What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Twirly Chick]

Hello everyone, I am new to the wonderful world of all things chicken and hope to be a new chicken mummy in the near future. Before getting my girls I am trying to be as prepared as I can and would like some cube info from the experts on here please as I plan my WIR. Hope you don't mind Would someone please be able to tell me how far forward you need to be able to slide the cube roof in order to lift it off. I would like to have a cube leading to a WIR but don't think I'll have room to connect a full 1m run to the cube and wondered if I would be able to have a shorter run whilst still allowing room for the roof to slide forwards ( if you know what I mean - sorry it's difficult to explain!) Thanks in advance for any help you can give

[Margaret]

I have actually taken the runners off of my roof so just lift it up if need to. It weighs a lot so no problem with it blowing off. My cube is pushed up to my WIR, and when we first had the cube my OH made a gap so I could slide the roof forward, but then I had a Hugh problem with rats and realised they were getting through the gap So closed it up and took the runners off and all great now.

[Twirly Chick]

Thanks so much for your reply Margaret That's something for me to think about! I was contemplating shortening a run extension piece but don't know how easily the 'wire mesh' would cut. Just want to try and maximise the space my girls will have and create a good sized WIR

[good_egg]

I went for the simple solution of putting the cube inside the WIR....

[Twirly Chick]

Yes Good Egg I have thought of that too I was thinking of getting an Omlet WIR and if I do I'd have space for 2m x 3m, but thought it may be a bit of a squeeze to fit the cube inside as well as sand/soil bath, perches etc and still leave the girls enough space to scratch around. Decisions, decisions.....!

[Margaret]

Much easier to clean if outside WIR, just wheel to patio and blast with the power washer

Also I found not so much Auboise walked around the garden, and so much space inside run for girlies.