Coop Interior Input Needed!

Please Read Each Choice & Choose 1 of Each Letter (except E & F = one or the other)

  • A) External Nesting Box; Saves space inside the coop & easier collection from outside.

  • A) Internal N.B; No holes in walls, no weather worries (& coop floor space isn't impacted anyways).

  • B) N.B. Size Min. (12"x12"x12") to keep from multiple hens encroaching.

  • B) Modified Box Size (14"x14"x14") for bigger breeds (& not having to modify later if needed).

  • C) W. &/or V.; +/-2 walls for windows, +/-2 walls for vents for 'enough' of both functions.

  • C) W. &/or V.; one of each total - it's unnecessary for more.

  • D) Roost Height; kept it at 12" high to keep risks of injury low

  • D) Roost Height; kept ~18"(+) for better mobility access to clean/&added 'poop shelf(vs)' for step

  • E) E for EXTRA: Decor - N.B. curtains, Pics/Paintings, Wallpaper, etc.! (There is a partition wall)

  • F) Fun Police: Nothing but wood & feathers inside the coop. (All jokes, no shame in simplistic!)


Results are only viewable after voting.
My nest boxes are just a bit smaller than 12x12 but are 18" high. I made them that high for the hens to stand up in there and to accommodate a thick layer of nest material. They have been just fine for all my hens from the tiny Sebright to my Cuckoo Marans who weighs just over 8#.
Normal size hen.
MaeDae on the nest.jpg

Hen with 2 of her half grown chicks in with her.
Barb plus 3 kids in nest box.png

Sebright hen and rooster in nest.
Napoleon on the nest.jpg
 
My nest boxes are just a bit smaller than 12x12 but are 18" high. I made them that high for the hens to stand up in there and to accommodate a thick layer of nest material. They have been just fine for all my hens from the tiny Sebright to my Cuckoo Marans who weighs just over 8#.
Normal size hen.
View attachment 4093044
Hen with 2 of her half grown chicks in with her.
View attachment 4093045
Sebright hen and rooster in nest.
View attachment 4093046
Thank you sooo much for posting reference pictures! That helps immensely:) (Also, I LOVE your Sebrights!! My next bantam addition!)
 
I'm in the middle of building a garden in my chicken run so that my chickens have healthy greens that prevent disease I was just wondering what plants I should put in with Oregano
Have you considered doing the garden along the outside of your run? Or even next to it & you can add a "tunnel" going from the run, through garden boxes like an alleyway. Gives them (limited) access to the garden without taking space away (adding space with a tunnel). As for companion plants for oregano - other herbs; basil, thyme, chives (very little IF any since they're mainly for your flock) & rosemary, [vegetables] tomatoes, peppers & cabbage!
 
I'd definitely do bigger next boxes 12x12 is tiny. As much ventilation as possible.
How many birds are you planning on?
I agree. The bigger the nesting box is better if you do get bigger breeds. Hens also like to lay in the same nesting box as well as being in the same one at the same time with other hens lol!😂
 
My nest boxes are just a bit smaller than 12x12 but are 18" high. I made them that high for the hens to stand up in there and to accommodate a thick layer of nest material. They have been just fine for all my hens from the tiny Sebright to my Cuckoo Marans who weighs just over 8#.
Normal size hen.
View attachment 4093044
Hen with 2 of her half grown chicks in with her.
View attachment 4093045
Sebright hen and rooster in nest.
View attachment 4093046
I yet again agree wholeheartedly!
 
Hello! I am in the midst of building my new (&first personal) coop. I have combed through forums & articles for more specifics/input on how to design the interior, but there's so many different ways that work differently for everyone. Considering the basics needed/required (minimums per chicken to keep it simple); 4 sq. ft. [coop floor], 1 sq. ft. [roosting space], 12"x12"x12" [nesting boxes (4 chickens per)] - if you can think of anything you've done that you would change, or didn't do that you wish you did, PLEASE take a second & help me by taking this poll (w/possible reasons why or why not)! Tyia!:)
[[[This is all under the assumption you are not currently able to free range]]]
We stained the inside of our coop with opaque stain. The roosting area is mustard color, while the nesting boxes are a deep hunter green. We figured the color was really for us, but they might enjoy the quiet of the dark for laying. We put in windows for light and summer ventilation. And we did put in curtains! I don't know if they like them, but the chicken tenders sure do!

You will hopefully be caring for your flock for quite a while, so make it something pleasing to you. We started with this little coop and have extended it. The exterior paint is California Poppy and is bright and cheery. The curtains have little chickens on them! They're so cute (and a bit dusty, but not too bad). Closed here to show the pattern, they're always open to allow the ladies to see the sunrise.
 

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We stained the inside of our coop with opaque stain. The roosting area is mustard color, while the nesting boxes are a deep hunter green. We figured the color was really for us, but they might enjoy the quiet of the dark for laying. We put in windows for light and summer ventilation. And we did put in curtains! I don't know if they like them, but the chicken tenders sure do!

You will hopefully be caring for your flock for quite a while, so make it something pleasing to you. We started with this little coop and have extended it. The exterior paint is California Poppy and is bright and cheery. The curtains have little chickens on them! They're so cute (and a bit dusty, but not too bad). Closed here to show the pattern, they're always open to allow the ladies to see the sunrise.
I LOVE IT!😍
 
We stained the inside of our coop with opaque stain. The roosting area is mustard color, while the nesting boxes are a deep hunter green. We figured the color was really for us, but they might enjoy the quiet of the dark for laying.
Neat idea! As far as curtains go (for nesting boxes), do you think a dark (like black) lace-like material would do any good besides look pretty to me? Or would it just be best [for the hens] to get a thicker/solid material?
 
I don't really know. Ours are cotton, and are open all the time, so they're purely decorative. I'm unclear as to how far and how much detail chickens can see. I'm 99% sure they have no idea there are chickens on their curtains! :D
 

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