Tips to Improve a Chicken Coop (especially for ease of cleaning)

[Penpal]

You don't need walls. You could put Waterlox on the walls. This is used on hardwood floors and musical instruments. Waterlox.com It is more expensive than polyurethane, but way cheaper than putting up walls.

 

[ATP]

You don't need walls. You could put Waterlox on the walls. This is used on hardwood floors and musical instruments. Waterloo.com It is more expensive than polyurethane, but way cheaper than putting up walls.

I just checked this out. It is located in the US, so it might not be possible to get it here (in Ireland) or shipped to where I live.

We will look deeper into that, though.

Thank you SO much for mentioning that.

 

[BDutch]

Great gift from your landlord, You got some good tips and made a couple of good improvements too.

We all do things here in our own way. Just pick from the tips you are getting what suits you .

I don’t understand why you want to make a wall against the wall that is already there too. I wouldn’t for sure.
A double wall is not accessible if you ever get mites in it. Isolation is a no go with chickens in your climate.

3 Does it make sense to buy chalk paint? It is quite expensive so I would like to find out if this would make a difference. (e.g. more protection against mites, and to make cleaning easier)

Against mites (prevention)you can paint the inside with Diatomaceous earth instead of chalk paint (make the DE wet ). Add a thick layer in/on all joints/edges. Reapply every year and once more around the roost area and in nest-boxes once more in summer.

4 Flooring... Would it make sense to put in a pvc/vinyl flooring (removable for ease of cleaning) or would something (like plywood?) that could be painted be better?

I have two sleeping areas and 2 different poop boards. One of metal (came with the small coop) and one is made from plywood in an extension I build. I put cardboard on top of them and take it out every week /two weeks. When I had red mites last year I used sand on the metal poopboard instead . And mixed a little DE in it. The one made from plywood leaks. So I couldn’t put sand on too. I decided to take it out and let them poop on the sand floor.

If your run isn’t safe I would consider to add an automatic pop door. I find it utterly convenient that the chickens. An go outside after sunrise at all times and are locked in safely after sunset/dusk.

1 Would we keep/make the roosting bar that is in there "permanent" or should we work around that so it will stay removable? (There will be another roosting bar not on this side, though)

Currently I am remaking a children’s playhouse into a chicken coop. Its connected to the run and almost finished now. I have the wood to make 2 roosts (sanding of sharp edges). And ordered oil cups to prevent mites walking from the walls to the roosting chickens.

 

[ATP]

Great gift from your landlord, You got some good tips and made a couple of good improvements too.

Thank you!

We all do things here in our own way. Just pick from the tips you are getting what suits you .

I don’t understand why you want to make a wall against the wall that is already there too. I wouldn’t for sure.
A double wall is not accessible if you ever get mites in it. Isolation is a no go with chickens in your climate.

I thought so that it would not have any cracks or holes and it would be better to wipe off. But, I have not thought of the greater burden to "fight" the mites then. Of course! Thank you for sharing that thought.

Against mites (prevention)you can paint the inside with Diatomaceous earth instead of chalk paint (make the DE wet ). Add a thick layer in/on all joints/edges. Reapply every year and once more around the roost area and in nest-boxes once more in summer.

We already have DE (works against little pests in doggie's fur, too), but I have read that it will become "useless" if wet. I will have to do more of a research here. Thank you for the reminder.

I have two sleeping areas and 2 different poop boards. One of metal (came with the small coop) and one is made from plywood in an extension I build. I put cardboard on top of them and take it out every week /two weeks.

This sounds like a real good tip! Cardboard is so easy and light to exchange, too.

When I had red mites last year I used sand on the metal poopboard instead . And mixed a little DE in it. The one made from plywood leaks. So I couldn’t put sand on too. I decided to take it out and let them poop on the sand floor.

If your run isn’t safe I would consider to add an automatic pop door. I find it utterly convenient that the chickens. An go outside after sunrise at all times and are locked in safely after sunset/dusk.

It is not "digging into" or "digging out of" proof yet. That is what I meant. But it will be eventually – before the girls are moving in.

Currently I am remaking a children’s playhouse into a chicken coop. Its connected to the run and almost finished now. I have the wood to make 2 roosts (sanding of sharp edges). And ordered oil cups to prevent mites walking from the walls to the roosting chickens.

Remaking a children's playhouse into a chicken coop? That sounds exciting. Wishing you the very best for this project. Hope you will share one or the other picture with us here, please.

Thank you for the roosting bar (oil) tip and sharing the "Anti Red Mite Kit" photo here. I read about the oil on the roosting bar before. I will look into this further.

View attachment 3891764

Thank you SO much for your time and your effort of sharing your thoughts with me in writing. I do appreciate it.

 

[BDutch]

Sorry for the typos. Especially this one was hard to get.
*the chickens can go outside after sunrise at all times, and are locked in safely after sunset/dusk.

My new playhouse coop for bantams :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...breeding-projects-5-🪺-🪺-and-6.1574045/page-64

Keep in mind that other people don’t buy such tiny coops made with wood slats for a reason. Many people walk in sheds and I know a few people in England that choose easy to clean recycled plastic coops. Mainly bc of bad experiences with red mites.

 

[ATP]

Sorry for the typos. Especially this one was hard to get.
*the chickens can go outside after sunrise at all times, and are locked in safely after sunset/dusk.

No worry about typos. You were perfectly understood.

My new playhouse coop for bantams :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bdutchs-bantam-flock-natural-breeding-projects-5---and-6.1574045/page-64

That looks AMAZING! I'm sure you will be able to transform it into a comfortable and safe chicken home. Best wishes for that!

Keep in mind that other people don’t buy such tiny coops made with wood slats for a reason. Many people walk in sheds and I know a few people in England that choose easy to clean recycled plastic coops. Mainly bc of bad experiences with red mites.

These coops to buy are tiny, that is true for sure! If we would have ordered one we would have ordered one made for at least "10+" chickens just to be sure it would be big enough for 3-5.

Our next plan was to buy a plastic shed (made by Keter) but that did not work out for several reasons. So we decided to buy good, solid timber and roofing to build our own coop, but then the landlord brought the coop that he made.

Now we are working our way around all this... Step by step.

Thank you for providing so many details about prevention of and the fight against the red mites (that includes your article)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ses-tips-for-prevention-and-monitoring.76285/

I appreciate all the thoughts and advice that you have posted in this thread. Thank you VERY much!

 

[2 Acres]

Step by step we are getting there.

View attachment 3891459

(Please ignore the run for now. It is only temporary. It will be tackled a little later on but before the girls move in. Thank you.)

The entrance is wider, more accessible for cleaning. Hubby is currently working on (re) building the door.

So, the next things we will be working on are
1) walls inside
2) floor inside

View attachment 3891460

I'm talking about the walls underneath the air holes (the holes will be changed "into a window" as big as the whole area of the holes) and the wall to the right.

1 Would we keep/make the roosting bar that is in there "permanent" or should we work around that so it will stay removable? (There will be another roosting bar not on this side, though)

2 What material/s are best to make the walls (plywood?) to attach to this frame? I would like to paint them with chalk paint and/or something wipeable.

3 Does it make sense to buy chalk paint? It is quite expensive so I would like to find out if this would make a difference. (e.g. more protection against mites, and to make cleaning easier)

4 Flooring... Would it make sense to put in a pvc/vinyl flooring (removable for ease of cleaning) or would something (like plywood?) that could be painted be better?

Thank you all so, SO much for taking the time to read and reply. I so appreciate this very much.

PS: Please forgive my typos and sometimes confusing wording. I'm quite nervous but also really excited about getting things ready for my girls.

IME Instead of chalk paint, oil based primer and high gloss oil base paint hold up better and is easier to scrub clean.

Only drawback is the fumes until everything dries.

 

[BDutch]

IME Instead of chalk paint, oil based primer and high gloss oil base paint

With such a paint the wood can no longer ‘breathe’. It’s healthier for the chickens to live in a more natural (earth and biobased) environment.

 

[2 Acres]

With such a paint the wood can no longer ‘breathe’. It’s healthier for the chickens to live in a more natural (earth and biobased) environment.

IMHO... If the wood "breathes" then it will absorb contaminates. I scrape out my nesting boxes with a putty knife when they get nasty. The high gloss oil base white gives the wood a durable finish.

Yes... oil base gives off fumes (VOC's) while drying. That's why "the powers that be" are trying to eliminate paints with VOC. But when fully dry, there is no odor or VOC's.

 

[2 Acres]