What would you do differently if you could build a coop from scratch.

[ncCHICKS]

If you have a 8x6 building and half had to be storage and half for the coop, how would you do it?

For general coop construction what layout would you do differently.

Where would you place food/water in relation to door and roosts?

ANYTHING is helpful (not asking about would you make it bigger and such)

 

[BeckyLa]

Well.....much would depend on how many birds I was keeping in my 4x6 coop. For a few birds I would have one long roost with the next boxes, probably 2-3, opposite. I always keep the water outside even in the cold when I have to break the ice and, when there is room, I keep the feeder inside back out of the way of the roost and the nest boxes. hth.

 

[ncCHICKS]

Probably 4 or 5. I will have my current coop with 4 in it.

 

[BeckyLa]

That'll work nicely, then. There should be plenty of room for the feeder, which I hang away from the pop door due to weather. Sounds nice and cosy.

 

[AtRendeAcres]

If you look here at Jeanne's Bantam Coop
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2127-Bantam_Coop

I would do the same thing but, 2 levels instead of 3 & I would make 3' wide instead of 2'

Making those changes going accross your 8' side you would have 2 pens measuring 8' x 3' which is 24 square feet ((you would be able to 6 standard or 8/10 bantams

& plenty of space for storage

Joanne

 

[ncCHICKS]

Quote:
Either way, 8x3 or 6x4 is 24 sf. I just figured it's not as narrow, which is good for sitting and chilling with my peeps

 

[jaybme]

I built a 4x8 run with a hen house in one end.

Things I did not think of, and would change:

The door and ramp are on the left side of the hen house, and the door I enter was built on the left side if the other end. Having them on the same side is awkward as the ramp is in the way of walking in.

I hung the food and water below the hen house. Nice and neat, no mess, and they have to go out to eat. However, I had to go through the coop, past the ramp and crouch underneath in the poo and dirt to get them for filling and cleaning.

I did solve these- made a ramp that went up the right and then angles across the front to their door.

Made another door on the opposite end that I can open to get at the food and water much easier.

For my clean out doors, I thought making it lip-less would make it easier to clean, and it does, but it also allows all the shavings to fall out as they move around, so I went back and installed boards across the openings along the floor so most of the shavings stay in!

I also would buy an extra water so that I can put the dirty one in the dishwasher when I want to switch them. I do this for my quail and it is so much easier than scrubbing.

Hope this helps!

 

[Ginger Chic]

2 things I definitely would change if I were rebuilding...

#1 Nest boxes that are accessible from the outside so I don't have to get poo on my shoes.

#2 A dust trap across the farthest wall where it meets the floor. It may be called something different where you are, but the gist is the same. It is a 2x4 (parallel to the floor) with a hinge on the top to flip up so that you can sweep the dust right on out without using a dust pan. (Found in older homes in the Low Country of SC.) Now imagine how easy it would be to push all the all the litter out and onto a plastic sheet to transport to the litter pile. And... then you can hose any remaining bits out the same way. Relatch, reload floor with more hay and chips, and DONE!

 

[chickens4jojo]

Quote:
Me, too.