Space question....plus design help

[ll]

6 to 60 wow

Consider thinning them out, they'll be easier to maintain in that size space.

I do recommend that you make your perches/roosts movable for easy cleaning. Good luck!

Photo: see the S hook? I haul it right out of the coop and scrub it down. BTW it's not wood, it is grooved (for traction) decking material.

 

[SteveBaz]

Quote:
I love the idea you used a non wood product and the eye bolts and hooks is very cool. One of the hardest things in any coop is sanitation and you pegged it bud. Nice

 

[tsmith1499]

That just gave me a new idea for my roost that I have to make!! Trex doesn't need paint and will wash right off!! It may cost a few more $$$ but it would be worth it. THANKS!!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Grog,

Just being honest here, and not trying to lecture in any way.

If you are struggling with providing proper housing for 60 chickens, I might suggest you consider backing up, and un-ring the bell, for this fall anyhow. Try again next year when things may be different for you.

Having the incredible responsibility for housing and caring for 60 chickens, providing feed, electricity and bedding (can you say $100-125 a month) in cold Pennsylvania, plus providing freeze proof watering, and egg gathering, not to mention all that coop cleaning, as cooped up birds poop a LOT,..... if all that is too much this year? Put it off until next year.

Winter is coming and coming fast and please forgive me if I say this, but it sounds as if you aren't really ready. You could make money selling off a portion of your flock and bring it down to a manageable size. Just something to think about. I've down-sized, because of circumstances, many times.

 

[Grog]

The peeps wont be ready for outside till Jan/Feb at the earliest till then they live indoors. We dont have electric for the coop and wont they do fine for the winter we have breeds that are cold hearty. My struggle for the housing is simply that I just feel a bit overwhelmed. I just checked craigs list and did find a bunch of "please come get it" lumber so I should be able to save there. I just need to take a look at my design and see how to scale it from my original specs. Ground prep is a pain too. I just thought that if I doubled my space the new birds would be fine. Then as I started to put down what we wanted to do in the coop I realized how wrong my size was. I just got mad at myself for not really thinkin it through. As for the upkeep cost we are good, I just need to rethink the coop. thx for the input all and pls keep it comin. pics and designs are a big help too.