Do hens ever use the space under poop boards?

[ChaosMom]

Hi, noob here. We’re building the 8x15 run now and have a large Nestera coop for three pullets coming in three weeks.

So no immediate need to build a coop, and maybe the Nestera will be fine, but still…

So question: do chickens ever use the space below poop boards? If they are (for instance) 12” above the coop floor, two feet deep, and X number of hens feet long, you’re looking at 2X square feet of - what? A not particularly high space that doesn’t seem very attractive for scratching around, but possibly tempting for hidden egg-laying and so forth.

Losing 40% of floor space in a 5x5 coop seems a waste. Note: this one-day coop will be elevated off the ground, NOT a walk-in. Coop will be used only for roosting and laying, plus occasional miserable weather. No brooder, etc.

 

[StinkyAcres]

They will use the space during inclement weather. But if it's going to be that short you might as well turn that space into nesting boxes or a place to separate sick or new birds (although I'd recommend it be at least 14" high).

 

[texsuze]

I have one of my 3 nest boxes located underneath the poop board in a similarly described coop. One of my EE hens always used that box. I'm planning (soon) to elevate a 2' section of roost back up to the level of the other roosts. This was a "low roost" to help with older hens who needed more of a stepwise progression to get to main roost level. It will free up more floor space but since my girls only enter the coop to lay and to sleep at night it might not make much difference.

 

[aart]

If they are (for instance) 12” above the coop floor

Most poop boards are waist high for keepers comfort when cleaning them.

 

[ChaosMom]

Most poop boards are waist high for keepers comfort when cleaning them.

Right, but this coop will already be elevated 2’ from ground level. (I have to mentally adjust everything I read by 2’.)

So this winds up being waist high on me. (Tries to remember location of waist at my age…)

 

[aart]

Right, but this coop will already be elevated 2’ from ground level.

My coop is also ~2' off the ground, but it's large enough to walk into.

I see now I missed part of your post, sorry.
I would not bother with poop boards on such a small coop.

 

[StinkyAcres]

@aart is right. I wasn't thinking about if the poop board is a good idea or not. You wouldn't even be able to properly clean a poop board in a 5'x5' coop that you can't walk into.

 

[AinaWGSD]

They can, my coop has food and nest box under the poop board.

But 12" is a very short space. I imagine it may be more hassle than benefit. Maybe block off part of the back so it's not so deep and build the next boxes into that space? Or block it off and use it for storage (extra feeders, grit, oyster shell, maybe feed)?

 

[ChaosMom]

@aart is right. I wasn't thinking about if the poop board is a good idea or not. You wouldn't even be able to properly clean a poop board in a 5'x5' coop that you can't walk into.

In this mental configuration, I would be using those removable dog pen trays on the surface of the poop board (that someone posted from Amazon), but I hear ya.

My small urban backyard limits hen space, so I’m looking at multiple vertical surfaces to optimize movement space, if that’s an actual term.