Unusual Coop

[RobertaD1]

How many do you have? What's the measurement of the coop and the run (maybe I missed it)?

 

[Aidan Wright]

Your run looks really nice and well-constructed, and having the coop inside the run (especially since your run is covered) can work very well. I would just build a new coop similar to the old one, or even just make some modifications to your existing coop (if it's in decent shape and parasite-free,) because it looks like it just needs a few easy changes:

1. More ventilation - your chickens might prefer to roost outside because it looks like the coop has no ventilation except the big door opening. You could cut the siding about 6" below the roof on the low side, make it the same height all around, and use hardware cloth from that height up to the roof on all sides.

2. Put the coop on much longer legs, like 3'-4' feet off the ground. This way, the bottom is at the height of your waist, making it much easier to clean. You can fit the front of a wheelbarrow under it, and just pull the dirty bedding out directly into the wheelbarrow.

Also, it makes room for the chickens to go under the coop, and you could keep their food, water and a dust-bath under there. If the coop roof is about or close to the height of your run, it will encourage the chickens to roost in the coop instead of on top of it.

3. Roosts: We can't see from the pictures where the coop has a roost inside, but in the "similar but new" coop, make the roost above the height of the nest boxes but at least a foot below the ventilation, and make a ramp for the chickens to walk up into the coop. They feel safest roosting as high as they can get off the ground, so walking up a ramp to go inside, then jumping up to a roost, will encourage them to roost inside.

Take down the outside roosts and metal framework, so they have no excuse to avoid roosting inside. If they need more entertainment outside, put in a few logs or stumps to make different "areas" in the run.

Depending on the climate you live in, you can likely take down all the plastic from the run, or maybe just cover one or two sides where the wind comes from if your area is very windy or consistently gets below freezing.

Thank you, I'm definitely going to be building a new coop and all this is extremely helpful.

 

[Aidan Wright]

If they're not using the coop it may be too dark, too stuffy, too crowded, or there's a parasite issue in the coop. Have they ever used the coop at all?

They use it to lay there eggs, but they don't sleep in there. I cleaned out the coop and replaced all the bedding, so maybe that'll help.

 

[Aidan Wright]

I have six right now and I'm adding three more soon. I don't have exact measurements of the run, but the coop is about 3x4 feet, and 4 feet tall. We need a bigger one.

 

[neo71665]

I have six right now and I'm adding three more soon. I don't have exact measurements of the run, but the coop is about 3x4 feet, and 4 feet tall. We need a bigger one.

Yes you do. 12 sq feet is just about right for the 6 you have, with 3 chickens more you need to add 6 more sq ft.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Are they standard size? It is recommended 4sqft per bird, along with 1sqft of permanent 365/24/7 ventilation per bird, and 1 linear foot of roost space per bird. So with 9 total birds you need a minimum if 36sqft of space(I'd go bigger cuz chicken math is real, lol) and your current coop is only big enough for 3 birds which may be part of the reason they don't sleep in there. Can we get pics of the inside?

 

[3KillerBs]

I have six right now and I'm adding three more soon. I don't have exact measurements of the run, but the coop is about 3x4 feet, and 4 feet tall. We need a bigger one.

That may explain it. This coop is far, far, far too small. (It is very common for prefab coop makers to claim that it suits twice or even three times the number of birds it can actually hold).

So that you know for future plans, for each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

4 square feet in the coop,​

10 square feet in the run,​

1 linear foot of roost,​

And 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.​

So, doing the numbers for 9 chickens, you need:

36 square feet in the coop -- about 5x8 (an awkward number to build since lumber comes in multiples of 4) or 6x6 (easier to build because you can buy 12-foot boards and cut them in half).​

90 square feet in the coop -- about 8x12. 10x10 is 100 square feet.​

9 linear feet of roost​

9 square feet of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, which is best located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.​

People will often claim that their chickens don't really *need* that amount of space in the coop, but this thread discusses some of the reasons why you might want even more than the recommended minimums. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ave-more-than-the-minimums-for-space.1462570/

 

[jgarner1327]

If they're not using the coop it may be too dark, too stuffy, too crowded, or there's a parasite issue in the coop. Have they ever used the coop at all?

I was thinking could there be a rodent problem in the coop at night?

 

[jgarner1327]

That may explain it. This coop is far, far, far too small. (It is very common for prefab coop makers to claim that it suits twice or even three times the number of birds it can actually hold).

So that you know for future plans, for each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

4 square feet in the coop,​

10 square feet in the run,​

1 linear foot of roost,​

And 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.​

So, doing the numbers for 9 chickens, you need:

36 square feet in the coop -- about 5x8 (an awkward number to build since lumber comes in multiples of 4) or 6x6 (easier to build because you can buy 12-foot boards and cut them in half).​

90 square feet in the coop -- about 8x12. 10x10 is 100 square feet.​

9 linear feet of roost​

9 square feet of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, which is best located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.​

People will often claim that their chickens don't really *need* that amount of space in the coop, but this thread discusses some of the reasons why you might want even more than the recommended minimums. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ave-more-than-the-minimums-for-space.1462570/

I bought a wooden shed at Costco, and they have people who will build it for you cheap. I love building stuff but I'm 76 and have arthritis now (wah wah). I had him cut a small door in the side for them to go into the run, and put 2 hinges on it. It has a slide lock for safety.

 

[jgarner1327]

That may explain it. This coop is far, far, far too small. (It is very common for prefab coop makers to claim that it suits twice or even three times the number of birds it can actually hold).

So that you know for future plans, for each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

4 square feet in the coop,​

10 square feet in the run,​

1 linear foot of roost,​

And 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.​

So, doing the numbers for 9 chickens, you need:

36 square feet in the coop -- about 5x8 (an awkward number to build since lumber comes in multiples of 4) or 6x6 (easier to build because you can buy 12-foot boards and cut them in half).​

90 square feet in the coop -- about 8x12. 10x10 is 100 square feet.​

9 linear feet of roost​

9 square feet of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, which is best located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.​

People will often claim that their chickens don't really *need* that amount of space in the coop, but this thread discusses some of the reasons why you might want even more than the recommended minimums. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ave-more-than-the-minimums-for-space.1462570/

what is permanent ventilation? Is that a vent near the ceiling or an electric fan?