Coop remodel question

[FeatherWeather]

Hi all,
We are planning a remodel of the inside of our coop. New nesting boxes and roosts. This is my 1st little flock with only 4 hens. They have always had the same layout with just some very minor changes. They just started laying again after their winter break and I'm worried about stressing them out and interrupting their egg production. With our current set up, we can't do a gradual remodel, we'd have to do it all at once.
Should we wait until late fall when they stop laying again? I'm thinking that's not ideal either, because that's molting season.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

If you can do it in a weekend, just get it done. Sure, its an interruption, and chickens hate change - but better to do it now and get it over then spend all summer wishing it was done.

 

[thistlewick]

I don't really know what that would do; but for anecdotal information purposes --

We literally build INSIDE the hen house with drills and saws (I just recently cut a ton of ventilation in our shed) *while* they were on the nests and laying and they don't care. I clean every day in there while they're laying, I go in the little closet my husband built to add food to the bin, grab bedding from the lofts, etc

I'd go with Stormcrow - just do it and get it overwith and they will be okay. If it does unsettle them, it won't for long!

 

[FeatherWeather]

If you can do it in a weekend, just get it done. Sure, its an interruption, and chickens hate change - but better to do it now and get it over then spend all summer wishing it was done.

Thank you! We were actually planning on doing it all this weekend. We'll give it a go.

 

[FeatherWeather]

I don't really know what that would do; but for anecdotal information purposes --

We literally build INSIDE the hen house with drills and saws (I just recently cut a ton of ventilation in our shed) *while* they were on the nests and laying and they don't care. I clean every day in there while they're laying, I go in the little closet my husband built to add food to the bin, grab bedding from the lofts, etc

I'd go with Stormcrow - just do it and get it overwith and they will be okay. If it does unsettle them, it won't for long!

I go in there everyday to clean and restock sometimes while they're on their nests. So, that's good to know if they're ok with that, it should be fine. I am glad to get it done before summer! The new layout will be much better. Thanks for the response!

 

[StinkyAcres]

I regularly turn my coops into construction sites while the birds are still living there. They might scurry out into the run while I'm running the saw or drill, but they're fine when I'm finished.