]

I am curious too. Wish I had the experience to give advice. My coop (still in remodel stage) is about 12 ft. high on the tall end and currently has a loft over half of it. I have been wondering if I could leave the loft up, and what would happen if I did. Would they use it? would they roost up there? Would they break their little legs jumping down onto the cement floor? Has anyone ever put chickens on two levels? How would I clean up there? Would there be incredible amounts of dust in the air from above? Would I break my leg getting up and down?

Hope you find the answer to your question. So far it sounds like a two story coop with two runs would work great if you have the room for the second run.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Hey I just thought of something! My two Silkies are the only ones who will NOT climb that ramp and go to bed at dusk! I have a small woodpile in the corner of the run that they roost on or huddle under, and I have to pick them up and put them to bed when I lock the coop up every night. If there was a ground level I bet they'd use it in a heart beat! I could put a couple low roosts in there for them. Do you guys think other chickens, especially any newbies, would be likely to follow suit and use the addition if they saw the Silkies using it?