True two storey coop/run combo for separate breeds inside a hay barn?

[Tcthomps1]

We are building a hay barn that will be 14 feet tall at the bottom of the trusses. I plan on using one long wall, 60ft, to build breed pens/ runs under the roof. Wondering if it would be possible to make it a full 2 floors with people steps inside the barn that would include a walkway for me to access the coops on the top. Each coop/ run on the bottom would be about 12 x 6. Top would then only be able to be about 9x6? Bottom runs would be about 7ft. high making the top seam like it would only be about 6ft but could make use of the higher space between the trusses. The inside wall would be sheet metal to cut down on dust inside the barn(it's not really for hay it's too park or rv and tractor and boat) , the outside wall would be hardware cloth. With chicken wire dividers between sections.
All is still in my head right now.
> what to do about cleaning the top ones?
> possible dumbwaiter to hall feed, etc to top floor?
> if I only put quail on top floor, no chickens, would that separate them enough from the chickens underneath?
> if i could put quail, could I put an incubation/ hatching/ brooding room up there for baby chicks without endangering the quail or are the diseases chicken carry that are fatal to quail some that the chicks would be born with?
>any problems I haven't even thought of?
>anybody do anything like this willing to share pictures?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I haven't done this but I do have roosts up above a pen in my shed. My husband thankfully shovels poop off as needed. I wouldn't want pens up there personally. Usually it's hotter, especially during the day. That's part of the reason why a loft was traditionally used for hay, and not keeping animals. I personally would grow tired of going up and down on a daily basis too, but it is your choice.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I was wondering just because I couldn’t tell from the post are you calling them run in the coop the same thing or will they have a coop with an exterior run? I guess one thing to think about is making that top for incredibly stable since people will also be walking around up there. If the Haybarn that’s not being used for animals is used for hay I personally would be very weary about putting any kind of heat for a Brooder in there. Now I’m a little extra paranoid about things I shouldn’t be. So maybe the last part is just my paranoia and doesn’t actually need to be a concern. Also maybe put something up along the top floor so the quail don’t walk off. I don’t know how well they fly and when they’re young they may not be able to. If you get it figured out That’s pretty cool to have your storage and your coops all in one. They won’t have access to the side that is actually the Haybarn right?

 

[Birdsong 82]

I haven't done this but I do have roosts up above a pen in my shed. My husband thankfully shovels poop off as needed. I wouldn't want pens up there personally. Usually it's hotter, especially during the day. That's part of the reason why a loft was traditionally used for hay, and not keeping animals. I personally would grow tired of going up and down on a daily basis too, but it is your choice.

That’s also a good point. What are your usual winter and summer temperatures? It may not get too hot at the top if you live in cooler climates but I could see that being a concern if you live in warmer climates.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That’s also a good point. What are your usual winter and summer temperatures? It may not get too hot at the top if you live in cooler climates but I could see that being a concern if you live in warmer climates.

I live in Wisconsin. The hay loft or hay mow is always hot in summer, hot at least for me and chickens.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I just didn’t see the original posters location. Where I live it would definitely be too hot. Today we are at a temperature of 98 with 80% humidity. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like up there. But certain areas it may actually help for it to be warmer. Like my Michigan or Connecticut. I know they generally stay pretty cool there And may work with proper ventilation. Just wasn’t sure of the climate the original poster deals with

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I love the idea of quail up top. Make sure that you have enough cooling and heating ways.

 

[Tcthomps1]

I was wondering just because I couldn’t tell from the post are you calling them run in the coop the same thing or will they have a coop with an exterior run? I guess one thing to think about is making that top for incredibly stable since people will also be walking around up there. If the Haybarn that’s not being used for animals is used for hay I personally would be very weary about putting any kind of heat for a Brooder in there. Now I’m a little extra paranoid about things I shouldn’t be. So maybe the last part is just my paranoia and doesn’t actually need to be a concern. Also maybe put something up along the top floor so the quail don’t walk off. I don’t know how well they fly and when they’re young they may not be able to. If you get it figured out That’s pretty cool to have your storage and your coops all in one. They won’t have access to the side that is actually the Haybarn right?

I was wondering just because I couldn’t tell from the post are you calling them run in the coop the same thing or will they have a coop with an exterior run? I guess one thing to think about is making that top for incredibly stable since people will also be walking around up there. If the Haybarn that’s not being used for animals is used for hay I personally would be very weary about putting any kind of heat for a Brooder in there. Now I’m a little extra paranoid about things I shouldn’t be. So maybe the last part is just my paranoia and doesn’t actually need to be a concern. Also maybe put something up along the top floor so the quail don’t walk off. I don’t know how well they fly and when they’re young they may not be able to. If you get it figured out That’s pretty cool to have your storage and your coops all in one. They won’t have access to the side that is actually the Haybarn right?

What I was calling a hay barn was just the style of building. Its not going to be used as one at all. We will be using it to store our rv, tractor, boat, etc. out of the weather. The coops/runs will be separated from the main storage area by a wall but still still be under the roof. Their outside wall will be hardware cloth. They will have nesting boxes, roosts and covered. One full wall, probably partial side walls and then fencing.

If we put the quail up top, they would still be in separate breeder hutches.

Yes, it gets hot in Georgia where I am. The upstairs area would have to be well ventilated to work. The incubator/ brooder room would probably need some form of a/c.

The whole building will be roofed with the shiny silver roofing which really helps cut the heat.

 

[Tcthomps1]

This is what the plans look like for the moment. They have already changed since this morning.