Sleeping in the nest boxes...

[OrloffTom]

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Yah, I was reading earlier in another post about using a 1x4 across the front hehe. I really do appreciate you and other folks helping me out and critique my coop

. Bad thing is about my boxes is I can't really move them as I have holes drilled out the back and doors on the outside to just lift up and grab the eggs. Maybe I will try to totally block off the top two boxes and make two new ones on the bottom? Do you think that could possibly work? I mean I'd have to cut out a couple more holes in the wall and make a new "egg door" but that wouldn't be too much of a problem.

 

[chickendude]

Quote:
Yah, I was reading earlier in another post about using a 1x4 across the front hehe. I really do appreciate you and other folks helping me out and critique my coop

. Bad thing is about my boxes is I can't really move them as I have holes drilled out the back and doors on the outside to just lift up and grab the eggs. Maybe I will try to totally block off the top two boxes and make two new ones on the bottom? Do you think that could possibly work? I mean I'd have to cut out a couple more holes in the wall and make a new "egg door" but that wouldn't be too much of a problem.

I did see your doors cut in the back wall and figured lowering them would be a hassle for you.Closing the top and putting two newer ones lower will help. How many chickens do you have? You only need 1 nest box for 3 chickens. As for thanking us you are quite welcome. Every one here is always willing to help. I am always willing to help another backyard chicken lover.

 

[OrloffTom]

I have 8 altogether. Seven pullets and a cockeral. I probably needed to have a little bigger coop but it was free lumber from my uncle and we built it one Friday after work. It took us 6 hours to build it lol. He had the tools, wood and hardware so I just had to help with the stuff and give him a general idea of what I wanted. It's like a 4x4x5. I think the ceiling may be 5' lol and the rest is just 4x4. Doh!

 

[chickendude]

It probably is a bit too small for 8 birds. Are you free ranging them or will they be in a run. And if they are in a run how big is the run. As for the free lumber and help

. Thats the way to go.

 

[chickendude]

4x4 coop is 16 sq feet and you should have a minimum of 3 sq feet per bird. But more sq footage is preferred. You should have 4 in that size coop maybe 5. Can you build another coop in the near future?

 

[OrloffTom]

They are in a run (it's a two run setup, once one is eaten up I close one door and open the other) but I think that I'm going to just make it one bigger one instead. It will give them more room to roam. I would love to let them free range but I live in a development and my dog has almost gotten a couple of them before when I let them out a little before hand. I actually wasn't counting on all of them to make it lol but they suprised me and survived! I'm happy they did as I love all of my chickens!

 

[chickendude]

One large run will help with your overcrowding issue. Glad to here all survived. My first chickens were 28 day old chicks. All made it to laying age. I too was amazed .

 

[chickendude]

Well I will be going to bed now. I will check back tomorrow to see if you need any more help.

 

[OrloffTom]

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Yah, I know it's not really enough room for them all in there but at the time of the making of the coop I wasn't up to par on how much room they really needed to have. Hopefully I may be able to build another one sometime soon. I'm hoping to get another job this fall and that will bring in alot more money than what I do now /crossesfingers!

 

[OrloffTom]

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I'm crashing to bed as well and thanks again for your help!