Any advice before I turn on the saw?

[bad_coffee]

Went to Lowes and picked up everything (I hope,) I'll need for the coop. As soon as The Lady gets out of bed, I can start. No way I'm going to run power tools right outside the bedroom window this early.

B

 

[happyhensny]

At our house I love the chickens and DH tolerates them - would love it if he wanted to build coops. As it is I MAY have him convinced to build me a new bigger coop - still working on it but definitely not giving up.

 

[BirdBrain]

You might consider making the windows in the two rectangular sides bigger. My moms birds love to sit in front of the window and look out.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

It looks like a great plan and I think it's very smart to not run power tools under the bedroom window while someone is still sleeping.

The one thing I am wondering is if that will be enough ventilation for the coop during the summer, when it's hot? I would want more, I think. An opening that could be open when it's hot out and closed in the winter. I'm just afraid that they might get too hot in the summer. There's not a lot of air flow when the pop door is closed at night. Even open, coops can get hot during the day.

 

[rebecky1305]

make it bigger than you think you will need. You will wish you had later.

 

[bad_coffee]

The windows on all four sides will be covered with hardware cloth. In the summer the window covers will be propped open as shades, with full 4 side ventilation. The eaves on the high and low sides will be vents as well.

I'm putting 3 full sized birds and 2 silkies in there, so I hope that's enough ventilation.

I live in the city, so I don't want to take up my whole yard with birds. This is as big as I can go and still be small enough not to tick the neighbors off.

Pics soon.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I'm guessing one of the lower openings is a door for the chickens. Is the other lower opening a window that can be open 24/7, too? Or is that for a nest box? You will need more air flow than just the top openings, in the summer, to let cooler air in.

What I mean is that the hot air will be rising to go out the top vents, but you should have a lower opening to let the cool air in, for it to be more efficient.

 

[St-Hubert]

Band-aids. Make sure you have a lot of those handy.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Measure twice, cut once.

 

[happyhensny]

Whatever size you think you need - AT LEAST double it.