What's the one thing you wish you had included in your coop?

[Nutcup]

Depends where you live, you definitely want a concrete hard floor with a slight inch or two lift on the bottom so you can hose it out from time to time. If you live in a hotter climate I recommend LOTS of ventilation, if you want to get fancy a mister is a good idea. An outdoor run with dirt is helpful but make sure you have it separated from where they sleep so you can close it off at night for protection. Definitely use a top cover on all the areas they roam, birds of prey love chickens. The sleeping area should have a high roosting bar with solid walls and a roof but make sure it is easy to clean. Make sure the coop has good protection from rain or snow, not so much the outside part but they should have a larger area to dry their feet and feathers to prevent sickness. The laying boxes should be raised and offer individual privacy for each box. Use shavings for cleaner eggs. Make sure if there are cold winters that you have a warm, wind free area for the girls to keep warm. Keep the ease of cleaning in mind for everything and an automatic water is the best thing in the world.

 

[Nutcup]

My hens don't like pine shavings, they will lay on the floor in the straw to avoid the shavings in the nest boxes.

 

[blackandtan]

Electricity! Thankfully, my coop isn't that far that I can't run a long extension cord out there. I have a solar unit that can run a few things (right now it runs two small fans and a light), but full on electricity would be soooooo much better.

And water! I have a small flock and a small coop in a relatively small yard, but a dedicated water source would be great for all sorts of reasons. With a utility sink!

And an auto door so I can sleep in a bit on occasion.

And air conditioning, although I may add this soon. It's 107° right now, and inspite of all the frozen water bottles, fans, cold eats, etc, it's still hot as Hades out there.

Electricity! Thankfully, my coop isn't that far that I can't run a long extension cord out there. I have a solar unit that can run a few things (right now it runs two small fans and a light), but full on electricity would be soooooo much better.

And water! I have a small flock and a small coop in a relatively small yard, but a dedicated water source would be great for all sorts of reasons. With a utility sink!

And an auto door so I can sleep in a bit on occasion.

And air conditioning, although I may add this soon. It's 107° right now, and inspite of all the frozen water bottles, fans, cold eats, etc, it's still hot as Hades out there.

107 are you kidding! I’d die! You guys can keep your heat and I’ll enjoy my cold thank you!
Good tips all, I’m currently working on coop #3 (and last!), and there are a few things here I’ll be using; my current one was a bit too small, but mostly drainage is a problem. Also, I wish I’d drawn plans before building and I might have realized sooner that although I’d measured the outside of the structure to allow a comfy margin for the girls, I built with 2x6’s for the snow load so when all was said and done, and with deep litter on the floor the inside of the coop was/is so small I can’t stand in the coop!
The girls also loved their nests all tucked away in the back corner...not dark because I added battery lights....but for ME to collect eggs I either have to be a contortionist OR lean over a poo covered perch with my nose 1” from another poo covered perch.
Long story short, PLAN FOR YOU not just for CHOOKS

 

[Afroggie4u]

More space, I would have built it bigger. Just seems i build coop or houses for my animals and wish i built them bigger as time goes by.

 

[Crzy Chi Lady]

I met a guy who saids that he has thick hardware cloth dug down under his fence to keep predators from digging under his fence.

 

[NatJ]

I wish they had more space when they have to stay in the coop. Unless it's raining or I'm gone for the weekend, I let my chickens roam around. Another good thing about livin in the country.

Definitely a good point to consider, that when you're not there to supervise, they need enough space to be OK locked in.

Some coop styles are just big enough to have nestboxes and roosts--no food, no water, nowhere for the chickens to "hang out." Those can be fixed with 24/7 access to a secure run (predator-proof, roof to keep out rain/sun, wire sides for light and ventilation.)

 

[deedledumpling1]

Giant eaves, an Automatic door for opening in the morning, and automatic waterers, or at least a hose and running water to reach all the pens (can you tell I just finished lugging all my water out for tomorrow morning for all 54 chickens in 7 different locations over about 2/3 an acre?). I wouldn’t trust a door to close the girls up at night though, I need to do an evening headcount... but not having to get outside so early every morning would be nice!

That is exactly what I do with my little flock of 7. I go out in the evening aout 14-30 min before the auto door is to close, and sit with them, pet them and watch them go to roost. Sometimes they don't all want to come in before the door actually closes, so I take a tiny bit of scratch of feed out and set a little board inside the auto door. I know they are in, I visit with them and when the door closes I remove the little board and head inside. Then they are out when the auto door opens in the morning.

 

[Irish1951]

Hi Peeps!
I'm planning a coop build and I'm hoping to take a few lessons from the BYC community before I start. So, please share one thing you wish you had included in your coop.
Thanking you!

Probably some room to store food, grit etc

 

[Jeddice]

Just one thing? Maybe a slide out poop tray. Like in bird cages you can just slide out the bottom of the cage, clean it, and slide it back in. That would be nice. Slide out the tray, dump it, slide it back in. Some small chicken coops have this and it’s very useful.

One day I’ll build my dream coop and it will consist of many convenience features.

These are poop trays on my coop. I have 4 of them. Very easy to clean. Wish my run was bigger but have a very small yard. They get to “free range” in yard. I have a salad bar that I open up every couple of days so that get fresh greens.

 

[Toothpick]

I have one on the smaller coop I have that I got from Tractor Supply. It's the best part of the coop.