Barrel coop - looking for venting ideas

[foxinachickenhouse]

I took 3 BA's from my friend who is losing his land and had to liquidate his flock of 50+ birds. They are all going to processing today except these three, 14 month old girls. I am excited, but I only got 1 day notice and had to put this together before dark last night, with just what I had on hand. They'll be in here for the quarantine period and then I hope to use it as a broody house. The over hang is the guest room closet, otherwise known as a covered run

.

It's a bit tight in the barrel, but they'll be safe and they are used to being cramped. Their previous coop and run was flooded! They look pretty good for the situation, no bugs, no sneeze. He takes good care of his birds, it was sad that his place flooded and he lost his lease.

I intend to roll it into the garage at night which is why I put it on a moving dolly. The wood rack that sits on top of the dolly is something I found along the road last year. Now I know why I thought it would be so useful, despite my SO's skeptism!

What are the chances that the girls wil go in there at dark, allow me to seal the door/lid and roll them into the garage? I will find out tonight. I'll have to take the nest box out in the afternoon I guess...

The opening just needs some wire mesh over it. I was out of bolts!

Remove the lid and roll it up to the opening for day use.

interior set up for day use, nest box is a measure of hope for eggs, it is an extra large pot.

removed nest box for night roosts. They have 40 inches of roost and 16 inches of head room.

The new girls!

 

[Bleenie]

Why only 3?

I imagine they will get a little freaked out when the rolling starts, but if they're used to being cramped up they will probably go into it. If they don't go in on their own, you can always place them in yourself to train them, they should catch on after a couple nights.

 

[Lostbody]

Looks great, considering the short notice. Nice work.
I've been thinking about building a portable broody box myself, and I like your idea...

You say they're in quarantine? Will they be goining a larger flock soon?

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

Why only 3? I know right? I would have loved to take more, he had some blue egg layers. But we are outlaws now with 10 chickens (1 roo). We are only allowed 3 hens. Soooo, I had to negotiate with SO pretty hard for these three.

They'll be in quarantine for ~4 weeks. No way would I put my sweet little flock in jeopardy to get sick from these girls. They were adjacent to another flock of birds that didn't get good care, being cautious as BYC'ers have advised.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

When I went out to put the new girls up, one was missing! Now the fun part- looking for a black chicken at dusk. Finally found her in the rhododendron, she let me take her out of there no problem. When I put her back in the pen, they all went and jumped into the barrel. They seem cozy in there crammed together on one roost.

I am a bit concerned about condensation in the barrel, I noticed some and dried it before they went in. It was still dry in there a bit ago when I checked on them. We have been rain/snow mix all day and I realized the clothes dryer vent is near the entrance, so that probably contributed to it. Am hoping for adequate vents in the thing without popping up a roofline. Anything on the sides of the barrel will be subject to weather. For tonight they are in the garage but am hoping to leave it out once I get this straight.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

This morning I went out and there was some condensation in the barrel. They were in the unheated, but dry garage overnight. The vent holes I have on the back are 3/4" and there are 16 of them. I figure that at 1 ft sq. The cut out on the front of the barrel is about 3x 8. I figure that at 2 ft sq. By Pat's ventilation page that is the 1 ft sq. of vent per bird recommended. Is it because the thing is plastic? Do people with the Eglu coop have this issue? They seem fine with the space itself, not even utilizing the second roost.

I am thinking of cutting out the majority of the lid and covering with hardware cloth. This only has to work for the quarantine period. Thanks for your ideas.

 

[debid]

I'd cut the drilled end out and replace it with hardware cloth. Where it's near the house, wind shouldn't be blowing directly at that side.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

I'm concerned about rain getting in since there is no overhang. I thought the smaller holes might prevent that somewhat. Now I'm thinking about laying a corrugated roofing panel lengthwise over the top of it, that will hopefully create some overhang front and back, and maybe a bit on the sides. Then I can open up some larger holes. Might make getting the lid (door) off and on a pain though. Thanks for responding.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Oh my, how am I just now seeing this??!! This may just be what I need to make a small tractor for a friend of mine. hmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

This has been working really well for the last week. The new girls laid in it today and they hadn't laid for 4 mos. I think I am going to make some minor modifications and use it for a tractor set up like you mentioned. Now am looking for a wooden wagon to mount it to and am thinking of using a bent cattle panel as a run for a modular tractor situation. It definitely needs an easier door than the lid and clamp as it is...