building coop in maine

[hobbsj]

We just moved to Portland, Maine and I want to start work on our coop before I have to find a job. We brought our hens from Texas and have what's left of the coop after the move. So, I have a bunch of questions and need some feedback on coop designs. Price is a big factor here so I need to be as economical as possible. We have 3 hens and are thinking of a 4th. I planned on a 4x4 box coop slightly elevated. One or two laying boxes attached to the outside to be sure the ladies have plenty of room. Then, a 10 x 4 run. I got the idea from this design.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=16313-monicas-chicken-house

But, I have a couple of questions regarding winterizing it. For warmth, I plan on doing the deep litter method. For insulation, would the Styrofoam looking insulation sandwiched between two thin pressure treated pieces of plywood work for the walls? I was also thinking clear plastic roofing material. Additionally, does the food and water go inside the coop? Or, can i keep it in the run? I'm thinking access to the coop and having the water spilling inside as well as running an extension chord to keep it from melting.

any ideas or criticisms are appreciated. and, if you have a small coop in maine, i would appreciate any sort of picture of your coop and a heads up for what to expect.

We have a road island red and 2 plymouth barred black and white things (wife chose them and breed wasn't an issue at the time). so, i'm not sure about their cold hardiness.

 

[JenEric Farms]

from a fellow Mainer! CHeck out our coop on my byc page...I got the plans from here...

 

[hobbsj]

Thanks for the welcome. Do your hens venture out in the winter with the covered run? Or does snow still pile up inside?

 

[JenEric Farms]

They venture out into the run, plus you could put plastic up to keep it warmer, but they don't have an issue...We snow blow around the coop in the winter.

 

[JenEric Farms]

I had barred rock and rir last year with no issue with frost bite. You can put vaseline on their comb and wattles if it gets extremely cold, most people just do it for the roosters though.

 

[CityChook]

I don't know how cold it gets in Maine. Would freezing eggs in an exterior nestbox be a problem? They would be here in MN. I couldn't figure out HOW to insulate an exterior box, which is why I didn't get one.

My chooks hate the snow. My run is covered and they still won't come out. If I were a nicer chicken mom, I would snow blow around the coop. But I'm not that nice.

You won't regret putting insulation in the coop. It's all win. Except for the credit card bill. I'm not familiar with the foam - I used fiberglass and put up a plywood barrier wall.

I keep food/water inside the coop to keep pests to a minimum. And electricity is a necessity for me.

Regarding the clear plastic roofing: Can that stuff handle snow load? Seems like it would get pretty hot in the summer time.

Frostbite can be managed with good ventilation/humidity control and no draft. My coop got as cold as -5F last winter and we didn't have any frostbite problems.

 

[patandchickens]

Hi, welcome to BYC

I would not recommend clear plastic roofing, as it will make the coop too hot, not only in the summer but on sunny winter days as well (4x4 is not much space to be greenhousing...). Also you will need to insulate it for winter (both for thermal reasons and, perhaps more importantly, to prevent intractable condensation=>humidity problems from causing frostbite) which will pretty much negate the clear-window-on-cold-winter-days thing anyhow.

A larger coop is really not much more expensive to build, and you will be WAY WAY happier with something larger (so will your chickens). You will be less likely to run into picking/pecking/cannibalism problems (which can be hard or sometimes impossible to stop once started); the chickens will be generally happier and healthier; sanitation will be easier; and if you build something you can step into (even just 4x8) it will be SO much more pleasant for you to work with.

Don't let anyone tell you that you 'need' a cramped coop in a cold climate; well-chosen breeds of chicken are much more cold tolerant, under good management i.e dry draftless air, than some give them credit for, and it is quite easy to knock together something to concentrate their heat around the roost if you should find it necessary. Frostbite (which is hard to avoid when you have lots of chickens humidifying not too much volume of air) and cannibalism type problems are probably a *bigger* threat in most circumstances than the cold per se. So it is best to give them as much space as possible -- and then if you need to create a 'coop within the coop' for the coldest days, it's quite easy and you keep the best of both worlds.

You'd only need one nestbox, and might want it to be interior (though raised 16"+ off the floor so as not to lose floorspace) rather than exterior to reduce egg freezing.

Most people in cold climates put food and water indoors, or at least water, because it's easier to keep the water thawed that way and you can better ensure the chickens will be eating and drinking enough in nasty weather; but if you have a very well-protected run and you find that your chickens go out a lot even in nasty weather then you could consider trying one or both outdoors if there was a particular reason to.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[sheeshshe]

fellow mainer here

I'm still working on mine... my chicks are 7 weeks old. I decided on doing a covered run for the winter... I think that I'll probably hang a tarp on the sides so that snow doesn't blow in and they can have fun in their run

I have a previously owned coop that needed fixing up but I got it for free. it is a 4x4 and it just seems so darn tiny for 4 chickens.. so I agree, if you can afford it go a little bit larger.. my neighbor just built her 4x8 coop for $150. she doesn't have a run though. This is my first year experimenting with chickens and our weather! I hope it all goes smooth.

I dont have insulation in the coop though... the previous owners didn't either. BTW, Im within half hour driving distance from you so the weather patterns are similar. I rarely ever see it get into the single digits and I'm more west.. Portland is on the coast and the weather tends to be a little warmer. RIR's are a staple bird in this area... tons of people keep them around here... which makes me feel like they'd be OK in the weahter that we live in.

Good luck!!