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  1. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Yesterday after work I checked the thermometers with no chickens in the coop and sun shining. Inside was 6 degrees warmer than outside. Then I swapped the thermometers and checked a while later. Sun had set but chickens moved into the coop. 3 degrees warmer inside than outside. Checked again...
  2. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Interesting, there’s another variable that I didn’t include. I dont follow the rules when raising chicks (strict temperature requirements, constant heat lamp, 5 degree reduction in temperature every week, nothing but chick starter feed). These chickens were incubated, hatched and raised by a...
  3. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    This is the most illogical unrealistic thing I’ve heard all day. And I keep up with the news! How can one accurately quantify how much energy a living being generates? Life is full of variables, and the majority of those variables cannot be accounted for in any helpful way. What breed of...
  4. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Good lord you seem like a difficult person. Our “build” is to plant seeds, dig holes, catch fish and hunt animals but we spend the majority of our time sitting on ass and playing with plastics. Sometimes the way things actually are is different than the way that they “should be”. And even if...
  5. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Yes, and its only a few feet away from the one on the inside of the coop. Yesterday evening with all the chickens outside and a cloudy sky the coop was still 4 degrees warmer than outside. This morning with all the chickens inside the coop was about 6 degrees warmer than outside.
  6. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    I didnt read the Woods book, just looked at the building instructions and diagrams. Im not sure the difference between the Woods KD and the one I built. Mine is 6x10’. I havent held a “wisp of paper/cloth” back by the roosts but I have experimented with a lighter in the front and back half of...
  7. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Interesting… sun definitely warms our coop according to the thermometer. It’s been 10 degrees warmer inside the coop vs outside on a sunny day. Ours faces SE as well and I’m also far enough north where the sun is very low in the sky all winter. I didnt say that the chickens warm the coop up in...
  8. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    My 14 chickens heat this Woods coop about 7 degrees warmer than outside temperature according to the thermometer mounted just in front of the roosts like yours. In our previous coop, 8 chickens raised the temperature about 10 degrees. But that coop was smaller and had horrible ventilation...
  9. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Which is exactly why I built it! I built our first coop with mobility in mind and it turned out to be a disaster for the chickens, and us in winter. Still works great for rotating a small flock around the yard in summer but I needed a solution for winter and the Woods coop seemed to be the best...
  10. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    We’re in Michigan’s upper peninsula near the Wisconsin border. Ill see if I can add some info to my profile
  11. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Merry Christmas from our Woods coop! Don’t normally keep the food and water inside but with the subzero temperatures, howling winds and blizzards I do. The chickens have been keeping the coop about 7 degrees warmer than outside temperature even with the front open and no insulation in the coop...
  12. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    I’m happy to report that our flock took to the new coop flawlessly. They’re using the ramp, the automatic door works great, they’re laying in the nest box (although not much since they’re 3 years old and molting), and all but 1 is roosting at night. Despite having more space and a beautiful coop...
  13. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    I think this is the route I’m going to go. And if we ever want to leave for a few days without asking someone to tend to our flock during the summer we could always put them in the Woods coop with the automatic door. It is really nice seeing the flock on fresh ground as opposed to the shit/dirt...
  14. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    I think the design called for windows on the sides not hardware cloth like the front. And no, i blocked off that gap between the roof rafters. Left the ledge exposed in case some little birds want to nest up there.
  15. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Finally an update! Got the outside pretty much done. Still need to finish sealing the gaps around the door, put polyurethane on the floor and finish a few other things inside. The Ladies First automatic door is working great so far, although the chickens haven’t tried it yet. Curious to see...
  16. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Progress! I built the skid foundation and floor. Then my dad came and helped me get the coop framing done this weekend. Still lots to do!
  17. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Time for an update! Ive gathered most of the supplies, picked a location and made some critical decisions. Here’s the plan: 6’x10’ coop elevated roughly 18” off the ground. This will give the chickens plenty of head space underneath and leave me wiggle room to shimmy under if needed, and...
  18. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    I’m considering charring the skids to help preserve them. I am planning on elevating the coop a couple feet off the ground, so the skids wouldn’t be in ground contact anyway. But the humidity and shade makes me feel like charring the pine skids would be wise (and a fun experiment). Question...
  19. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    Thanks for the replies everyone! I think I’ll put the windows on the front and leave the middle and back free of windows. In the process of figuring out square footage to order some Internal Wood Stabilizer now to treat the skids and boards used for siding. Going to be costly but I’m excited...
  20. Beej7

    Woods Fresh-Air coop build

    I feel for you up there! I grew up in Munising and know all about snow. Living in Iron County has its advantages (significantly longer growing season and more wildlife) but damn it gets cold here! Didn’t know you could experience -35 degrees south of the arctic, but I was wrong! Snowing here...
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