I've always wanted to build a coop, have it up off of the ground, and use 1 or 2 full sheets of plywood on the floor. Do it in a way that when it was time to clean the coop just lift out the plywood sheets, expose the runners, hose it out, burn the old floor and lay an new sheet of plywood in. No cuts, no fuss.

Food and water inside. House is big enough birds can stay inside year round if need be..(4 sf floor space per bird), having food and water inside allows that. So if I need to be gone for the day...or 2 or 3, I do nothing but drive off. Also means birds will always have to circle back and use house, so don't wander off too far.


Rat proof feeder sold by Al G in OK. Water in 5 gallon bucket kept going by bird bath heater. Nipples and cups. Nipples continue working to -15 so far.

No food in our coop, we keep food and water in the run area. Coop is for roosting and that's where we have the nest boxes birds. We also use Grampa's chicken feeders look them up pretty amazing.

Always inside and sometimes additional feeders and waterers outside. I use the Farm Innovators heated waterers. They are thermostatically controlled and the water is always sparkling clean, even inside the coop. I can go out with a big pitcher, lift the top off and dump more water in from the top to fill it up. The water inside is perfect.



I have an additional one hanging outside in their run and it keeps clean, liquid water out there beautifully too.

The inside food and water is essential though. During the hours when the coop is closed up tight for the night, they have everything they need inside.

I will have to look for one of those, Patrice.

At my old place, we had food in a 5 gallon bucket feeder and water in a font on a heated base outside the coop itself, but in an enclosed run. Never had pest issues.

For you guys running lamps, do you run them 24/7 in the winter? I had issues with hens pecking each other when they stayed in the coop during the real cold weather when I had lights on.

inside...

24/7 yes the bulbs last a long time if not bumped around a lot, I welded a frame for my main light it’s red but gives off a white light from the base also that keeps the egg production going well. No picking issues but they free range during the day and have a 12X24 foot run if the need the space. 45 chickens in that coop and I’m getting about 25-30 eggs a day now.

Is feeding inside advantageous to southern birds? We don't get many days of consecutive below freezing temperatures. Will be building a coop in a couple weeks.

My girls

The girls and romeo

I like the idea of putting gutter on the roof and runoff down to a bowl for outside watering in warmer weather. That would give fresh natural water access.

If it looks nasty after a bit, dump it, clean the bowl and add some to start. I know when I have water outside, they drink more and the waste is out in the penned area.

J Staton: I would feed the laying feed inside. Putting scratch outside where they will range some. Less mess. I too have water inside(5 gal.) on a metal heater.

I do the DEEP DISH method inside with wood chips on the floor. But in the winter I will clean them out about every month with new.

Then I will add the Diatomaceous Earth shaken all over the new chips. It drives off ticks and mites. Added to an outside dust bowl is good also.

A lot more attention in winter than warmer months. Still watch for predators.

My $.02

We water with 2.5 gallon buckets, if froze in morning, change it and bring froze one in to thaw. Feed inside, cracked corn on ground outside when there's no snow.

My girls won't come out in any snow over an inch or two. They just coop themselves up.

My whole coop is 2x4 fully insulated with a walk in door. I run electricity to it and use these for my door. Fully automatic. I built a 20 inch tall door so turkeys and geese can go through it. If the birds spill the water pan in the coop than you start to have pneumonia smells. I built my mother inlay one like your talking and the floor is two 6x3 shet of plywood that slide in. To clean the coop just pull the two sheets out everything dumps on the ground and slide them back in. The coop is on runners to slide it to more easily to clean up the mess.

https://www.firgelliauto.com/produc...ZxF_6uTKwn4B-JgK_MOVhIea-bBoCp4QQAvD_BwE
https://incubatorwarehouse.com/pub/...9f6943c2b1e9/d/o/door-controller-web.jpg

I figure if I protect feed and water these gals the least they can do is give me a few eggs. Lol