My husband made a pulleys system of doubled plastic, 4mm I think, built a frame around the pulleys top and bottom attached with zip ties to a pole and inserted a pole to hold down the plastic. I can raise it in the day and lower it before it's night fall. the fame was to keep the wind from blowing beneath and around the edges. I have 2 wooden walls and 2 screen walls. the plastic shade is only on the wall 10 feet long across from their roost. all the other openings in winter get covered in plastic up to 2 inches from the top, so we can still have venting. Your husband has done a remarkable job on a very cute coop, please post pictures when it's done.
Just a word here about the poop board. Do not put it too high. If you have large hens like orps or standard hens when they get down they can hurt their feet. That causes bumble foot. They will not always use the walk down for some reason. Sweet pdz is great as is diamotous earth for the same area. Either one works good luckthat's great!! i'm heading out to look for some PDZ I wonder if they sell it in Canada? my coop isn't quite finished yet so I still have time to do a poop board, I may have to adjust my roosting limbs so that I don't have to stoop to scoop
