Caulk coop?

[Bcmacias]

Hi! We are building our coop this weekend, its just a small 5x5 coop to go in our small backyard. Wondering if we should caulk any seams? I’m thinking no, because the chickens could peck on it. The bottom of the coop will have a small hole for the chickens to enter up into the coop from the run which will always be open and then we’ll have two pretty small “windows” for ventilation. So with that ventilation, should the seams be caulked for rain and snow? We live in Kansas City, MO and the winters can get to single digits to below zero and the summers can be 100 degrees, but always lots of humidity in the summer. Thanks for the advise, it would be appreciated...first time chicken owners here!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Glad you joined us ... Alot of information and helpful/friendly members here.

You may want to post pictures, wondering about that "small hole" for the chickens to enter the coop, will there be stairs? You have "small windows" for ventilation, remember heat rises hence at what level are the windows. Sealing the cracks, that would depend on the size of them ... It may help with ventilation which is the key in coops but you also don't want a draft flowing through during the winter cold.

How many chickens do you have or planning on? It's been recommenced 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop and 10sq ft per in the run. Bigger is always better due to Chicken Math and it really does alleviate flock problems.

 

[DobieLover]

You don't want to seal any seams. They are good for ventilation. You just want to make sure there are no openings larger than 1/2" into the secure coop area. You also don't want small windows. You need LOTS of ventilation. Don't skimp on that.
I agree that it would help if you posted pictures of your coop.

 

[Isaac 0]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[Bcmacias]

Glad you joined us ... Alot of information and helpful/friendly members here.

You may want to post pictures, wondering about that "small hole" for the chickens to enter the coop, will there be stairs? You have "small windows" for ventilation, remember heat rises hence at what level are the windows. Sealing the cracks, that would depend on the size of them ... It may help with ventilation which is the key in coops but you also don't want a draft flowing through during the winter cold.

How many chickens do you have or planning on? It's been recommenced 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop and 10sq ft per in the run. Bigger is always better due to Chicken Math and it really does alleviate flock problems.

Glad you joined us ... Alot of information and helpful/friendly members here.

You may want to post pictures, wondering about that "small hole" for the chickens to enter the coop, will there be stairs? You have "small windows" for ventilation, remember heat rises hence at what level are the windows. Sealing the cracks, that would depend on the size of them ... It may help with ventilation which is the key in coops but you also don't want a draft flowing through during the winter cold.

How many chickens do you have or planning on? It's been recommenced 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop and 10sq ft per in the run. Bigger is always better due to Chicken Math and it really does alleviate flock problems.

Thank you so much for the feedback! We have 4 chicks now, that will be our max number of chickens. We will put stairs up to the coop from the access hole. I think the inside of the coop should be an adequate size for four, but the run is also 25 square feet. We are a little short there. We plan on letting them in the yard quite a bit. We will have to clip their wings so they don’t get over our 4 foot fence. According to the coop plans, there is screen over the “window” and some have said to put plexiglass over the window in the winter with (5) 1/2” holes for ventilation. There are matching “windows” on each side of the coop, so two windows. One person suggested to put a louvered vent cover to protect from the rain and snow. Maybe that on one side and a “window” on the other side? The “window” size is 6.5” x 8.25”, again the plan calls for two. The opening on the bottom of the coop is 15.5” x 12.5”. Apparently it’s ok if that stays open all the time? I’ll attach a pic of the coop. We are actually making the coop the same size as the run, so bigger than the plans show. Thanks so much!!!

 

[Bcmacias]

You don't want to seal any seams. They are good for ventilation. You just want to make sure there are no openings larger than 1/2" into the secure coop area. You also don't want small windows. You need LOTS of ventilation. Don't skimp on that.
I agree that it would help if you posted pictures of your coop.

Thank you so much for the feedback! We have 4 chicks now, that will be our max number of chickens. We will put stairs up to the coop from the access hole. I think the inside of the coop should be an adequate size for four, but the run is also 25 square feet. We are a little short there. We plan on letting them in the yard quite a bit. We will have to clip their wings so they don’t get over our 4 foot fence. According to the coop plans, there is screen over the “window” and some have said to put plexiglass over the window in the winter with (5) 1/2” holes for ventilation. There are matching “windows” on each side of the coop, so two windows. One person suggested to put a louvered vent cover to protect from the rain and snow. Maybe that on one side and a “window” on the other side? The “window” size is 6.5” x 8.25”, again the plan calls for two. The opening on the bottom of the coop is 15.5” x 12.5”. Apparently it’s ok if that stays open all the time? I’ll attach a pic of the coop. We are actually making the coop the same size as the run, so bigger than the plans show. Thanks so much!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Already mentioned it on your previous thread, but this coop is lacking in ventilation as well as run space. Upsizing the coop is a good idea but you need to upsize ventilation too - 2 of the windows you describe is only 1/5th of the ventilation you need - math it out and aim for 4 sq ft. Leaving the door(? it's a floor hatch right?) open adds a bit more but you'd still need at least 2 more windows plus bottom hatches are really a poor design, they eat up floor space and for safety a door really should latch shut at night.

As for the run, realistically can you let the chickens out every single day for most of the day (8+ hours)? If the answer is NO, you need to build a bigger run, period. You'll have behavioral issues and possibly health issues if the chickens are locked into such a small run for extended periods of time.

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you so much for the feedback! We have 4 chicks now, that will be our max number of chickens. We will put stairs up to the coop from the access hole. I think the inside of the coop should be an adequate size for four, but the run is also 25 square feet. We are a little short there. We plan on letting them in the yard quite a bit. We will have to clip their wings so they don’t get over our 4 foot fence. According to the coop plans, there is screen over the “window” and some have said to put plexiglass over the window in the winter with (5) 1/2” holes for ventilation. There are matching “windows” on each side of the coop, so two windows. One person suggested to put a louvered vent cover to protect from the rain and snow. Maybe that on one side and a “window” on the other side? The “window” size is 6.5” x 8.25”, again the plan calls for two. The opening on the bottom of the coop is 15.5” x 12.5”. Apparently it’s ok if that stays open all the time? I’ll attach a pic of the coop. We are actually making the coop the same size as the run, so bigger than the plans show. Thanks so much!!!

That's not going to be enough ventilation.
Have you put the roof on it yet? If not consider extending the roof line for more overhang and adding fly rafters for greater overhang on the gable ends. Then make much larger gable vents on both ends, stop the siding about 3-4" from the top and cover that area with hardware cloth for year round venting and include a ridge vent on the roof. I would also frame in top hinged windows that can be left open during your hot summers. You should at a minimum double the run size. I'd go triple. And use 1/2" hardware cloth to secure it. NOT chicken wire.

 

[nao57]

I've watched videos where people say you should seal the edges on cut plywoods etc to make the wood last longer. And one guy's video he said the difference can mean having the coop last many many years longer than without. (Although he was building bee boxes, not chicken coops, but the principle should be the same.)

You want the wood to last.

And how they erode is moisture gets into the exposed edges where the cuts are. (Look for edges like these to look for what to put sealant or caulking on, etc.)

 

[aart]

Already mentioned it on your previous thread,

I thought this looked/sounded familiar.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-chicken-owner-is-my-coop-ok-for-winter.1402409/