Bought a chicken coop, but what about RAIN?!

[ozark hen]

Quote:
got this right on the money! Ours is covered in wire on top. My DH put a two by four in the middle of the pen to raise both wire and tarp up tentwise. We use bungee cords to tie down the tarp and plastic. It is also sitting on wire so nothing can dig in. But now that we have a dog protecting the flock we don't worry about predators anymore either.

 

[CutestChickenFarmer]

Hey Poison Ivy - YOU'RE RIGHT!! I just emailed customer service to see about having that sent to me. Thanks!

Susan

 

[TransplantedTexan]

A rain block is easy enough, but what about winter?
Delaware gets pretty cold doesn't it? Here in Wi it can be 0 to 30 below in the winter. How much cold and cold wind can a grown chicken handle?

 

[foxtrapper]

That's a small unit for 5 bird, especially with just one nesting box.

You can face it away from the rain, or you could put a simple awning on it.

 

[ruth]

Hi CCF - I have the same hutch and also a German Shepherd, nothing comes near here either even though we are in the woods and have every predator known to man. I used my hutch for 4 baby chicks but moved them to a larger pen when they were about 4 weeks old and I bought a new batch of 5 EEs. They too quickly outgrew the hutch in about 4 weeks. Just didn't have enough room for them to move around much. They were trampling each other. We've now built a huge coop and run area as well as let them free range around the house and yard during the day. Our ever trusty guard dog, Rex, has been faithfully watching them since they were babies in a cardboard box in the bathroom and he insisted on sleeping in there with them. Anyway, the hutch was great for the first few weeks but I wouldn't recommend it for much more than that. I see you got the nest box but that size cage would only hold maybe one hen by the time she's egg laying age - maybe good for nights if she can move around during the day outside but I don't think it would hold 4 or 5 adult chickens even just for the night. As far as rain, mine was under the overhang of our house on the back deck. If it rained really hard, I would just cover the front with an old tablecloth or beach towel. No matter what you cover the front with, it still has plenty of ventilation even with the sideboards on because they don't come all the way up.

Here's Rex and his first babies. Don't know who the mama was but they sure don't look like their daddy. Ha

 

[Wolfpacker]

I have that same hutch and was worried about the same thing. I simply cut a piece of plywood to fit over the front and then used the same method the manufacturersused to attach the side draft blocks: two screws, large washers, and wing nuts. We had 2 1/2 inches of rain night before last. Worked like a charm.

 

[Lunachick]

I have that same hutch also. I only have two birds, so it's ok. But I would have to modify it for the winter. Right now I put arched cage wire into a tent shape over the attached run and then put a tarp over that with bungee cords to attach to the sides of the run. They get ventilation and protection from rain. Plus I put a fan under the tarp with an extension cord for cooling. I like Chirpy's idea for enclosing the front, but I like to use the opening for them to come and go freely during the day. Did you cut out an opening for that? How did that work?

 

[TreyClark281]

i built my own and i have 2 sides exposed and no rain gets in but i covered one side because of drafts and still no rain gets in.. and a little rain wont hurt the chickens...

 

[CutestChickenFarmer]

I am definitely keeping my options open for a bigger coop. My best friend, who grew up with chickens, said that they tend to pile up on each other at night, which is the only time that they'll be in there. During the day, they'll have free access to the 10' x 10' kennel that the coop is in. I'm going to play it by ear and see how everything pans out.

I did take the advise and got a 10' x 16' tarp to go across the top and down the back of the kennel. The back of the kennel is up against a stockade fence and faces the prevailing winds. I also have clear tarps that I'll put up on either side for when the weather is more inclement so the girls can still have their outside time if they so desire.

I still need to pick up two 7' 2x4s to support the tarp and keep the rain from accumulating. That may be on this weekend's agenda.

Susan

 

[rosyposyosy]

i cant find that coop on my pet chicken...

do you have a specific link to that coop?