Building a new coop, suggestions welcome

[enrgizerbunny]

I had to go back to find that you are in central Virginia. If you put that info in your profile that will always be available. It helps in so many different ways.

You have the right idea. Warm air is lighter than cool air so if cool air is coming in gravity will pull it to the bottom which pushes the warm air out above. How much gets moved depends on the size of the ventilation holes and the difference in temperatures of the air coming in versus temperature of the air inside. You will move some with vents up high but the way to maximize that it to have a vent where the air is coolest.

You may have shading or other feature that changes this, but north of the equator that is typically in the north side of the coop. The east side isn't horrible since you want this when it is hottest, which is typically in the afternoon. My coolest spot was actually on the south side because of a shed.

I did what you are talking about, had a cut-out a little above ground level and covered it with hardware cloth. Maybe 8" high and between two studs. Mine was a little too low. The chickens scratch around my feeder and throw bedding over there which can cover it up. I need to rake it away in the summer.

In central Virginia you can have some pretty cold nights in winter. I'd guess your extreme is probably close to zero Fahrenheit, though that may be rare. I would not want a cold breeze hitting the chickens on the roost on those nights. If the roosts are between this low vent and a higher one you might get a cold wind whistling through during a storm. You might want a way to block it off or at least buffer the wind. In Arkansas I'd rake bedding over there for those cold snaps. You might have a piece of wood that you could lean against it. If your roosts are not between that vent and ventilation higher up don't worry about it.

I thought I had put it in my profile before.

It just seems to make sense that having a low intake would be ideal. I'll stick with that plan.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Broke down a couple more pallets today and did some planning on what i need to dig.

Since it was requested : here's how in breaking these puppies down. It probably takes me 20 minutes if I'm not stopping for pictures or have other interruptions.

First I start by cutting the planks right next to the 2x4s on the outer edges.

Next I pry the planks off the middle 2x4 with a wonder bar (flat bar) as best I can. Usually the nails stay in the planks.

After the planks are pulled and the nails are out, I stack them up, then I pull the nails from the 2x4s and put them in a bucket. By cutting the planks I am left with little bits of wood and nails in the 2x4s. As pictured, I break the wood by a couple methods, depending on how it is. Makes it easier to pull the nails when they're partially out of the wood.

Once the nails are out I just knock the three other planks off with a hammer and pull any remaining nails. Some nails are stubborn and can't be gotten out easily enough. Have a plan for this - wish I had neon orange paint. Also - you can't save all the wood. I had a couple of planks break up onto pieces when I was trying to remove them.

 

[3KillerBs]

Broke down a couple more pallets today and did some planning on what i need to dig.

Since it was requested : here's how in breaking these puppies down. It probably takes me 20 minutes if I'm not stopping for pictures or have other interruptions.

First I start by cutting the planks right next to the 2x4s on the outer edges.
View attachment 3214107

Next I pry the planks off the middle 2x4 with a wonder bar (flat bar) as best I can. Usually the nails stay in the planks.

View attachment 3214108

After the planks are pulled and the nails are out, I stack them up, then I pull the nails from the 2x4s and put them in a bucket.

View attachment 3214107View attachment 3214108View attachment 3214109View attachment 3214110View attachment 3214117View attachment 3214118View attachment 3214119View attachment 3214120

Once the nails are out I just knock the three other planks off with a hammer and pull any remaining nails. Some nails are stubborn and can't be gotten out easily enough. Have a plan for this - wish I had neon orange paint.

View attachment 3214122View attachment 3214123View attachment 3214124View attachment 3214125

Thanks. That method looks simple.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Update : construction is on hold until spring due to financial goals. I'll be gathering free/discounted materials as I come by them until then. Just can't justify the excavator rental while we're getting out of debt.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

I am pleased to announce the official date to resume this project is February 4-5 with some site work and digging the foundation. Also plan on digging the electric drop at the same time.

I used all my pallet Lumber to build some new shelves in the shed and I gave away the remaining pallets to make room for 2024's firewood at the end of the driveway.

With the price of eggs I wish I had completed the coop last year, but hey what can you do?

 

[enrgizerbunny]

For a coop with 7 ft walls, and an 11 ft ridge (12:12 roof), open gables and eaves, what would be the ideal height for the roosts to avoid cold drafts if I don't louver the gables and just have overhangs to keep moisture out (which is my plan).

 

[3KillerBs]

For a coop with 7 ft walls, and an 11 ft ridge (12:12 roof), open gables and eaves, what would be the ideal height for the roosts to avoid cold drafts if I don't louver the gables and just have overhangs to keep moisture out (which is my plan).

Anything lower than 12-18" below the bottom of the vents.

I put my roosts at my shoulder height for my own convenience. That way I can take a bird off the roost at night to do health checks, etc. without either bending over or reaching up.

My nests are at my elbow height for the same purpose of convenience -- I have arthritis and it's not going to get any better over the years.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

My pallet connection isn't dry, but someone else has been collecting them! So either I have to wait to get Lumber or I'll have to go pick through the cull pile at half price at the Lumber yard. I'd rather get the pallet wood, but with the price of gas for multiple trips the cull pile is calling my name louder

 

[enrgizerbunny]

While there were no ribbons or ceremonies, I broke ground on Tuesday! Rented a mini excavator and a friend dug the majority of it for me. Still some hand work dressing up steps to account for grade changes and leveling the footer with the grade laser. Looking to finish and pour concrete tomorrow in between the rain drops.

 

[Painted Calls]

Following!