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What to do with vertical space in coop? Silkie specific!

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by rilly10, Jan 9, 2011.

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  1. Jan 9, 2011 #1
    rilly10

    rilly10 Clover Field Farm

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    I have a 10 x12 shed that I have made into a coop it has three sections. When you walk in the door to the right are my LF chickens. They are separated by chicken wire to the roof with a door to get in their section. Straight forward is one pen and to the left is another. These are silkie pens. They only have some old oak boards three high, so like three foot walls to divide them all. No doors I just step over them since silkies don't fly. My layers have tons of perches, their nest box is up high, etc so they use all of their space.

    My question is I want to use all of the space i can in there. I have some shelves over the silkie pens but I was thinking of adding some breeder cages/conditioning cages up above the silkie pens. Does anyone have a set up like this? If so I would love to see some pic or hear any suggestions about what materials you used or how you secured them to the wall! Thanks!
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2011
  3. Jan 9, 2011 #2
    backdoorchicken

    backdoorchicken Chillin' With My Peeps

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    in our coop that space is used for breeding spiders and growing spider webs. to be honest i would like to do something different with that space also.
     
  5. Jan 9, 2011 #3
    rilly10

    rilly10 Clover Field Farm

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    LOL yeah! I mean I have some shelves but I would like to have some cages or pens up there...they would have to be solid bottoms but it would be nice for a brooch pen, to breed a specific pair, grow outs, or conditioning for a show. Also, if there was an extra roo which I am known to have way to many of. [​IMG]
     
  7. Jan 9, 2011 #4
    kristim23

    kristim23 Out Of The Brooder

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    I hope you get some good ideas! I have been wondering the same thing for our set-up.
     
  9. Jan 9, 2011 #5
    Cargo

    Cargo Chillin' With My Peeps

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    The upper space is perfect for rabbit cages!
    I dream of the day I can put my girls and rabbits together in the same building.
     
  11. Jan 9, 2011 #6
    Count Orloff

    Count Orloff Out Of The Brooder

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    What about adding some extra roosting bars for your flightier birds? Whatever you end up putting there, keep in mind that you will have to be able to clean out droppings and spiderwebs as they accumulate. I would just make sure that your addition makes it easy to maintain the coop in the future. I'm eager to see pictures of what you finally decide to go with.
     
  13. Jan 9, 2011 #7
    Royd

    Royd Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Quote:I have designed my chicken house/barn specifically, with that purpose in mind...Plenty of wall space and head space for cages...I'm sure that chickens love rummaging through rabbit pellets.
     
  15. Jan 9, 2011 #8
    Tdub4chiks

    Tdub4chiks Chillin' With My Peeps

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    How about putting the cage/brooder on 4x4 legs about 3 to 4 ft high.
     
  17. Jan 9, 2011 #9
    rilly10

    rilly10 Clover Field Farm

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    Thanks for the ideas...I have a bunch of brooders and thought about the rabbit cages, may still do that but I really was hoping to use the space for broodys and silkie roosters/pairs. I have breeder stacking cages for my bunnies (Dwarf Hotots) so don't need them in the coop. I was really thinking more of a solid bottomed self/cage so that I can still keep them on shavings and not have the poop fall on the birds below. I am going to have to build it from scratch which is fine! [​IMG]
     
  19. Jan 9, 2011 #10
    rilly10

    rilly10 Clover Field Farm

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