*UPDATED* Has anyone ever tried building one coop for roosting and another for nesting?

[ChxLadyCass]

Hello followers!

Today my brother is picking up our 2X4's from the hardware store! The base is built out of pallets, recycled 2X8's and recycled plywood. Dimensions are 8'X7'. My chicks are 2 weeks - 1 week old today, so we still have about 4 weeks to get this coop completed! My brother and I scrounged up TONS of tin and old wood about 1" thick for the roof and walls. We also have old windows to put in. The only thing left to work out is how exactly I will do the ventilation. Getting excited to see more of it come together!

 

[ChickAsThieves]

Looking forward to seeing pictures!

 

[ChxLadyCass]

The boyfriend gets to stay

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Oh what a humbling experience this has been! My boyfriend really helped me turn my dream coop into a framed reality, but there is still a lot of work to do! I worked on the siding for about 3 hours today and didnt get much further than this photo! Added maybe two feet high of siding on each side before I ran out of wood planks! I really underestimated what a project the siding would be. I'm being very indecisive about roosts and ventilation and nest boxes. I have basic ideas, but want the best for my girls in this new and improved coop! My chicks are 2-3 weeks old so I still have some time to get it all in order! You can check out my other thread to comment on any ideas you have for the interior! Thanks for your BYC support and following my journey!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-recommendations-for-new-coop#post_18324753

 

[ShrekDawg]

It's looking great!

Ventilation is important though, the more the better, so if you can, I would recommend leaving the space under the eaves open, at least in the front. But be sure to cover it with hardware cloth or welded wire, something sturdy to protect from predators! Not chicken wire because predators can rip right through it. See if you can find some wire around the farm or if not, you can order some online for cheaper than the hardware store, for that small of a coop you wouldn't need very much so it should be pretty cheap. Between that and the vents you have in your drawings as well as the windows it should be pretty good

As for roosts, a lot of people use 2x4s flat side or thick tree branches. Just make sure the roosts are higher than the nest boxes! Chickens like to roost in the highest place possible so that might be why you were having trouble with chickens sleeping in the nest boxes before! And try to make the roosts the same height if you can so they don't find as much

 

[ChxLadyCass]

It's looking great!

Ventilation is important though, the more the better, so if you can, I would recommend leaving the space under the eaves open, at least in the front. But be sure to cover it with hardware cloth or welded wire, something sturdy to protect from predators! Not chicken wire because predators can rip right through it. See if you can find some wire around the farm or if not, you can order some online for cheaper than the hardware store, for that small of a coop you wouldn't need very much so it should be pretty cheap. Between that and the vents you have in your drawings as well as the windows it should be pretty good

As for roosts, a lot of people use 2x4s flat side or thick tree branches. Just make sure the roosts are higher than the nest boxes! Chickens like to roost in the highest place possible so that might be why you were having trouble with chickens sleeping in the nest boxes before! And try to make the roosts the same height if you can so they don't find as much

This is great! Thank you! Just the kind of validation I was looking for! Yes, I wanted to leave that eave open and I have great hardware wire to use! Then I'll do vents on the south side under the nest boxes and vents near the top of the other walls, so vents all around! I may run out of hardware wire but have extra screen windows and an old tent a dog tore up. Could I use with little eaves to keep weather and predators out?

I have both 2X4's and a thick tree branch so I might try both! I like the thought about keeping them at the same height! I have two heights and a ladder to the roosts currently and when I added them I saw new behaviors in my girls. Any experience with whether or not the roosts are above the nests on the same wall or adjacent to the nests? I didn't know if that mattered in regards to privacy or anything like that. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Almost done!!

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Fun story I feel like sharing regarding chicken math and my coop square footage!

I had 10 hens a rooster when I started this thread. Since then, I have lost 2 hens and gained 9 chicks. So now I have a flock of 10 with the rooster, and a flock of 9 chicks. I have 2 coops, one at 56 sq. ft. and one at 32 sq ft. Now I have to figure out how to integrate and use the coops! I'd prefer not to COMPLETELY disrupt the current pecking order, so I am considering leaving my older flock in the old remodeled coop, where they are comfortable. Plus, we are considering giving 2 of our older hens to my sister-in-law making the 32 sq ft just about perfect and leaving room to grow in the new coop. Ohhhhh chicken math.

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Moving the hens in tonight!!! Success!!

 

[aart]

Nice....might want to put a 3-4" board on the front of the nests to keep bedding and eggs from being kicked out.