Coop FAIL!!

[McChooky]

Because it doesn't... At least to me. But I'm old and need better glasses.

I was a bit confused myself at first. It looks like there is no roofing over the middle(ridge line)As someone else pointed out this are baffles you're seeing (under the actual roof)

 

[Windrider]

Does it need vents on 2 sides when a 3rd side is wide open? This appears to be a building or shipping container with a chicken coop boxed in on one end.

I believe that the chickens are at one end and the other end was going to be a "people area" or sun room with glass? I'd have to check the coop build thread again, but maybe the OP will be back to clarify.

 

[Pippin quail]

Borrowed this pic off the OP's coop build thread, which I remembered seeing when it was under construction. It shows that what looks like the ceiling in the snow picture is just a baffle to keep the wind off the roosts. The snow came in the vents and collected on the baffles and the netting that is there to keep the chickens off.

I agree that some sort of temporary awning is needed for this winter, and maybe in the spring a more permanent eave extension could be made.

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Haha thanks for sharing this. Yes it is the exact same building. The wood you are seeing with netting in between is indeed just baffles to keep the wind off the chickens. Apparently it's not doing the greatest job when the wind is blowing 70km an hour and snowing hard. But hubby is on it now!

 

[Pippin quail]

I believe that the chickens are at one end and the other end was going to be a "people area" or sun room with glass? I'd have to check the coop build thread again, but maybe the OP will be back to clarify.

You are correct. Half was to be coop, half storage/cat house. But I then made a third area in between for chicks growing out for a couple months. And then today since it was so sunny and the cats are now in the garage...I opened up both doors for the chickens to have the run of the whole thing. I may regret this when everything is covered in chicken poop. But they definitely enjoyed having more room since they weren't about to go into the run with 2 foot drifts in places.


Here's everyone coming to explore new territory in the sun.

 

[McChooky]

Borrowed this pic off the OP's coop build thread, which I remembered seeing when it was under construction. It shows that what looks like the ceiling in the snow picture is just a baffle to keep the wind off the roosts. The snow came in the vents and collected on the baffles and the netting that is there to keep the chickens off.

I agree that some sort of temporary awning is needed for this winter, and maybe in the spring a more permanent eave extension could be made.

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This photo helps to clarify everything.Thanks!

 

[McChooky]

I believe that the chickens are at one end and the other end was going to be a "people area" or sun room with glass? I'd have to check the coop build thread again, but maybe the OP will be back to clarify.

Helps knowing the door leads to another part of the same building .The 1st photo totally blew my mind sorry!

 

[Pippin quail]

What does everyone think about awnings on hinges? Would give more coverage when they're open but

Helps knowing the door leads to another part of the same building .The 1st photo totally blew my mind sorry!

Yeah I can now see that without knowing what my coop looked like before you could think it was totally open up there and a terrible coop.

Here's some pics taken right now showing what it looks like inside and out.

As you can see the main ventilation is all on one half (but on both sides)

There's some small gaps where the roof and walls meet but I don't know how much snow actually blew in there.

The big one foot deep vents that my husband insisted on making when I told him you need 1sqft of year round ventilation per chicken. I would have preferred 6 inches across the whole thing.

And here is the inside spring what I can of all 3 sections at once. Roosting bars and venting are at the opposite end of where I'm standing. There's also a big door on the side of the section where the chickens in the picture are and another big door at the very end that leads to the run. Plus the patio door where I'm standing. So lots of small gaps that people told me wouldn't be a big deal... I'm hoping they're right and that once I have my awnings up it will be a lot better in here! I'm also trying to get some straw bales to line the outside of the coop she maybe even a few inside behind the roosting bar. Things we regret procrastinating!!

 

[Pippin quail]

Sorry lost my train of thought on the first part of that asking about hinged awnings. I'm wondering if it would be better to have them on hinges so I could completely close one side or even both in the event of another blizzard...?

 

[3KillerBs]

Sorry lost my train of thought on the first part of that asking about hinged awnings. I'm wondering if it would be better to have them on hinges so I could completely close one side or even both in the event of another blizzard...?

Hinges are good -- especially if you have a way to prop them at different levels.

That way you can leave them barely cracked open during storms with swirling winds so that the snow stays out but at least some air gets in.

 

[Windrider]

I don't think you'd ever want both of them completely closed off, since I think that is your only ventilation? But having a way to prop them all the way open or incrementally narrowed would be good.

(BTW, I realize I am commenting on a coop in a snowy area when I am from a place where the locals get out parkas when it is below 60 - but I AM very good at building things )

Edit: 3KillerBs beat me to it.