Brick coop

[mammatomany]

I already started on it, so size can't change, will just have to pair down the chicks We are in NE Ohio, the area is prefect for chickens. Good drainage, shaded with a huge oak (that's actually on the neighbors side, but the coop benefits from the summer shade) and next to the compost area. We are on a tight budget, so most of the coupon will be from free materials we had already. Old brick, old door from our century home, old windows I found by the side of the road on trash day, the chicken door will be cut from an old cabinet door that was built from scraps. prolly in the 20's from who knows what project back in the day. The perches will be from cut long ways floor boards from the original porch floor, etc, etc. Even their metal water dish and feeder we got cheap from a local auction. I will for sure post pics!

We have Barred Rocks, Delaware, Dominique, Polish, and one more I forget lol. They are in there temp home at the moment, but I'll most likely sell off mostly the Barred Rock pullets since that's what we have the most of.

Is there anything to do in advance to prevent mites while the deep litter is aging?

 

[yogifink]

Quote:
I'm not the best at explaining this, but I'll give it a shot. Brick has a pretty good thermal mass and will actually be cooler during the day than a regular insulated coop, if properly built. The brick will absorb the cooler temperatures at night, and cool the interior of the coop during the day as it absorbs the heat from the day. In turn, the brick will emit heat at night as it absorbs the cool at night. A lot of 'new age' homes, like earthships, rammed earth and earth bags, are built using these properties of dense material to heat and cool homes. Even in Texas.

 

[4 the Birds]

Brick has good thermal mass but it would not be my choice when building a coop. It is best to have materials that are easy to modify to add or adjust vent locations. Wood is ideal for additions and adding/removing walls during the change of seasons. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[mammatomany]

Quote:
Thank you! I was hoping for the coolness of brick since out summers can get pretty hot and humid.

 

[mammatomany]

Hi, thanks for the advice! We chose brick for a few reasons. It was free, and we are trying to build the coop out of re purposed materials. Also, we are planning on moving to a place with more land in the next 4 years, so this was a short term (sort of) coop. And when we move, the new owners can use it as a garden shed with little to no maintenance, if they choose.

 

[sn0wwhite]

Hi, thanks for the advice! We chose brick for a few reasons. It was free, and we are trying to build the coop out of re purposed materials. Also, we are planning on moving to a place with more land in the next 4 years, so this was a short term (sort of) coop. And when we move, the new owners can use it as a garden shed with little to no maintenance, if they choose.

Free and repurposed are always excellent reasons! I like that you were thinking of future use too.

 

[mammatomany]

Free and repurposed are always excellent reasons! I like that you were thinking of future use too.

Thanks

One more question before my walls are finished. For the ventilation, I am going to leave out a brick and put wire in there to keep the sparrows out. How many missing bricks (4" x 8" ish) would suffice? Was planning on having the holes across from each other for a nice breeze. High enough up to not chill the birds. Will also have the 2 windows that will be open during the warmer months.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: I've always heard you should have 1 SQ FT of ventilation per bird, so you'd need 4.5 bricks per bird

It may be easier to put in "foundation vents" rather than tryng to cover the holes with wire, and most are sized to fit in brick walls
Here's one example:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...5ABC7ED90346522AE558CBCD98518&selectedIndex=3

 

[TXchickmum]

-sounds like it will be a really, really nice coop!! (and as far as heat/cool/thermal mass/etc., I reckon there's a science to it all - but we basically went with a 3-sided, non-insulated, open air coop with large fans placed under a large oak tree. Again, I'm no engineer/scientist, but maximum airflow with sustained 105+ degree days and 88-95 degree nights just seemed appropriate at the time

)

I would love to see a pic when completed. Again, it sounds like it will be very nice (and an excellent use of available resources)!