Chicken math has hit me!

[Happy hen lover]

Hello all, between chick days @ local farm stores , aging hens, and threat of shortages CHICKEN MATH has hit me HARD.

I did lose a hen this past year so I needed 1 replacement for her. Well you can't get just 1 so 1 turns into 2, then the minimum at store makes that 4 and there you have it ! We now have 7 chicks!
My honey loves to design and build so here we go.

Our existing run area is 8 x 20 , very secure and adequate for more hens. 3 weeks ago we covered whole run to ward off AI. We chose to keep the addition raised so as not to lose any run space.
My original coop is a 4 x 8 with part ( 2.5 x 4) of that sectioned off for storage area. I chose to give up most my storage for the addition. The existing coop area is 20 sq. feet and I have 4 hens now.
We put our heads together and came up with the way to add on, keep costs down, use up some scrap material we have on hand, and hopefully improve coop.

Now to plan:
The most logical place to add on is to butt up to original coop by adding another 5 ft of floor space x 4 ft wide to edge of run. This will make one entrance to coop from outside fence, and we're adding poop tray under roost for easy cleaning .
So we added a structure and incorporated a lot of closable ventilation this time. We opted for soffits cover with chicken wire and netting ( keeping board to cover up in winter), also added a 8 x 16 in. crawl space vent/window.

we made a framed floor, covered with 9/16" then scrap lino. Stood floor on supports then added roof structure attached to exist.coop soffit.

Then finished out wall with window, using siding we had form original build. Covered fence wall with scrap "ice and snow" roofing stuff. Then finished that wall with scrap wood from an old shop table.
Here are building inspectors looking on

We will remove screen door and "red " door from coop and make them both swing out this time. I hope the poop drawer works like we think it will, we put a drop down front on it.

 

[Callender Girl]

My biggest problem with chicken math is that it usually leads to construction projects. However, you seem to have an attentive group of inspectors making sure the work is being done to their specifications and someone who likes to build things.

But, shame on the store for "forcing" you to get more chicks than you wanted!

Hope your poop drawer plan works the way you want; I seem to spend every nice weather day removing poop from my coops. My sister thinks I should consider it an actual hobby.

 

[mowin]

Looking good. Chicken math is definitely real, lol.

You shouldn't cover up the ventilation in the winter. It's extremely important for the moisture from the poop and their breath to escape the coop to prevent frostbite. You should have 1sgf of permanent ventilation per bird that is above their heads when on roost.