Building coop, need advice on nest box

[topdog24]

By all means. Weasels are slyer than a fox

 

[JustHenny]

And they mostly just like to bite chickens heads off and leave the rest...

 

[topdog24]

I don't fully understand the concept of attracting heat. Tin is a great conductor of heat. When the sun is on it it will absorb heat (abet black in theory should absorb more), but since it tends to be thin and a great conductor - the opposite side gets hot fast and convection will do a great job heating up the inside of the metal box. Net effect is uninsulated tin buildings tend to bake in the summer.

That said, convection should also move heat out of the building when it is cold and dark. I think that is along the lines of touching your tong to a metal pole on a double dog dare.

If you notice it is metal, notice vent in rear, notice vent in front at roof, natuarl convection will cause heat to move along the bottom of roof and through the vent. thus drawing cooler air through the lower back and ends of the building in turn replacing the hot air at roof level, where the chickens are not going to be as the roosts don't reach that high, any building will be hot if not properly ventilated, if the heat does build up, my chickens have plenty of space to move down where it is cooler, i also have a squirrel cage fan to install just in case it is needed which will be thermstatically controlled like the blower on a fireplace insert with a range from 85 F on/75 F off, that way it only runs when needed. the vents will be shuttered in the winter to retain enough heat for the chickens to be comfortable

 

[Phoenixxx]

I'm noticing everyone saying birds need x amount of SQUARE feet of space; shouldn't the recommendations be in CUBIC measures? My coop is 6' x 8', so only 48'sq, yet last winter I had 23 chickens who CHOSE to stay indoors (they weren't keen on the snow) and were quite happy! Between the 23 linear feet of roosts and the five 4'x1' nesting shelves everyone had plenty of places to go to get away from the others. I think it really just comes down to the design and layout at the end of the day.

 

[topdog24]

You can add platforms at a suitable level to add square footage per bird,it can be between nest boxs or above if you are limited on space. Mine is 8x12 , 96 for 48 birds. Mostly some lounge on the ground anb some hang out on roosts. 40 ft so I count 136 ft of space, I can also add more roost or ledges for more room, I have 25x 27 ft open run

 

[iwiw60]

Good grief...all this bantering back and forth about square footage per bird. Look, the bottom line is this: if your birds are comfortable in the amount of space you've given them, then fine. But put yourself in there as a chicken in an obviously overcrowded coop and I don't think you'd be a "happy chicken".

From a few posts I've read in this thread their ladies are so crammed in their coops it bites of "battery hens" and we all know what that is...not a pretty sight at all. Give your girls room and they'll reward you with lovely eggs and companionship.

Off my soapbox....

 

[iwiw60]

Thanks much, TopDog!

 

[topdog24]

Blasted chicken math, get all worked up in fever ( chicken fever) hotter than a pepper sprout, yeah , I know how the song goes so I just sing right along

 

[iwiw60]

You crack me UP!!