The way I built coops 6 years ago vs what I do now is almost funny

Back in 2018 when I first started keeping chickens in my backyard near Portland, I built this big fancy coop with all these nesting boxes and perches I found plans for online. Last month I tore half of it down because my hens barely used half the space and it was a pain to clean. Last week I put together a much simpler setup using a repurposed shed I found on Craigslist for $40 and just added some hardware cloth and a pop door. The difference in how calm the flock is now compared to that first year is wild. My old coop had these high roosts that I thought they'd love, but they actually preferred sleeping on the ground in a corner. Has anyone else gone back and simplified their setup after a few years of trial and error?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee_grant971mo ago

Did you try just letting them free range or is that not an option?

mark7311mo ago

Free range toddlers sound like a lawsuit waiting to happen.