Coop and Fence Questions

[Disheygirl]

We have a TSC coop that I attached 1/2” hardware cloth to on the barred part. Additionally, I bought caribeaners to keep the latches from coming open, and we put 12x12 concrete pavers around the outside. We’re now enclosing about 175 square feet in around it to give them more room. Currently we have three 8 week old pullets but we get seven chicks next weekend so we’re planning space for ten.

For the fence, we dug down six inches and will attach hardware cloth to the first three feet of it. The top will be hardware cloth. Also have electric wire fence that will run around the outside. The entire pen sits about five feet from our house, and my home office faces it. They will be in the coop at night. Do we still need to lay hardware cloth in front of the fence or is burying the wire (incl hardware cloth) enough? Disregard all the junk laying there - it‘s construction zone!

Additionally, the only window it has is the one you see at the back. Should we frame another one out on the side with hardware cloth? I keep reading that they need more air than one window. Thanks!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

When you say "lay hardware cloth" in front of the fence, do you mean an apron? I'd say it depends... you said you buried it 6" down but that really isn't sufficient against anything small that digs, such as rats, which won't be deterred by electric fencing. Either need to bury more wire down deeper (about 12" at least) or apron outward around 16-24".

For ventilation, yes you should have more ventilation than one window, as just a single window doesn't allow for any cross flow of air. Aim for at least 1 sq ft of ventilation per bird inside the coop, open 24/7. As you have the smaller run area roofed over, the coop wall facing into that is an ideal area for ample ventilation to be added. Also with just 1 window the coop is probably rather dark inside, so more ventilation will also help increase the amount of ambient light as well.

 

[neo71665]

Premade coops are known for over estimating the true amount of birds they will hold. If it claims it will hold 10 the truth is closer to 5 actual birds.

 

[3KillerBs]

Additionally, the only window it has is the one you see at the back. Should we frame another one out on the side with hardware cloth? I keep reading that they need more air than one window.

Chickens need 1 square foot of ventilation for every adult, standard-sized hen. Unfortunately almost all pre-fab coops are badly-ventilated.

The ventilation is best placed above the birds' heads when they're sitting on their roosts. If you make your new window hinge at the top you can leave it open without letting the weather in.

 

[aart]

We have a TSC coop

The pic is a TS coop?

 

[Krugerrand]

The pic is a TS coop?

Looks like this one:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-extra-large-sentinel-chicken-coop-mfc-ls#

 

[Disheygirl]

The pic is a TS coop?

Yep - I painted it - it was a wood color before.

 

[Disheygirl]

Looks like this one:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-extra-large-sentinel-chicken-coop-mfc-ls#

That’s the one!

 

[Disheygirl]

Chickens need 1 square foot of ventilation for every adult, standard-sized hen. Unfortunately almost all pre-fab coops are badly-ventilated.

The ventilation is best placed above the birds' heads when they're sitting on their roosts. If you make your new window hinge at the top you can leave it open without letting the weather in.

Is it ventilation of the coop and run, or just the coop? Reason I’m asking is, I’ve seen a lot of pictures of coops, and with 1 square foot for each hen, some of them would have no walls. They would almost look like another run. The one in the picture would need an entire side of open window if the run itself doesn’t count. Trying to figure out where to put a bunch of HW cloth secured windows on this thing now!

 

[3KillerBs]

Is it ventilation of the coop and run, or just the coop? Reason I’m asking is, I’ve seen a lot of pictures of coops, and with 1 square foot for each hen, some of them would have no walls. They would almost look like another run. The one in the picture would need an entire side of open window if the run itself doesn’t count. Trying to figure out where to put a bunch of HW cloth secured windows on this thing now!

That's the ventilation of the coop.

And yes, one of the problems with those prefab coops is that they are nearly impossible ventilate properly.