We can't agree on this conversion

[Beaker99]

I'm in southern Missouri. I currently have an A frame tractor/coop that we move every couple of days. It's open to the ground on the bottom (hardcloth kept coming off) and just used for sleeping and laying. 4x10. The girls have access to the entire backyard, which is huge for a city lot. Ten pullets.

My spouse is sick of moving it and wants to make it stationary. I suggest a plywood floor and bedding. Cleaning would be a pain due to door size.
He suggests putting hardcloth on the bottom and elevating it on a rectangle of blocks, with bedding underneath. Then move the coop off to clean underneath.
I think this sounds like a bigger hassle than our current situation. And possibly stinky.

It's there another option? I really don't want to pour hundreds more into this. Thanks.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Maybe elevate it with the blocks then create a pull-out tray or drawer for cleaning? Photos might be helpful.

 

[sdm111]

Will it be low enough that they will try to attempt to scratch the bedding underneath on the wire? If so no. Raise it a foot or so so they don't try and live on the wire. They stay so much cleaner and good feathers above the ground

 

[Beaker99]

Maybe elevate it with the blocks then create a pull-out tray or drawer for cleaning? Photos might be helpful.

I had this same idea. But he argued it would be heavy. Again, I disagree. We're both hard headed. Lol

 

[StinkyAcres]

I had this same idea. But he argued it would be heavy. Again, I disagree. We're both hard headed. Lol

Perhaps you could use two trays so they won't be so heavy.

 

[aart]

I'm in southern Missouri. I currently have an A frame tractor/coop that we move every couple of days. It's open to the ground on the bottom (hardcloth kept coming off) and just used for sleeping and laying. 4x10. The girls have access to the entire backyard, which is huge for a city lot. Ten pullets.

My spouse is sick of moving it and wants to make it stationary. I suggest a plywood floor and bedding. Cleaning would be a pain due to door size.
He suggests putting hardcloth on the bottom and elevating it on a rectangle of blocks, with bedding underneath. Then move the coop off to clean underneath.
I think this sounds like a bigger hassle than our current situation. And possibly stinky.

It's there another option? I really don't want to pour hundreds more into this. Thanks.

How big is this Aframe?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.

HC is not a good floor, hard on feet and the poops won't magically fall thru...at all, especially once they get bigger.

Not a fan of Aframes, tight space at height and difficult to meld weather proofing with good ventilation.

 

[Beaker99]

How big is this Aframe?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.

HC is not a good floor, hard on feet and the poops won't magically fall thru...at all, especially once they get bigger.

Not a fan of Aframes, tight space at height and difficult to meld weather proofing with good ventilation.

It's rainy so I can't get pics.
The style is not my first choice, but my husband built it in a hurry so..
It's been working pretty well overall. We had two weeks of 100+ temps and no losses.
Just thought I'd check for other ideas. I don't mind moving it at all. I appreciate all the input.

 

[WIchickMama]

Can you just keep it on the ground and do the deep litter method? Put a hardware cloth apron around the outside perimeter about 18-24 inches?

If not I would water seal some plywood and make a permanent floor and put on treated lumber if needing to make level.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

OK, this is what I would do - which you should feel free to ignore. and understand, I am biased against A-frames, they are the least space efficient, least materials efficient "coop" you can build, and are poorly suited to keeping generally - for all that they remain popular where resources are scarce.

I would find a place in my yard I don't mind being destroyed, and place the a-frame there.

NO FLOORING. I'd add a few inches of dried leaf litter or the like, allow it to break down, replace, replace, replace.

As soon as the budget permitted it, I'd rebuild it as a hoop coop, and use the reclaimed lumber for roosting bars and to support the house/nesting boxes.

In the interim, depending on your predator loads, I''d surround the thing with cinder block, old fencing, something to deter diggers which has a chance at surviving a season or two.

When the litter has broken down enough (about a year) and begun to pile up, either rake it all out and use it in your garden, or move the whole thing a few feet, and plant things you don't mind the chickens tearing up in the composted soil.

 

[Iluveggers]

OK, this is what I would do - which you should feel free to ignore. and understand, I am biased against A-frames, they are the least space efficient, least materials efficient "coop" you can build, and are poorly suited to keeping generally - for all that they remain popular where resources are scarce.

I would find a place in my yard I don't mind being destroyed, and place the a-frame there.

NO FLOORING. I'd add a few inches of dried leaf litter or the like, allow it to break down, replace, replace, replace.

As soon as the budget permitted it, I'd rebuild it as a hoop coop, and use the reclaimed lumber for roosting bars and to support the house/nesting boxes.

In the interim, depending on your predator loads, I''d surround the thing with cinder block, old fencing, something to deter diggers which has a chance at surviving a season or two.

When the litter has broken down enough (about a year) and begun to pile up, either rake it all out and use it in your garden, or move the whole thing a few feet, and plant things you don't mind the chickens tearing up in the composted soil.