Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Fred's Hens]

The terms are interchangeable to a large degree. Back in the day, a hen house was a dedicated building, built for layers, although some had breeding/brooding space as well. Some of the designs and architecture of those gorgeous, beautiful, historic, heritage hen houses were a sight to see. Recently, someone posted a pic of their restoration/re-painting of a 50-60 year old hen house. Breath taking beautiful to my eyes, eyes which love both agriculture and carpentry.

The term coop is more generic and mostly referred to something more modest and so on. The term Hen House evokes all the right stuff in me.

 

[fowlman01]

Since you commented when I posted this is this the one you are talking about. I have the trim painted now. It is 40 years old. Hen house.



Coops...... Hanging cages in the covered area to condition birds for shows. Keeping East indie ducks and a couple stray leghorn bantams in this one. These have worked well.



Breeding pens. scuz the cob webs. See how nice the geese keep everything mowed.



Walt

 

[Fred's Hens]

Thanks Walt!!! That is the most gorgeous hen house I've seen a long while. Takes my breath everytime you post it. Sorry to gush, but dang!

 

[ChickiesInUtah]

Wow, Walt! Your chickens don't know how good they've got it!

 

[fowlman01]

Thanks Walt!!! That is the most gorgeous hen house I've seen a long while. Takes my breath everytime you post it. Sorry to gush, but dang!

I didn't have the white trim on it last time I posted. As mentioned in previous posts, this building stays reasonably cool even in 100+ weather. I have never had to open the back door.

Walt

 

[Fred's Hens]

Walt, when we built our barn three years ago, I was "stuck" with a few things. Site, space, color scheme, and so forth. (monetary and trying to blend with other buildings on the place). I sooooooo wanted to build after that old style, but since I couldn't, I did the best I could with incorporating some of the virtues of that old architecture.

It has worked out very, very well for ventilation and practicality. It is only 20x24. I do have a functional full length hay loft along the left side. I don't put up "hay", but I can and do put up 12-24 bales of yellow wheat straw at any given time.






The grand kids all think it also a great place to play.

 

[fowlman01]

It looks like a fun place to play.

Walt

 

[Leahs Mom]

Walt, when we built our barn three years ago, I was "stuck" with a few things. Site, space, color scheme, and so forth. (monetary and trying to blend with other buildings on the place). I sooooooo wanted to build after that old style, but since I couldn't, I did the best I could with incorporating some of the virtues of that old architecture.

It has worked out very, very well for ventilation and practicality. It is only 20x24. I do have a functional full length hay loft along the left side. I don't put up "hay", but I can and do put up 12-24 bales of yellow wheat straw at any given time.






The grand kids all think it also a great place to play.

Which way does the top window row face? (N S E W)
[I guess I'm just assuming there are windows along the right side of the upper area...are there? If not, which way does the window front in your photo face?]

 

[Ivywoods]

Oh, wow. Yes, I love these old buildings. We had one... until a wind storm took it down 3 years ago. It was red block on the bottom, roof design similar to Fred's, and wood on the upper half. Windows let in light and warmth in the winter, and the roof design kept it cool and ventilated in the summer. We built a new barn. It's NOTHING like the old one!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Which way does the top window row face? (N S E W)
[I guess I'm just assuming there are windows along the right side of the upper area...are there? If not, which way does the window front in your photo face?]

The barn is situated very well to take advantage of convection for ventilation. The bottom of all three eaves are wide open, similar in function to Walt's classic hen house with raised center portion. This allows convection to do all the work. The air is never stale. I would prefer, however, that the barn doors had windows. They do not. Perhaps if I come across some re-cycled windows for cheap, I'll rebuild the doors to install windows there. Being this far north, we need the sunlight exposure on the south side, There is window you cannot see in the photo, but it is on the east side. I like it as the hens really like the dawn's early light. I just would prefer some south side windows for the added solar heating they would allow in winter. That's not something someone in Texas would desire, perhaps.


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