Thoughts on coop build?

[Benderb15]

Just finished the wall with the slide out poop boards. Not to pleased at the quality but overall should be good with some trim to clean the edges up after I paint.

 

[Benderb15]

Our shavings had just been put on the vinyl flooring so maybe that was the issue. They are happy with their wood floor.

Hopefully they won't have a problem. I'd hate to pull the vinyl up it was a pain to cut and glue.

 

[PirateGirl]

I'm not sure on your final plans, but I would make some sort of large opening in addition to the slide out trays so that a human can access the interior of the coop easily. You may not need it immediately, but there will be a time in the future where you will have to reach in and grab a chicken or retrieve a stray egg or clean the furthest corner or dust for mites or something and you will want to have a large access door for that. It will save you down the road

 

[Benderb15]

I'm not sure on your final plans, but I would make some sort of large opening in addition to the slide out trays so that a human can access the interior of the coop easily. You may not need it immediately, but there will be a time in the future where you will have to reach in and grab a chicken or retrieve a stray egg or clean the furthest corner or dust for mites or something and you will want to have a large access door for that. It will save you down the road

I do have plans on the one side to put two big bottom folding doors In like I did the nesting box door.

I have the doors framed out in the picture below. ( 2x4 frame)

Do you guys think that will be good enough or should I rethink and make a door from top to bottom ?

 

[PirateGirl]

Before you finish the build, lean through the hole that will be your "people" door. Can you reach all the way across? Can you reach the perches if you had to pluck a bird off her roost? Can you reach the furthest corner if a chicken decides this is the best spot to start laying her eggs? It looks like they will be nice big openings for you, but what works for someone who is 5 ft. tall vs. 6 ft. tall might be different

 

[Benderb15]

Before you finish the build, lean through the hole that will be your "people" door. Can you reach all the way across? Can you reach the perches if you had to pluck a bird off her roost? Can you reach the furthest corner if a chicken decides this is the best spot to start laying her eggs? It looks like they will be nice big openings for you, but what works for someone who is 5 ft. tall vs. 6 ft. tall might be different

I practiced what you said and I can teach everywhere in the coop. That's worked out great! I cut the wall and added it so now it's completely wrapped

 

[aart]

Don't worry about the shavings on the vinyl, yes, it's a bit slippery when fresh shavings are put down. I just totally changed out my shavings, also on vinyl floor, like a chicken ice rink the first week or so.

I see you have a pop door and ramp in the floor, with a nice plan to keep shavings in(tho not tall enough I don't think)...but I also see a pop door in the end of the coop?

 

[Benderb15]

Don't worry about the shavings on the vinyl, yes, it's a bit slippery when fresh shavings are put down. I just totally changed out my shavings, also on vinyl floor, like a chicken ice rink the first week or so.

I see you have a pop door and ramp in the floor, with a nice plan to keep shavings in(tho not tall enough I don't think)...but I also see a pop door in the end of the coop?

Well that's good to hear! I'd hate to have to pull the vinyl up after all that glue.

I was worried about the height of that, at about 1" off the floor. I was unsure how thick of shavings i was going to use. Any opinion on the best shaving depth?

As for the two pop doors you are correct. The one going through the floor will allow them access to the run underneath the coop. The one in the front will allow them access to outside where they can free range while we are home.

 

[aart]

I'd seriously think about only using the pop door in the wall and making your run larger to accommodate that. That 'run' underneath is not very large.

Floor doors are PITA. It really takes up some space in the coop. They will scratch shavings into piles 8" deep.

How deep your shavings are/get depends on how you manage your manure.

Before I make any more suggestions....what is your location?
Climate is important to most things chicken.
Easy to add then it's always there!

 

[Benderb15]

Before I make any more suggestions....what is your location?
Climate is important to most things chicken.
Easy to add then it's always there!

I updated my location following the directions your provided. Thanks for that.

I am located just south of Buffalo NY in "Ski Country". We can see all 4 seasons in a single day here.