Hi

I'm completely new to poultry keeping (in fact not got any yet!) and need some general info on the layout of the chicken coop. I've been fortunate enough to get hold of a piece of farmland close to my house containing two block buildings. I intend to use one as a general feed store etc and the other to keep approximately 8 hens. The building that I intend to convert to the chicken coop once housed a bird of prey (about 10 years ago) and I intend to fully disinfect the building with Poultry Shield prior to moving the birds in. Is there anything else that I need to consider hygeine wise? The building has a concrete floor so there is nothing that would have "sunk in" from the bird of prey, and I have removed all perches, feeding/drinking equipment etc; and don't intend to re-use them.

The building measures approximately 11'x6' and I have a doorway at the far right of the building on the "South" wall and the coop entrance is in the top corner of the western wall. At the juncture of the North and Eastern wall is a raised oval plinth where I have placed the feeder etc. I intend to place the nest boxes on what would be the north wall. My next question is - where would be the best area to place the perches? Should they go into the corner below the coop entrance (i.e. the corner of the West/South walls) - or is this too close to the entrance and likely to be draughty?

Hope this hasn't confused you too much, but any info however small, is greatly appreciated. Thanks!