What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Columbian]

I am about to install an UP to my GO and WIR; how does one access the space underneath the GO?  I am not flexible enough to bed double; is there an access hatch?  Thank you.

 

[Cat tails]

I normally just take the drawers out in the back and then access it that way. 

[Columbian]

Thank you for your reply, Cat tails.  Do you climb in?  How do you reach from the back of the UP stand to the tunnel?  I am unable to bend much and certainly could not climb inside nor go down on my knees; surely there must be something I’m missing for easy access as other things are well-designed.  There I was thinking that the UP would make life easier with a bad back.  Maybe I’ll have to make a panel removable to reach in. Am I the only one with disabilities/advancing age?

[Cat tails]

I don’t climb in, how would you fit back there?? My backside is definitely too big. I would get a long small rake etc to do the job for you.

[Luvachicken]

6 hours ago, Cat tails said:

I would get a long small rake etc to do the job for you.

Children's garden tools are the perfect size for that kind of thing 😊

[Patricia W]

Don’t know the Go Up but I have taken the back wire panel out of the Cube and hinged it.  I can now open it, and get a long handled rake in there.  I then attack the rest of the run from the front door.  

[Cat tails]

That would be a good solution as well!

[Columbian]

Thank you for your responses; hinging the back panel sounds good as does a long-handled rake.  We shall see.  Does anyone else feel that this could have been designed better for easier cleaning?  Everything else seems ok, although the waterproof covers and bungees drip water all around the edge of the run and make it very wet underfoot; I’m a little uncertain of the safety of the door catch as it seems easy to not click it fully shut and it would only take a couple of scrabbles to turn the knob.  Otherwise, the set-up is really good and the GO very practical.

Stay safe.

[Cat tails]

I have my hens on earth, so rarely clean the run, since the earthworms and rain do my job. I have no issues with access.

I use the Cube 2 m clear cover on my Go Up run. It leaves about 15 cm clear on both sides on the bottom. If you want more covering, have a look at websites that offer covers made to size.