New coop on a trailer for 8-10 hens

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RobininCT

RobininCT

In the Brooder
7 Years
Mar 26, 2012
26
1
22
Norfolk, CT
I finished my new coop and my eight 15 week old RI Red hens have settled in nicely. It took a while for them to start coming out, but every day they spend more time outside.
I actually built two identical coops on trailers and sold one, which helped pay for the other coop and trailer.

more pictures here,

https://picasaweb.google.com/101820585424999876229/6276518457439383713?authuser=0&feat=directlink

DSC01890.JPG


DSC01726.JPG
 
It's going well. The hens at 13 weeks where shy and wouldn't come out much, but once they started eating the new grass that's beginning to grow here in Norfolk, Connecticut, they enjoy the run and spend alot of time outside. I have a tractor to move the coop, but a quad or reasonably heavy lawn tractor would do the job. I move the run by hand.

I have the nesting boxes closed off, but I think I'll open them up in a week or so, the will be 17 weeks then and I figure they need to get used to them.

It's been fun, and by building 2 coops, I got away with little to no expenses when I sold the first coop/trailer/run and kept the 2nd.
 
The eaves are not open for ventilation, but that would not be all that hard to do. They would have to be weather tight during the cold winters here.

Where I live in N/W Connecticut we don't get the extreme heat in the summer, but we do get some very cold weather in the winter (1300' elevation).
I have those small fold out doors at each end and the two windows plus some holes drilled at the peaks, Since the coop is so mobile I can move it to all day shade during our hot spells, and I have plans for a screen door for daytime ventilation. At night, the roost is in front of the hardware cloth covered window openings for ample ventilation.
Keeping the coop draft free in the cold weather was my biggest concern. That,and critters (hawks, fox, coyotes, fishers, bears and dogs)
 
Ventilation is essential in winter too. You want ventilation up high in winter...when you close off the windows by the roosts...open eaves are a good way to attain that.
Baffles or a 'ceiling' over the roost to deflect drafts coming thru the eaves may be necessary.
 
aart said:
Ventilation is essential in winter too. You want ventilation up high in winter...when you close off the windows by the roosts...open eaves are a good way to attain that.
Baffles or a 'ceiling' over the roost to deflect drafts coming thru the eaves may be necessary.
Click to expand...

I have 4 -1 & 1/2" holes drilled at each peak and I'm pretty confident that will keep the moister down during the winter, it has worked well in the past. If not, I'll add a gable vent at each end, maybe a homemade 4x4 inch or so.

Open eaves is a good idea, but I would be concerned that the hens would be too close to cold air (draft) coming thru it. The roost in this coop is not all that far from the eaves.Our winter temps go as low as -20F and hang around zero overnight for weeks.
 

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