Small coop/run conundrums

[loyaleowyn]

Hi all, first post for me. I'm frazzled about how to remedy these issues...

I purchased a coop in prep for this new adventure of having backyard chickens. It's small at 8 x 12 with the coop being only 4 ft wide. My chicks are not ready to go into it yet but I'm trying to get it ready. I am already unhappy with the design of it but have to live with it now.

For one, there's a foot wide ledge all around the inside bottom of the run that leaves about a 4-5 foot square 8 inch deep scratching area in the middle. Weird. For some reason I didn't pay it any mind when I first looked at it. (dumb!) I can't imagine why the designer did that and am wondering if I shouldn't just fill the middle with dirt to make it level?? Any thoughts are appreciated.

For two, the nesting boxes are inside instead of outside and there is a very high perch directly over the boxes. I imagine this is going to create a big poop zone on top of the boxes. I can remove the perch but Imagine the birds will still want to stand on the boxes. Maybe put hard plastic on top of the boxes?

Bummed about this coop. Surely there's a way to solve some of these issues. There are roost issues but don't want to bombard you all right off the bat... TIA!!

 

[Brizi]

Hmm. Maybe it's just my pea brain, but I'm having trouble picturing this coop in my head. Do you have pictures?

 

[loyaleowyn]

I'll take some and attach when the sun comes up...

 

[loyaleowyn]

Okay, here are some photos that might be helpful. I ho

pe!

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

so it's 4 x 8 or where is the 12 coming from, is it 4x 12?
thanks for photos!

 

[loyaleowyn]

so it's 4 x 8 or where is the 12 coming from, is

The entire pen is 8W x 12L with the coop portion being 4 ft of the length.

 

[aart]

Okay, here are some photos that might be helpful. I hoView attachment 3430246pe!

Looks like the nests would be protected, but the top would need to be cleaned off.
Biggest issue with this set up is that there's no room for them to fly down from the roost without crashing into the wall. Would be best to enlarge the coop area, or maybe even just remove the wall across from the nests, since you are in a pretty warm(?) climate.
Please post pics of the the whole coop/run(pen)?

 

[kurby22]

Okay, here are some photos that might be helpful. I hoView attachment 3430246pe!

The hole in the run is sort of odd! I'm also not sure that there is enough space for them to get up to the roosts! You are right that the design is super weird!

I'm not a construction genius, but here are some things I might consider:

1. Buy cheap peel and stick vinyl linoleum and cover the nest boxes with it. This is significantly improve your ability to clean it--might do the floor too since it is somewhat narrow inside?

2. You might consider removing some of the wood shelf in the run...it might be nice to have one side to put your water and food on that is level and off the dirt. But chickens want the space to forage, and that is not a lot of space? Almost looks like the design for a duck house not a chicken house! would be a great spot for a pond.

3. I would definitely move the roost bar down a bit, and if you want to keep one higher, maybe have them going across the coop not running along the wall of the coop.

It looks well-constructed anyway!

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Ok so here is my thought, but I am from further south so you may want to get northerners’ input before moving forward:

1. Am I correct that the interior size is 4x8 and the hardware cloth run is 8x8? What is the height of the current roost bar?

2. I would remove the wall between the coop and the run. During summer, the chickens will DEFINITELY appreciate the extra ventilation and in winter you can cover walls as needed with clear plastic sheeting (like the kind for greenhouse roofs). The clear walls will make it WARMER in winter since it will be like a greenhouse - leave a gap at the top for ventilation and check temps since sometimes it can get TOO warm.

3. The roost would work better with the 2x4 sideways so the chickens can chill standing on the fat side. That skinny side of the rectangle is harder for then to grab - you want the fat side like a floor or use a tree branch.

4. I would add a perch in the run that you can remove as needed to make cleaning easier.

 

[Percheron chick]

Take more picture. We're having trouble picturing the entire set up. Doors, windows, run, exterior, pop door location... Even a drawing.
Don't lose hope. What we can see is well made and should be able to make it more to your liking. The hole to me looks like a way for them to enjoy dirt/compost while still being locked up.
First thing I would probably do is take out the nesting boxes as they are taking up too much floor space and you have 3x more than you need.