Big metal shed to chicken coop...?

[Pippin quail]

Some slow progress being made. It's been super hot here (unusually so) it's been between 35 and 40 degrees C (95 and 100° F). So I've been trying to keep my chicks cool any way I can in the small chicken tractor they have. Can't wait for their coop and run so they can at least spread out in the heat.
We realized where we're putting these windows is actually terrible for hot days so we'll be putting shutters or something to keep the sun out in the late afternoon when it hits there in the summer. BUT it will be great when the sun shines in there in the winter and warms the coop. And we have by far more -20 to -40 days than +35.

 

[Krugerrand]

looking great!

 

[Pippin quail]

looking great!

Thanks! My husband is off work tomorrow for Canada day and took Friday and all of next week off, so hoping it's ready for them to move in soon!! Keeping them cool in here is hard. A few of them have actually willingly sat in the little pool for a bit. But most are not keen to cool off that way. I feel like summer would be a lot easier with ducks Other than cool treats like watermelon and frozen pea/corn tres treats, anyone have any recommendations? I have them in the shadiest spot in the garden with a tarp hanging over the fence to hopefully keep any sun off. But when the air is just hot even shade doesn't do a ton.

 

[Krugerrand]

Thanks! My husband is off work tomorrow for Canada day and took Friday and all of next week off, so hoping it's ready for them to move in soon!! Keeping them cool in here is hard. A few of them have actually willingly sat in the little pool for a bit. But most are not keen to cool off that way. I feel like summer would be a lot easier with ducks Other than cool treats like watermelon and frozen pea/corn tres treats, anyone have any recommendations? I have them in the shadiest spot in the garden with a tarp hanging over the fence to hopefully keep any sun off. But when the air is just hot even shade doesn't do a ton.

Here are some articles:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-keep-chickens-cool-in-the-summer.72276/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/keeping-your-chickens-cool-in-summer.74091/

 

[Pippin quail]

Here are some articles:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-keep-chickens-cool-in-the-summer.72276/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/keeping-your-chickens-cool-in-summer.74091/

Very helpful articles, thank you!! I've been doing a few of the tricks on there just based on instinct or things I remember seeing in the past, but great to have a comprehensive list.

 

[Pippin quail]

Made some good progress! The 3 windows are in, just the patio door left which will go right across from the other big window on the right.

My husband realized he couldn't put adequate ventilation on that side with the windows being covered enough by the overhang. So he framed off the middle as planned, but is going to put the ventilation, nesting boxes and roosting bars in the opposite side from what we originally planned. There is a door for me to access their coop and he will put a backing with hinges on their nesting box for me to collect eggs from the side with the windows. I will then use that side as both storage and hopefully a mini greenhouse to grow some herbs and sprouts for the chickens for at least part of the year. Having them in the other side will also keep them from kicking up bedding into the sliding door track as well. My husband put a one foot high piece of plywood along the middle to keep bedding out of the screen door and other side (hopefully for the most part at least). And the rest in between will be chicken wire for now with room for more nesting boxes in the future, if needed.
For the nesting boxes we just used an Ikea kallax cube shelf that we had sitting around. Will either put some kind of shallow box inside or a lip on the front side the keep straw in. But will be blocking them off for the time being since my chicks are only 6 weeks old.
The run will now go out to the treed area seen through their door, so they will have lots of shade and natural hiding spots. Still need to figure out some sort of roof and/or cover to protect from overhead predators. But it's really coming along and hopefully will be ready for them to move in within a few days!!
Any suggestions on where to put roosting bars? We're thinking we shouldn't put them too close to the wall because it'll be really cold in the winter. Can you have roosting bars that are far from the wall? Just mounted to the floor I guess or from the ceiling?

 

[NatJ]

Can you have roosting bars that are far from the wall? Just mounted to the floor I guess or from the ceiling?

Yes, you can have the roosts away from the walls.

People often put them near the wall to have them out of the way when the people walk around tending the chickens and cleaning the coop, but I don't think the chickens care much.

You might be able to make something moveable, such as like bars running across between two sawhorses. Then you could push it around until you like where it is, and lift it out when you want to clean the coop. It needs to be sturdy enough that the bars don't turn over and the whole thing doesn't fall when the chickens use it, but there can be many way to make that work. I think I've even seen pictures of old chairs in a coop so the chickens could roost on the backs of them

 

[Pippin quail]

Yes, you can have the roosts away from the walls.

People often put them near the wall to have them out of the way when the people walk around tending the chickens and cleaning the coop, but I don't think the chickens care much.

You might be able to make something moveable, such as like bars running across between two sawhorses. Then you could push it around until you like where it is, and lift it out when you want to clean the coop. It needs to be sturdy enough that the bars don't turn over and the whole thing doesn't fall when the chickens use it, but there can be many way to make that work. I think I've even seen pictures of old chairs in a coop so the chickens could roost on the backs of them

Ahhh good points. I like the idea of making them movable so that it's easy to shovel everything out when I need to. I'll have to check out some ideas and figure out a sturdy but still moveable setup!

 

[3KillerBs]

I agree, roosts are generally placed near walls for human convenience.

But unless there are drafts from wind blowing against the wall, good ventilation means that they are unlikely to be colder. I'd probably want to avoid them directly contacting the metal since it's a good conductor, but 18" from the wall ought to be more than enough to keep even the largest chicken from directly contacting the metal.

 

[Pippin quail]

I'm curious what people use for roosting bars? I was thinking of using some trees that fell in a storm, they would probably be about the size of a 2x2 piece of lumber, maybe slightly wider at one end. And obviously round. I'm not sure if round and natural is better or will be harder to sit on and grip than a square piece of wood? I've seen both just wondering what are people's chickens favorites.