SILKIE COOPS??

[KV Silkies]

I have a custom built silkie coop. 8x8. It's low with hardware cloth so they can't get under it. The interior has long shelves along the walls for them to roost on. First shelving is 3 feet up. The second set is 5 feet up. They jump up on a HAY BALE to get up to the shelves. Some sleep on the floor which is covered heavily with fine pine shavings, but most roost on the shelves. The lower 3 ft. shelves have nest boxes under them but there's still a foot of head space between the bottom of the nest boxes and the floor so nice for sleepers or broodies.
I'll take pictures of my coop for ideas.

thanks would LOVE to see pics!!! I decided to go with an 8x8 for size, gonna try some roosting areas, and am wondering what a nesting "shelf" looks like.

 

[JaceAgain]

Oh I'd love to see pics of the silkie coop toO!

 

[suebee]

The pics of my silkie coop will be up later today after I edit and upload them. Stand by... :yiipchick

 

[KV Silkies]

The pics of my silkie coop will be up later today after I edit and upload them. Stand by...

I am standing by!!! CANNOTWAIT!!!

 

[suebee]

OK, here's my silkie coop. It's over ten years old so definitely has the lived in look but has stood up well over the years.
It's an 8x8 with a tall roof pitch to keep it cooler during the hot summer. It has a turbine fan in the roof for the heat to escape, along with 3 big windows and 4 pop doors.
This is the front. It really needs a new coat of paint. On each side there are connecting runs.

This is the back of the coop. Nice full view door.

This is the left side. Notice the brooder area lower left with a pop door for the mom & chicks to go out into a secure run. There's a stool for silkies to get up to the second shelf.

They all have a favorite spot. My little ones share a cozy nest box together. Others enjoy the hay bale.

These silkies are sleeping on the floor under the white double nest boxes

My older silkies like the top shelves.

 

[KV Silkies]

OK, here's my silkie coop. It's over ten years old so definitely has the lived in look but has stood up well over the years.
It's an 8x8 with a tall roof pitch to keep it cooler during the hot summer. It has a turbine fan in the roof for the heat to escape, along with 3 big windows and 4 pop doors.
This is the front. It really needs a new coat of paint. On each side there are connecting runs.


This is the back of the coop. Nice full view door.


This is the left side. Notice the brooder area lower left with a pop door for the mom & chicks to go out into a secure run. There's a stool for silkies to get up to the second shelf.





They all have a favorite spot. My little ones share a cozy nest box together. Others enjoy the hay bale.













These silkies are sleeping on the floor under the white double nest boxes


My older silkies like the top shelves.

love the coop!!!

very much love the idea of layers..... nice to see pics of it, easier to understand this way. you have beautiful birds!!!

 

[suebee]

I tried to put all pictures in order, like a panoramic view but full page editor had some sort of brain fart so they're out of order. Believe it or not there are 28 silkies in there at night. Plenty of room for all. Next coop I'd like 10x12 and keep the old 8x8 just for broodies, chicks, and teens.

 

[Henny]

I really enjoyed seeing the layout of your silkie coop. It looks like they have the perfect house! It looks so cozy. I've always wondered how to house silkies as they always seem to stay on the ground. Shelves and hay bales solve that problem. I really love the concept of shelves! You have beautiful silkies!!

 

[suebee]

Thank you KV & Henny. Luckily hubby is a carpenter by trade so over the years we've made many wise choices based on my silkie's needs. My silkies free range so the pens on either side are for breeding occasionally and/or brooding the chicks. I have a pop door for either side and one going out to the front yard.

The coop is so functional, that's the main thing.

 

[mysterychick]

My silkie was able to climb up onto something about ten inches high. Chickens are funny - if they can't quite reach by flying, they'll actually grab where they're trying to get to with their chin or beak and then use their necks to help pull themselves up! Of course this is a lot of work. I was gonna build my silkie her own roost and a nest about 3" off the ground. Basically as long as they're off the ground and can still step up/climb into easily is what matters. Maybe also offer a nest in a corner on the ground where they can be cooler when nesting in the heat of summer. I've noticed with my birds that when the temperatures get high they turn one of their dustbathing holes into a nest.

And thanks so much for this reply! We have built two options for them and we'll just see what they take to, or don't, and will adjust accordingly. We are new to chickens in general, so it is all one big learning curve!