What would you change/add?

[Cryss]

@jolenesdad I know you weren’t asking me but about what time you let them out in the morning, I am opening the pop door and feeding them as soon as I see daylight. “Up with the chickens” as they say.
Well, not today. Slept till almost 8am!! Poor babies! An hour and a half of missed daylight and a late breakfast!

 

[jolenesdad]

@jolenesdad I know you weren’t asking me but about what time you let them out in the morning, I am opening the pop door and feeding them as soon as I see daylight. “Up with the chickens” as they say.
Well, not today. Slept till almost 8am!! Poor babies! An hour and a half of missed daylight and a late breakfast!

I just saw your coop post, I’m in looooooove!!!! Something to be proud of for sure. And that thread seems to be so full of insightful information. I’m bookmarking it!

I don’t let my flock out first thing mostly because of my own schedule with a toddler and I have most of the morning duties with him. I used to let them out first thing but not so much anymore, it’s usually 9:30.

I kind of like it because they e scratched through the entire coops by 9:30, and I don’t ever have accumulations of poop. And it’s also drastically cut down eggs out of the nests. Even afternoon layers have to lay sometimes in the morning, and it seems to force them to get used to the boxes.

because of that, I usually plan my coops this style as a coop/run, even though I allow access to range most of the day. That helps me be able to confine for as long as necessary when there’s predator pressure, and so I usually plan for 7-10 sf per bird, about 15-20 birds per coop the size of the OP.

Since I’m elaborating anyway... I asked about rehoming also because I’ve had it get crowded and had fights in those situations with 10 birds if one is a bully, and made it work with a little over 20 with a very docile flock. In that way, the space per bird issue is always very personal to the flock and your personal goals/management.

 

[bobbi-j]

Cute coop! I would reinforce that chicken wire with welded wire.

 

[ValerieJ]

In case my written explanation was difficult to follow here’s a picture of my coop and poop boards.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-want-to-follow.1298845/page-17#post-21797094

Great set up!

 

[ValerieJ]

@jolenesdad I know you weren’t asking me but about what time you let them out in the morning, I am opening the pop door and feeding them as soon as I see daylight. “Up with the chickens” as they say.
Well, not today. Slept till almost 8am!! Poor babies! An hour and a half of missed daylight and a late breakfast!

You have an hour and a half of daylight by 8am??? The sun is barely coming up by then here.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Been said a few times already, but I'll say it too. Need to lower the nest boxes, otherwise your hens will roost on it instead... making for a poopy mess.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I concur with the changes suggested, but I just have to say, that is a really cute coop! Love the curtains!

 

[Feathered_Texans]

I have all mine in converted horse stalls in TX, very similar. The only thing I’d add would be a hardware cloth upgrade over time.

As far as space, a couple of questions since I deal with the exact same setups...

do you have opinions on rehoming hens? Against it at all?

Do you raise chicks often or at all or interested in that aspect of chicken keeping?

when do you let out in the AM?

I’m not against rehoming hens at all. Sometimes you need to for the well being of the hens

I have been raising chicks every spring for the past 3 years but I do it in a brooding ring inside my shop or Morgan building.

On weekdays I let them out on my way to the car, about 7:30 am. However on weekends and holidays I let them out at about 9. They aren’t usually in a hurry to get out, unless I forget to let them out until the afternoon. That’s when they get antsy and crowd at the door.

 

[Feathered_Texans]

In case my written explanation was difficult to follow here’s a picture of my coop and poop boards.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-want-to-follow.1298845/page-17#post-21797094

I LOVE your coop! And I agree that the roost situation needs to change, the poop boards looks like a great idea. Thank you!

 

[Ladies-Eight]

I would raise both of the roosts and lower the nests a small amount.