Small coop/run conundrums

[AmeliaBedelia]

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.

Good point with the nest boxes. Mine all fight over one.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Thinking about the “hole in the floor” situation in the run, and a thought if you get a lot of precipitation would be to fill the hole with some gravel for drainage, then sand, and then your bedding material (leaves, wood chips, etc) on top. Basically have it elevated though vs the outside dirt level so any moisture that gets in drains out easily. I would seal that wood though or maybe wrap it so you delay it decomposing.

But make sure you either use smooth rock or have it deep enough the chickens won’t dig to it since cuts=bumblefoot.

 

[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.

P.S. I am making the assumption the whole thing has a roof. If the run doesn’t, my fix would also need to include adding a roof to the run.

 

[loyaleowyn]

Hope this reply posts correctly. Having issues with navigation. I tried to reply individually but it was going a bit wonky.































































































































































































































































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 tebest to enlarge the coop area, or maybe even just remove the wall across from the nests, since you are in a pretty warm(?) clima































































































































































































































































Please post pics of the the whole coop/r































































































































































































un(pen)?































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)?

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)?

Thanks much! I can't enlarge it just yet. My area is warm in the summer but winter can get double digits below freezing.

 

[loyaleowyn]

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!

LOVE your idea about the stick and peel linoleum... will definately look into that and for the floor too! I can't remove the shelf as there are skids under it and to do so would cause instability. I spoke with someone yesterday who said he has a coop like this and he filled the hole with gravel but that seems weird too. I'm planning on letting them free range quite a bit so hopefully that will work okay. I think I'm just going to have to live with it but cut my number of chickens back.
I agree about moving the roost bar down or even putting a ladder roost and eliminating the roost over the boxes all together.
I'm just an old lady who didn't think the pen out well enough and can't afford to modify it much...
Really appreciate your help.

 

[loyaleowyn]

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.

appreciate all your suggestions, thanks so much!

 

[loyaleowyn]

Goodness, I feel like I made a mess of this board. I usually don't have trouble navigating like I am here. Hope you all can at least get the jest.
I really appreciate everyone's responses. It's helped me a lot to hear the thoughts of others instead of my own swirling thoughts.
I think I will add some linoleum to the top of the boxes and the floor and add a ladder roost.
Someone asked for extra pictures...

Somewhere I saw someone mention some type of paint on rubber stuff. Would that be better than the linoleum?

 

[SituationalLefty]

that paint would be black jack rubberized paint.

 

[ZapChicken]

just a thought for the wooded sides on the RUN. you could turn that into a Grazing box,

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Saw you referred to yourself as older - you may want to consider filling or covering the “run pit” so it isn’t a tripping hazard when you go in there to clean