Tips on ventilation and cleaning this coop.

[tori729]

Here is our coop so far. Plan is to put a roof on with ventilation at the top but I'm not completely sure how much we will have. Any other easy way to make sure there's enough ventilation?

Also plan is to have a hinged door on the side (hence the open side) with nest boxes attached that opens up. Then a slide out tray for cleaning.
Does this seem doable and a good idea? I'm still trying to decide if I should do the sand stuff (pdz?) All on the bottom or just do deep bedding.
The whole thing is 6x6 and I'm a little worried about being able to get to the other side to clean.

 

[nuthatched]

I would at least double the height from floor to ceiling. It's too short for roosts, room to walk under roosts and ventilation.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Current build has 2.5 sq ft of roof ventilation planned and I know that's not enough. The roof isn't completely attached yet so we can modify. We are in Zone 8 where it gets 90+ and humid for about a month during the summer and dips below freezing a few times in the winter.
I thought about a three-sided coop but felt like it wouldn't be predator proof just because of how large the opening would have to be. We do have a door one on side for the nesting boxes - should we maybe just cover the other part with hardware wire instead of closing that side in? (would give us about 6x3 opening

With how it's built I think the only way to get enough ventilation is to do wire mesh on one wall/door as you mentioned, as long as that open side is facing away from predominant wind directions.

How cold does it get in winter? Sounds like just below freezing, but I want to make sure. Chickens can handle cold just fine as long as they have protection from drafts and rain/snow. Your 90+ summers will be harder on them than a few days in the 20s or 30s.

 

[nuthatched]

Yeah that's what I was afraid of. Would it actually be doable at this point to make it taller though? Could it be done just with top ventilation or would that be too close to the chickens then?

You'd have to redo the corners and sides, it's a pain but changing it later will more difficult and expensive. But it won't be terribly difficult.
You'll regret not making it bigger, chickens need to spread out. I'm redoing mine for winter in a few weeks.
Cleaning trays don't work for long and don't allow for proper litter for cushioning, make one side on a hinge for easy cleaning.
Your plans seem to be like prefab coops you can buy and those have poor design.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Trying to picture this... so it's already raised over two feet from the ground, are you saying build from the bottom to add height?

I think what they are saying is...

Build a second platform, place this entire structure on top, remove the diagonal pieces and add siding to the now elevated existing structure.
That would increase your height by the height your current legs are (those legs becoming the inside corners of the coop).

 

[nuthatched]

The missing side will be on a hinge.


They are supposed to be, yes.




So looks like the difference here is straight pieces instead?

The other video doesn't seem to load.

I'm not really sure what other options we have; we are not builders so we hired a friend to build for us. He seems to know what he's doing and has built coops before and while he knows they need ventilation and roosts, etc., he seems to think they need much less than I've been reading here. I keep changing my plans on him and I'm sure this is more than he expected/bargained for. They *will* have over 200 sq ft of run space but I know coop space is important too. This has been *the* hardest thing when it comes to chickens and why I hesitated for so long. In hindsight, I maybe should have just paid him to pick up a used coop and modify it for what we need but he's already done so much work at this point that it's too late to change things.

I understand your hesitation and position but unless there's work that's not being shown, not a lot has been put into your coop so far, maybe a few hours worth.
It just needs longer corner posts to raise the height for roosts and ventilation.
The floor can be unscrewed from the corners and reattached to longer posts, it would only take an hour. No need for a shed at this point.

 

[RubelliteRose]

So I am not a builder and I am not sure if this would work, maybe others can chime in, but I would try to turn your whole structure into the coop by building a raised platform and setting the whole thing on top. The top of the platform would be the floor of the coop. You would be giving up the slide out drawer, but raised coops aren't too hard to clean anyway. You would have to get rid of the zigzag supports you have now and probably add supports to the sides, but the plywood sheets on the sides will add some support. Keep the side you have open as a hinged door for clean out. Even better would be to add a second door to the other side of the coop. Nest boxes can be added externally on one of the short sides. I think if you can make it work, this will at least keep what you have already built from going to waste, but I think both you and your chickens will me much happier with a taller coop.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks that's helpful I guess there's no point lol

I'm not quite sure what you mean - are you being sarcastic or are you saying I need shade or are you saying that's all I need for a coop? It's in deep shade so awning wouldn't make much difference.

They are saying make an awning above any vents on sides with no roof overhang to keep rain out.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Trying to save you later issues.

This video is super short and may help give you a better visual of floor framing.

 

[tori729]

Cleaning trays don't work for long and don't allow for proper litter for cushioning, make one side on a hinge for easy cleaning.
Your plans seem to be like prefab coops you can buy and those have poor design.

The missing side will be on a hinge.

Way too short in height!

Are those zigzagged pieces to support a solid floor....or.....?

They are supposed to be, yes.

Trying to save you later issues.

This video is super short and may help give you a better visual of floor framing.

So looks like the difference here is straight pieces instead?

The other video doesn't seem to load.

I'm not really sure what other options we have; we are not builders so we hired a friend to build for us. He seems to know what he's doing and has built coops before and while he knows they need ventilation and roosts, etc., he seems to think they need much less than I've been reading here. I keep changing my plans on him and I'm sure this is more than he expected/bargained for. They *will* have over 200 sq ft of run space but I know coop space is important too. This has been *the* hardest thing when it comes to chickens and why I hesitated for so long. In hindsight, I maybe should have just paid him to pick up a used coop and modify it for what we need but he's already done so much work at this point that it's too late to change things.