Altering my terrible TS coop.

[FrannyLW]

Just remember that chickens do not care about how pretty their chicken house looks. Keep it safe and well-ventilated, and they should be very happy!

believe me. Their house does NOT look pretty. It looks like Hurricane Sandy is ready to hi

 

[Cryss]

Pretty chooks! That first one has gorgeous hackle feathers. Handsome boy!

 

[FrannyLW]

 

[Cryss]

@FrannyLW nicely done! Page 6 post 52 you can see how I handled the stable doors and the venting on the end.

For the vent I used a piece of plexiglass I bought at Lowe's. I screwed it directly into the end of the roof overhang and made sure it was just long enough to hang below the bottom edge of the venting triangle. This blocks it from cold drafts but allows air flow. You could certainly use wood but I like that it doubles as a window.

For the stable doors I used 1/4 inch plywood instead of something thicker because I didn't want the doors to become heavy and warp the hinges. I cut the pieces ever so slightly bigger, connected it to the INSIDE of the doors. The extra extends along the bottom of the top door and the right side (hinge side) of both doors. When the doors are closed the extra overhangs just enough to block the gaps. The bottom door is their new pop door and it must be opened before opening the top because of that bit that blocks the gap. I only open the top when I need to access the inside of the coop. The bottom is opened in the morning with a brick placed so it doesnt open all the way, just open enough for them to pass through like the pop door did. I also put a brick just inside the left side of that door do it doesn't close on them trapping them outside.

Now the entire coop is available to my little flock with no drafts. The original pop door at the top of the ramp is now left permanently open at night with the stable doors locked up. My coop is inside a protective run.

I hope this helps a bit. You're doing a beautiful job on your coop

 

[FrannyLW]

But what if I am not locking the birds in there should I still close over the stable doors? And... Since I did this they only want to sleep on the roof at night? Wow wondering what they did last night it was nasty out there!

 

[Cryss]

You may need to reteach them that this is home. Lock thrm inside for a few days with the original pop door open so they can acess the entire area. You need to make the whole coop draft free but well ventilated. Remenber ventilation is for warm rising air so it has to be up above their heads, never blowing on them.