chicken coop and run...I hope it's secure enough! (13 pics)

[aart]

Ditto the lights and ventilation issues.

Nice structures...tho overboard on insulation and way underboard on ventilation, common mistakes

Run looks secure enough to leave pop door open, the latch on the pop door would be pretty easily opened by coons of they get into run anyway.

 

[valley]

Valley, in one of your interior pics I see a light installed. It looks awfully close to the floor. It is VERY easy for shavings, dust and feathers to get stirred upp and come in contact with a hot lightbulb. That's all it takes to start a coop fire. I would advise you to remove the light immediately for the safety of your birds and the building that your coop is attached to.

With those big windows you don't need the extra light and with insulated walls you don't need the heat. If you do decide to add supplemental light or heat in winter there are far safer ways to do it than a bare bulb fixture.

thanks for the tips...yeah, thats a red heat lamp with protective wiring covering the bulb. We didnt install it for light but for heat because they arent fully feathered and I had read all kinds of things about keeping your chicks warm until all of their feathers are in. I still see them laying underneath it and pulling their wings back to get the heat. I planned to move it up higher to a wall during the winter. I will def turn it off immediately!

 

[valley]

You might consider putting poop trays under your roosts and filling them with PDZ it is a granular mineral Zoelyte sold as Stall Fresh at Tractor Supply you scoop it like kitty litter. It absorbs ammonia and keeps your coop smelling good.

Picture of my coop with poop trays .

My rooster coop poop trays and roosts


Good luck with your project.

I love this! Thank you...I will install a dropping tray and use this stuff. So far, my coop does not smell but I know winter is going to bring all sorts of challenges with moisture and smells!

 

[valley]

okay...so for now, the improvements that we need to make before winter are these:

1. Install a vent on each end and take the top rung off the roost so the chicks are lower than any breeze that might come in the coop

2. Find a safer alternative for the heat lamp that I have installed...and get it away from the floor

3. Install dropping board and use filler from TSC to absorb moisture and smells.

any other advice is most welcome! I want my babies to be comfortable and healthy this winter because they will probably be in that coop for many months on end.

 

[junebuggena]

You don't need an alternative for the heat lamp. Those chicks are pretty well feathered in and the coop is plenty insulated. Your roosts are a bit narrow for an adult. 2x4s wide side up work really well in cold climates when it comes to preventing frostbitten toes. They can cover their feet up completely to keep them warm.

 

[valley]

Your roosts are a bit narrow for an adult. 2x4s wide side up work really well in cold climates when it comes to preventing frostbitten toes. They can cover their feet up completely to keep them warm.

Gotcha! I will add that to the list...i'll post new pictures once we get the changes made.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[junebuggena]

You're welcome. I'm glad we could help.

 

[jrjoplin]

okay...so for now, the improvements that we need to make before winter are these:

1. Install a vent on each end and take the top rung off the roost so the chicks are lower than any breeze that might come in the coop

2. Find a safer alternative for the heat lamp that I have installed...and get it away from the floor

3. Install dropping board and use filler from TSC to absorb moisture and smells.

any other advice is most welcome! I want my babies to be comfortable and healthy this winter because they will probably be in that coop for many months on end. 

#1 is the only one that needs to be done. #2 is a safety concern, I know quite a few people who warm their coops in the winter; I personally don't but you have to do what you feel is best for your flock. If you choose to warm with a heat lamp just make sure it's secure as a coop fire is devastating. #3 is a cleaning preference. I have had poop boards in the past and can take them or leave them. As for the product from TSC I don't know this particular product but I'm leary of placing chemicals inside the coop. Good ventilation and coop cleaning should be all that's needed to keep any smell in check.