Rooster insists on sleeping on top of the coop

[Anon112]

Same here! I have a large Nestera that sits on a platform, three feet off the ground. The first 3 pullets slept in it and loved it. As the summer got hotter, I built an L-shape roost next to the coop but still in the very open run, an inch or two higher than the roost in the Nestera. They took to it immediately.

We added two more 7-week-old pullets in mid-summer, and once they were mostly integrated into the flock, they started sleeping in the coop. Even with temps in the 20's at night, the three olders still prefer the outdoor roost, while the youngers sleep in the coop. Sometimes they'll try to join the olders on the outdoor roost and are promptly chased back inside.

I'm working on a design of a sort of box-shaped coop that is large (8 feet long, 3 feet deep, 4 feet high) and would have, like, removable side panels so that in the warmer months it will be "open" (ie just hardware cloth) and in the winter the panels will block the wind. (The side facing the wall across the way will always be open hardware cloth for ventilation).

If it weren't for recent events (something breaking into my run and going after my chickens) I think I'd be happy to let them keep just doing their thing.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I'm working on a design of a sort of box-shaped coop that is large (8 feet long, 3 feet deep, 4 feet high) and would have, like, removable side panels so that in the warmer months it will be "open" (ie just hardware cloth) and in the winter the panels will block the wind. (The side facing the wall across the way will always be open hardware cloth for ventilation).

If it weren't for recent events (something breaking into my run and going after my chickens) I think I'd be happy to let them keep just doing their thing.

I have a similar vision! Especially the removable side panels to adjust for seasons.

Would yours be elevated? (raised up on a platform with room underneath for chicken frivolity, feed storage, etc.) Depending on how tall you are, you might practice leaning over a table (typically 30” high in the US) and over a counter (typically 36”) as if you were reaching for something deep in the back to see which is more comfortable for you, or maybe something in between. Ideally try reaching out 3 feet horizontally, as that will be the depth of your coop.)

I’m tall, so my platform is 36”. BUT if you do deep litter in your run, do prepare to find your ground level rising higher over time. Originally I stepped down into the run. Now I step up. This will impact the human comfort height for your run.

I’m convinced that much of the “OMG, never again!” reaction against raised non-walk-in coops is because if you don’t get the platform height right, they can be brutal on your back at cleaning time.

 

[Anon112]

I have a similar vision! Especially the removable side panels to adjust for seasons.

Would yours be elevated? (raised up on a platform with room underneath for chicken frivolity, feed storage, etc.) Depending on how tall you are, you might practice leaning over a table (typically 30” high in the US) and over a counter (typically 36”) as if you were reaching for something deep in the back to see which is more comfortable for you, or maybe something in between. Ideally try reaching out 3 feet horizontally, as that will be the depth of your coop.)

I’m tall, so my platform is 36”. BUT if you do deep litter in your run, do prepare to find your ground level rising higher over time. Originally I stepped down into the run. Now I step up. This will impact the human comfort height for your run.

I’m convinced that much of the “OMG, never again!” reaction against raised non-walk-in coops is because if you don’t get the platform height right, they can be brutal on your back at cleaning time.

I'm also tall. Here is my vision!

There is a strong board that runs along the run (it used to be a horse run-in, so picture the kind of board you'd loop a horse's rein around). This board is about 4 feet high.

So what I'd like to do is actually have it be 4 feet off the ground. Then the height of the roost box will be 7 feet (4 foot "stilts" + 3 feet of height on the box). This would mean no bending to clean. One end of the box will rest on that solid board, while the other end will be supported with 4 foot "stilts".

I want the long front panel to be on a hinge so that the whole front can lift/be propped for cleaning. The little door for the chickens will be built into this side. This is the side that will never be covered (because it faces the back of the run, so wind never blows from that direction).

The other three sides will all have screws that come out and inch or two. I'm picturing having plywood or something with holes that can just mount onto the screws and then be held in place with nuts or something. So in winter months, solid walls to block the wind. In spring/summer, more open air.

If the panel thing is a total bust, I figure it will be at least easier to hang heavy duty tarps on the three sides. I actually purchased the materials to start it, and I'll make a post about it and tag you if it works! (Or if it fails!)

The "floor" of the box is what I'm most concerned about. I'm picturing hardware cloth along the very bottom. Then boards running along--above the cloth-- to support something like plywood, then a bunch of shavings or something?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I'm also tall. Here is my vision!

There is a strong board that runs along the run (it used to be a horse run-in, so picture the kind of board you'd loop a horse's rein around). This board is about 4 feet high.

So what I'd like to do is actually have it be 4 feet off the ground. Then the height of the roost box will be 7 feet (4 foot "stilts" + 3 feet of height on the box). This would mean no bending to clean. One end of the box will rest on that solid board, while the other end will be supported with 4 foot "stilts".

I want the long front panel to be on a hinge so that the whole front can lift/be propped for cleaning. The little door for the chickens will be built into this side. This is the side that will never be covered (because it faces the back of the run, so wind never blows from that direction).

The other three sides will all have screws that come out and inch or two. I'm picturing having plywood or something with holes that can just mount onto the screws and then be held in place with nuts or something. So in winter months, solid walls to block the wind. In spring/summer, more open air.

If the panel thing is a total bust, I figure it will be at least easier to hang heavy duty tarps on the three sides. I actually purchased the materials to start it, and I'll make a post about it and tag you if it works! (Or if it fails!)

The "floor" of the box is what I'm most concerned about. I'm picturing hardware cloth along the very bottom. Then boards running along--above the cloth-- to support something like plywood, then a bunch of shavings or something?

I’ll only reply to the “floor” question for now. As you are contemplating a very limited/restricted space, I would suggest having poop trays covering the entire floor area, which you could make HWC, plywood, etc. Use pine shavings in the poop trays, and boom, you’re done.

Here’s an example of potential poop trays. They have a huge assortment of sizes to fit various situations. This one is essentially 3’ by 2’ by 1 inch high, so 4 would do the trick (currently ~half off, so $15 and change each):

https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-MidWest-Crates-Durable-Crate/dp/B0002DHW1U/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2POPMAUPU69NS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VLEpxJMhmDGykZHt0VOZo6hJZlQ0tMueJHoWtxBwD53gILpgj1APDifdfj6PTJtysFd3ozYigiSiDxa-StctbwoNz8are1A4DGdYktyzWpCo6JYer8WOFxtdgH7EBsbld1gVQ8EldKaMfrb4I5xs9cREruT9bjodZIVNbd6USPy7aXinipJWhFGptcVgoGSQuE_VmlLrmxxQa8LqJ80xCQ.BhcnkAA-gT8yxRa4WQWmNOhPRp6qxy0U6_tsbhZUDnE&dib_tag=se&keywords=midwest+dog+crate+replacement+trays&qid=1764375334&sprefix=midwest+trays,aps,149&sr=8-3