Roost ideas for a small coop.

[Alaskan]

They do grow fast!

 

[Bear1978]

Ok! So here is the recent and hopefully LAST modification I did with the roosts and poop board.

They are now 24in off the floor of the coop. One roost is at the edge of the board and the other is about 10-11ish inches from that one. I was going to move my homemade nesting boxes under the board but I have bad knees and keeping them where I can access them from the big window on the backside of the coop that I can access without having to go inside of it. I’ll be securing the sofits next and now that I have the material for the run I’ll be starting on that!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think you will like that set up better.

 

[Bear1978]

Thanks! I think so too! I was thinking about using the space under the poop board to hang a waterer? Yea or Nay on that idea? I just am wanting to keep the floor area as open as possible and utilize the space under the board if possible!

 

[Ruthster55]

Ok! So here is the recent and hopefully LAST modification I did with the roosts and poop board.

They are now 24in off the floor of the coop. One roost is at the edge of the board and the other is about 10-11ish inches from that one. I was going to move my homemade nesting boxes under the board but I have bad knees and keeping them where I can access them from the big window on the backside of the coop that I can access without having to go inside of it. I’ll be securing the sofits next and now that I have the material for the run I’ll be starting on that!

View attachment 2220481View attachment 2220482

I love this setup for Jersey Giants, Orpingtons, Cornish, Brahmas, Cochins...anything big.

Things can be a lot higher for Plymouth Rocks and average barnyard mixes.

Be prepared to clean the poop board! I wouldn’t put the waterer under the poop board for the coop though.

Maybe put the waterer in an open area in the run fairly close to the feeder.

 

[Bear1978]

Thanks! I work from home so I usually have plenty of time for 'chicken chores' throughout the day depending on my work schedule. So I am sure I can spare the 10-15 minutes to scrape it off at some point through out the day.

The issue of watering and feed brings me to my next question- forgive me as I am a chicken n00b- but I have read and looked and there are diverse opinions about keeping water and feed, or at least water in the the coop.. I do not think I will keep a feeder in the coop, but maybe water, but I do not plan on keeping them in the coop for an extended amount of time and if I have to I can always move them in there.

So what is everyone's thoughts of food and water in the coop? I am leaning towards NOT.

 

[MrLeeHo]

I have learned this is a sensitive subject as i am new to this as well. What i am doing during typical conditions is food in the coop to not attract coons and the like and water outside to ensure the coop stays dry. If its going to be really hot or i am depending on friend to open the coop in the morning bc i am out of town, i will move water inside to make sure they have access in the event they are let out later than usual. The other reason i put food in the coop is that i have young birds and i have read that keeping the food in there ensures they see the coop as “home”.

 

[Bear1978]

The sofits are screened in with hardware cloth and reinforced with wood on the top so that whatever vermin tries to bend the HW cloth over to get in will NOT be able to.

What’s remaining is as follows;

Cut out a pop door in the larger coop door.
Build the enclosure and gate.

 

[Alaskan]

1. I think it now looks great and should work well

2. I have feed under one of my poop boards, works great, nice clean out of the way place to put it.

But.... it just depends.

I like both feed and water in the coop when it gets super crazy cold.... but I like both out in the run in good as well as moderate weather...

In my bantam coop that is smaller (so less good space inside the coop for feed and water) I have the water in the run at all times in a sheltered location, food at all times inside.... just works best for that coop.

 

[Bear1978]

Thanks!

yessir. I live in central Arkansas so it doesn’t get as cold here as it does there in Alaska (taking a trip there is on mine and my wife’s bucket list btw!) it can get down in the teens during the winter but usually only last a few days. The average low for Arkansas in the winter is probably 25-35 degrees and about 30-40 for the acreage high.