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

[2 Acres]

Wood is naturally antiseptic and therefore very hygienic. Dont you use a wooden cutting board in the kitchen for that reason?

Unprotected wood exposed to the elements can get saturated with water and rot.

That could cause mold which can cause respiratory issues for the chickens.

 

[BDutch]

Unprotected wood exposed to the elements can get saturated with water and rot.

That could cause mold which can cause respiratory issues for the chickens.

Thats why you need to protect the wood from the wet soil. Or use special wood thats fit for wet circumstances.

You also need a good overhang against the rain.
To keep the inside dry you need to make lots of ventilation.

There really is no need to use high solid paint. My cheap prefab coop has a fungi paint with linseed oil on the outside and DE on the inside. It needed a new and larger roof, and a new lid on the nestbox, but otherwise this coop exists 12 years now.

 

[2 Acres]

You may have missed that my coop is "at grade". It's a 10 by 10 "kit" shed sitting on the ground that I bought from a "big box" store close to 30 years ago. It was rebuilt and re-skinned (and re-floored) about 5 years ago.

The "floor" (now) is several pieces of 4x8 heavy thick white plastic that is intended to be used as a vapor barrier for basement walls... held together with Liquid Nails adhesive.

The coop is also very well ventilated with automatic crawl space vents on each side (at the top)... and a solar powered roof vent on the roof peak.

There is also a window on each side for "pass through" ventilation.

If the coop gets too hot there is also a 10x10 coop extension off the East side, opposite the sun and outdoor run. It was a dog kennel I found on Craigslist.

 

[2 Acres]

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

Exactly.

 

[2 Acres]

 

[2 Acres]

View attachment 3965488

Believe it or not... all my birds got along. However the Guinea Fowl had to go. (They got on mine and my neighbor's nerves, and my neighbor worked night shift.

 

[2 Acres]

 

[2 Acres]

I ran water to both sheds with frost free spigots. One to the 10x10 coop.

The other went to the opposite side of the property... A 20 x10 shed I built from scratch... with the idea of raising goats.

Unfortunately... the (now) ex wife had other plans.

 

[2 Acres]

 

[gtaus]

Nice conversation going here, but the OP who asked for help, @ATP has not responded since 16 July.

@ATP, have you finished your coop improvements? If so, would love to see what you did. Thanks.