The essentials for coops

[Sassysilkie]

Hi! We’ve been building our coop and have done extensive research on what we need/want for our flock. But im really curious to know everyones personal MUST HAVES that makes their chicken tending easier and their chickens life's better. Is there a feeder/water system that you love? Is there any hacks that made your life easier day to day? Any fun toys I could add for my flock?
As always, thanks in advance

 

[nuthatched]

Space.
Ventilation.
Coop that you don't have to crawl around in, full size, upright coop.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Space.
Ventilation.
Coop that you don't have to crawl around in, full size, upright coop.

This! ^

Large, walk-in, and easily-reachable roosts are my favorite features of my chicken coop.

One "hack" I always use is a waterproof pan underneath the waterer in case of leaks. I also have multiple feeders and waterers so I can clean, dry, and refill one while another is being used.

I don't have many "toys" if you can call them that. They enjoy perches and things to hop up on, dust bathing in a dry sandbox, and scratching in the soil.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Oh, and power! Love having the ability to plug in heaters, heated waterers, and power tools in the coop.

 

[DobieLover]

Ventilation.
Walk-in coop with poop boards.
Lots of top-hinged windows.
Correctly sized.
Hardwired.
Solid roofed, predator proof run with 15 sq ft of space per bird with lots of clutter and multiple feed locations.
I personally like my homemade trough feeders that are suspended in the run. They are long and narrow which permit a lot of birds to feed at the same time without pecking at each other.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Must haves:

1. Predator Protection

2. Ventilation

3. Room

Nice to haves:

Depends a lot on your goals, flock make-up, management techniques, climate, what you use your coop for, and so many other things for specific things. But a few things in general:

1. Access to water, hopefully water under pressure like a spigot.

2. Food storage

3. Lighting

4. Storage for your chicken equipment

5. Easy human access to every part of their coop and run.

6. A way to isolate a chicken for health or behavioral reasons or for integration

7. Enough roof overhang so I can unlock the door without standing in rain.

 

[alinas2010]

I love having a poop shelf filled with sand below the roosts that we can scoop the poop out of every day.