New coop thoughts….

[Kbake]

I already built a “mini” coop to kinda look like my garage. It is going to be used like a tiny coop for young ones or sick/injured chickens.
My future coop is going to be large (maybe like 8X10) and look like our house. I know, I know…it’s a little “much” but it will be adorable.
Anyways, my mini coop and current OverEazy coop I have used Kilz inside to kinda help preserve it and make it easier to clean. And after recently scrubbing poop off the walls inside I started hosing the inside, which make me think, why hasn’t anyone added a drain or plug in their coop to do this? I think I’m gonna do that for easy deep cleanings.
I also wanna add an area to keep feed and other supplies, etc etc. and a simple solar set up to power simple things down at the coop.

What other things would people suggest as “must haves” or lovely convinces to add to a custom coop design?

Adding photos of my “garage” coop I built. The finishing touches still need to be added but it’s a good coop for a first time builder without a plan

 

[EggSighted4Life]

What other things would people suggest as “must haves” or lovely convinces to add to a custom coop design?

I prefer my 2x4 roosts to be wide side up since chickens don't sleep gripping the wood but rather resting on their keel bone with their feet flat on either side.

I do highly recommend droppings boards under the roosts.

Rather than "killz".. I might suggest using deck paint as an otherwise easy to clean surface.

 

[aart]

why hasn’t anyone added a drain or plug in their coop to do this?

Because hosing out the inside of a coop is a very bad idea.
It will never totally dry out, mold is the first concern with too much moisture inside a coop as well as providing a great habitat for organisms like disease and some pests.
Not to mention the rotting of materials that it would contribute to.

 

[linguini]

Beautiful coop! We built a similar one for our new chicks a year ago, we have a lot of ventilation, though. In winter, I cover up the windows with clear vinyl. The ceiling is covered with additional hardware cloth to keep predators and mice/rats away.

The shed is connected to a larger complex of two coops and a covered run. We now have an automatic door under the window for chickens to go in/out the entire complex. We also set up additional food trough and waterer inside this unit.

I mounted the roosting bar going across the short side to give birds longer "run way" to jump up and down along the long side. It does limit the capacity of roosting bar. Do your birds have any problem jumping up and down the roosting bar?

 

[saysfaa]

...
What other things would people suggest as “must haves” or lovely convinces to add to a custom coop design? ...

• Wide overhang to the eaves... a least a foot wide.
• Drip edges
• Ridge vent in the roof. A type rated for snow if you live where you get much snow.
• A short wall under the door to keep the bedding inside when the door opens. If it also opens or removes, even better for cleaning the coop.
• A raised pop door to keep the bedding inside
• Enough clearance (to roof and under doors) to have deep bedding - I liked mine at a foot or more thick.
• People door wide enough for a wheel barrow. Or a person carrying a bucket to enter without turning sideways.

I agree with the others about never hosing out a chicken coop.

What do you expect to power with the solar setup?

 

[Kbake]

Beautiful coop! We built a similar one for our new chicks a year ago, we have a lot of ventilation, though. In winter, I cover up the windows with clear vinyl. The ceiling is covered with additional hardware cloth to keep predators and mice/rats away.

The shed is connected to a larger complex of two coops and a covered run. We now have an automatic door under the window for chickens to go in/out the entire complex. We also set up additional food trough and waterer inside this unit.

I mounted the roosting bar going across the short side to give birds longer "run way" to jump up and down along the long side. It does limit the capacity of roosting bar. Do your birds have any problem jumping up and down the roosting bar?

There is ventilation at the moment. And no problems jumping up and down the perch. This is also a “secondary” coop. And Chilly’s coop.
My one rooster prefers to sleep alone in this coop lol

 

[Kbake]

• Wide overhang to the eaves... a least a foot wide.
• Drip edges
• Ridge vent in the roof. A type rated for snow if you live where you get much snow.
• A short wall under the door to keep the bedding inside when the door opens. If it also opens or removes, even better for cleaning the coop.
• A raised pop door to keep the bedding inside
• Enough clearance (to roof and under doors) to have deep bedding - I liked mine at a foot or more thick.
• People door wide enough for a wheel barrow. Or a person carrying a bucket to enter without turning sideways.

I agree with the others about never hosing out a chicken coop.

What do you expect to power with the solar setup?

I’m hoping to power small fans and/or water heater or infrared heater on super cold nights. I’m in Maryland so our weather is everywhere in the winter

 

[Kbake]

Because hosing out the inside of a coop is a very bad idea.
It will never totally dry out, mold is the first concern with too much moisture inside a coop as well as providing a great habitat for organisms like disease and some pests.
Not to mention the rotting of materials that it would contribute to.

I really only hose it out 1-4 times a year. I was hoping a drain will help eliminate moisture quicker.
I live on the side of the mountain so nothing s level

 

[StinkyAcres]

I put a drain in my coop before it was a coop. It was a goat and sheep barn and I hosed it down maybe a couple times in 15 years. It still took a long time to dry out. I wouldn't do that now that there are chickens living in there. Coops don't need to be scrubbed or hosed down as chicken poop is not very wet and a good bedding material will dry it up.

 

[linguini]

There is ventilation at the moment. And no problems jumping up and down the perch. This is also a “secondary” coop. And Chilly’s coop.
My one rooster prefers to sleep alone in this coop lol

I am considering changing the roosting bar orientation to be like yours. For some reason, the "chicks" now they are 1.5 year old, no longer want to roost in this coop. They just use it as a passage way to other coops. Chickens are strange! I never hose down the coops.I only dust out the spider webs on the walls and corners.