roost and nest box options for a 4 by 5 coop

[nanners]

hello folks
we've almost finished building a coop for 5 chickens that is 5 feet long by 4 feet wide. the roof on one end is about 3 feet high and then it tappers to 2 feet.

here's my options
have one long 5 foot roost that goes down the middle of the coop
have two 4 feet roosts that are parallel- one slightly higher than the other.

for nesting boxes
one option is to have two nesting boxes as a little add on box-
another option is to have the nesting boxes inside at the lower end of the coop.

any suggestions you have is greatly appreciated.

thanks

 

[elmo]

Your coop is so small as it is, I would not take up any of the precious interior space for a nestbox. I'd build an exterior one.

You don't really have much in the way of options in a coop that is so short.....ehr...vertically challenged. A standard size chicken can be from 14 to 18 inches (or more) tall. You just won't have room on the shorter, 2 foot tall side of the coop to put one end of the roost there. At least I don't think so.

You have a bit more room, but not much more, on the taller side of the coop. I'd put a single roost there at about 1 foot off the floor. It's not ideal, but I think that's the best you're going to be able to do in your setup.

Where are your vents in this coop? It's very tricky to manage ventilation with so little headroom, because in winter you don't want the open vent allowing cold air to blow over birds on the roost. Do you have much in the way of severe winter weather to deal with?

 

[nanners]

just another detail that this is a tractor style with a run underneath. once our yard is fenced in they'll have a coop with more height.

 

[nanners]

we live in the pacific northwest so the winters are not too harsh. but next winter we'll have another coop build that is stationary and bigger.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

My coop is small as well. My roost is screwed onto the wall and I have a poop board that slides out underneath it. The birds walk under it to get to their nest box which is mounted externally, thus saving floor space.

(edited for typo)

 

[nanners]

i've been reading about communal nest boxes- having a larger one 18" by 18" by maybe 30" long. any thoughts on that?

 

[elmo]

For five chickens, you're right on the borderline of needing a second nestbox anyway. I'd say a single communal nestbox is a great idea. They like to lay in the same nestbox, anyway. I've got three for 9 hens, and they all line up to lay in just one.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Quote:
My nest box is approx the size of two. Sometimes two will get in there at once and they fit comfortably. It just depends on the chickens. Some just want to be alone and will wait.