Will this coop design work?

[wberry85]

I am getting my first chickens this spring and trying to prepare a coop for them.

The shape will look like a small barn. It has two stories, a run on the bottom and a floor on the top story to form an attic. The ramp leads up into the attic where I will have my roost and nesting boxes. Never having owned or built a coop before, I assumed that I would put my nesting boxes on the floor of the second story. Will the chickens lay in there if the nesting boxes are not elevated? Also will they roost on a roosting pole that is only six or so inches off the ground?

Thanks for the help.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Yes and yes.

In a big walk in coop, the roosts are usually higher. In small coops, there often isn't as much head room and the roosts are closer to the floor. The chickens will still use them.

Chickens will use nest boxes that are elevated or on the floor. I've had both. You just need the roosts to be higher than the nest box or they will try to sleep in or roost on the nest box.

 

[patandchickens]

First, what climate are you in. It makes a *big* difference. (How hot your summers get, how cold your winters get?)

Second, are you sure you are giving them enough space. Commercial coops will merrily say that (like) a 4x6 coop "holds 12-15 chickens" but what they don't say is "under factory-farm crowding conditions, or if you let them free range all day every day then yes you can physically squish that many chickens in just to roost at night". Designs where the run is entirely under the coop are USUALLY awfully crowded, thus prone to stress-and-cannibalism problems for chickens and sanitation/management problems for chicken owner.

As far as your actual question:

Unless you're in a very warm always-nice climate, yeah you probably do want the nestboxes upstairs in the "indoor" part of the setup. If the roost and nestboxes have to be about the same height ie. both essentially on the floor, it is quite possible you will have chickens sleeping in the nestboxes which can cause problems with pooey eggs, but, not much you can do about it if that's all the vertical height you've got to work with.

But, again, I would suggest reevaluating your coop design because while it *might* be okay, at least for some peoples' criteria of okayness, a lot of coops that could be described the way you are describing your plans are really not at all chickenfriendly or userfriendly and it is far easier to fix things before it's built.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[wberry85]

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I am in Georgia, so it gets pretty hot in the summer. Is this bad? I can build vents if I need to... There will be a entry hole for the ramp to get up to the second story so it wont be sealed or anything.

I will be building an extended run on the bottom story, so it shouldnt be an issue. My coop dimension is 4x6 and I am only getting 3 chickens, so I figure that would be enough space. I have read most places recommend 3 or 4 sq feet per chicken so I am well over that. The run will be be another 4x6 area extension of the bottom story also.

Quote:
Understood and thats why I am asking BEFORE it is finished. All I have build so far is the frame for the bottom story so still plenty of time to make adjustments.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
OK, sounds reasonable; just checkin'

For sure you will want LOTS AND LOTS of ventilation area in Georgia -- chickens really do not deal with 'hot' at all well, they need as large an area of shade/coolth as possible, and to have the roosting area cool off as soon as possible on summer nights rather than remaining warmer than the outdoor air.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[wordgirl]

My roosts were higher (I had a larger coop), but I had my nest boxes on the ground, too, and they seemed happy to lay their eggs in them.

 

[wberry85]

Sounds like if I make sure my roost is higher than my nesting boxes I should be ok. I think I can make this happen. Thanks again for the help. I'll post pics when I am finished.