Two Level Coop?

[WolfsongHomestead]

Hello all! New to chickens, and building their home before I get them. I built the coop out of a converted play-set the prior owner left on the property (very good condition), and should have the last wall done soon. My question is whether or not I can have two coops, one on top of the next? The top is the mostly completed coop, and I’ll be fully sealing the bottom (for waterproofing, safety, and ease of cleaning). The bottom is where the second coop would be; I’d just seal it up, put in roost bars, and that would be that. Other than overly locked doors, both would open to the soon to be built enclosed run.

My land is mostly hill, poorly drained ground (thanks clay!) or planting space for my beginning farm. Having a second coop under the first would allow more chickens in case of chicken math. I’m only planning on 6-8 (the ideal number for the floor space), but I also know that chicken math is a thing. Thoughts?

 

[neo71665]

Truthfully I think it will create more issues than solve.

 

[WolfsongHomestead]

Truthfully I think it will create more issues than solve.

How so? IF I allowed chicken math to happen (I really don’t) and used that for another coop, would they all try to crowd in just one or the other? Ventilation issues? Disease chance?

 

[aart]

would they all try to crowd in just one or the other?

Yes.

 

[mowin]

The bottom coop would be difficult to ventilate without the birds being exposed to drafts when on the roost.
All the chickens will most likely huddle in one or the other unless each level had a separate run for there own flock.
Not sure on the size of the playhouse, but it looks around 4x4? If so you're going to be maxed out at 4 standard sized birds, so I get wanting to utilize the bottom for a separate coop, but I don't think it's a good use of the space.

 

[Wolfie2]

A couple years ago Wife wanted to get chickens again, after loosing 2 different flocks in the past few years. I had given up on them but she was adamant. So I put a wire roof over the run and we are making a go at it again. The run had a hoop coop already and was what I was planning to use but Wife decided it was a POS ( had worked well for years) so she wanted one of the expensive,newfangled, pre-built coop that was rated for 10 birds. Tried to talk her out of it to no avail. As most chicken owners know a 10 bird coop is good for about 5 birds. She ended up with 10 ("they'll fit" she said). Well, they did! Crowded but the fit (their choice). They never liked the hooper. Used the small one from the first day, although they do use the nesting box in the hooper. Thinkin about adding roosting bars on the other side, over the nesting boxes since they don't use 'em. Will give 'em a little more room at night.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum from Louisiana. Glad you joined. And yes, building the coop before you get them is a great idea.

I’m only planning on 6-8 (the ideal number for the floor space), but I also know that chicken math is a thing.

I get concerned when I see things like "ideal number for the floor space". I don't know what you are basing that ideal number on but it often means someone is trying to shoehorn as many as they can in an available space. I don't believe there are any magic numbers of square feet per bird that suits all of us, you can follow the link in my signature below to get my thoughts on that. I find the more I crowd them the more behavioral problems I have to deal with, the harder I have to work, and the less flexibility I have to deal with issues that come up. I encourage you to provide as much room as you reasonably can. That will make the chicken experience more enjoyable for you. Your space system is not just the coop, it can include the run also if the run is available when they are awake. How you manage them also has a big part to play in that.

You apparently live in snow country. The run may not be available in winter due to weather. That makes coop space more valuable. And it looks like you are planning to integrate more chickens later. You need more space to integrate chickens than you do after they are integrated. That is even more important if they are immature chicks.

My question is whether or not I can have two coops, one on top of the next?

I would not. How much do you enjoy crawling around on your knees in chicken poop? Chickens tend to sleep as high as they can. Unless you have them in separate runs it's almost a sure thing they will all want to sleep up top when you integrate. You could manage some of the issues with ventilation and such but I'd think you'd be better off using it differently.

In snow country I'd figure out how to make that a snow free area and give them a snow free way to get to it. It could be a good place to hang a food bucket and keep it dry but remember you need access to feed them. Or maybe shade for summer.

If chicken math hits do yourself a favor. Build a coop big enough for all of them.

 

[neo71665]

How so? IF I allowed chicken math to happen (I really don’t) and used that for another coop, would they all try to crowd in just one or the other? Ventilation issues? Disease chance?

For the reasons already posted

 

[Windrider]

The bottom area would make a nice place for the feeder and waterer to be out of the weather, so as not to take any of the limited space from the coop above. You'd just have to put in a door (hardware cloth or solid) for you to access them easily.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

the only "practical" way to use the space under the first coop aas a second coop is to get ducks - because they nest on the ground.

Some people have had problems having ducks and chickens in the same "space" - I have not, but I can't claim such superior knowledge and experience as to dismiss their claims out of hand. And even then, every time you have to bend down to get the duck eggs from under the main coop, you will cuss. Maybe not out loud, but having duck "stuff" below you, chicken "stuff" above you, and a bunch of heavy wood threatening to bump your head if you don't crawl thru duck "stuff" on your knees....

*Cussing*

FWIW, I have a raised coop (my first) for my chickens measuring about 8x12 that I can walk into. My ducks nest, and sometimes lay, underneath. Though the floor is 3' off the ground, and I have a 4x4 square of space where I can stand, the back corners (which the ducks prefer!) are still the subject of much mental recrimination, and occasionally, a voiced explicative.