Now that DH is done playing in the trees, it's my turn to play.
I'm planning on having an 8'x8' floor, raised off the ground about 2'. I'm thinking of doing a typical shallow gable roof, and putting hardware cloth on the beams under the roof where the overhang is (so permanent ventilation), plus cutting 6" tall and 3' long vents, with covers than can be opened or closed on the sides (east and west), and bigger (2'x3') openings north and south, same for ability to open and close (hinged "doors" that hinge on top). My goal is to have enough open/closeable vents/windows so I can adjust to our random weather (all open when it's warm, some closed when it's too breezy). I'm also debating making a large section of the wall removable or at least hinged so I can open it wide when it's really toasty.
My question is how high up should I put the nesting boxes, and then, how high above those for the vents, finally how high for the top? I don't want to make it so tall the permanent ventilation only isn't enough when it has to be closed up for wind, but not too short where a good stiff wind blows in and bothers the chickens.
Weatherwise, I live in mid-Michigan, we have a fair amount of trees to cut down on wind from the west side, but it's wide open fields to the north - and it can get might wicked in the winter with blowing. It can also get mighty humid and warm in the summer (90's and 90%+ humidity) so I really want to be able to have enough airflow in the summer, but not so much wind whipping through in the winter.
My supplies are a whole lotta scrap wood from our latest renovation which involved tearing off a 10'x18' room on the house, and scrap from building on again. We salvaged a LOT of good wood, which I intend to use. We also added a 16'x16' room to our house, so hopefully we have enough skill to do the coop well
I just need DH NOT to go overboard, not like it's going to be inspected for code!
I think I'm thinking out loud here, but feedback would greatly appreciated. I also keep reading patandchickens' Ventilation blog and thinking more....
Thank you!
ETA: Right now have 12 chicks, so I wanted to make sure that I have enough room if I want more. The run will probably be the length of my garden fence it will share and the width of the coop, so 8'x30')
I'm planning on having an 8'x8' floor, raised off the ground about 2'. I'm thinking of doing a typical shallow gable roof, and putting hardware cloth on the beams under the roof where the overhang is (so permanent ventilation), plus cutting 6" tall and 3' long vents, with covers than can be opened or closed on the sides (east and west), and bigger (2'x3') openings north and south, same for ability to open and close (hinged "doors" that hinge on top). My goal is to have enough open/closeable vents/windows so I can adjust to our random weather (all open when it's warm, some closed when it's too breezy). I'm also debating making a large section of the wall removable or at least hinged so I can open it wide when it's really toasty.
My question is how high up should I put the nesting boxes, and then, how high above those for the vents, finally how high for the top? I don't want to make it so tall the permanent ventilation only isn't enough when it has to be closed up for wind, but not too short where a good stiff wind blows in and bothers the chickens.
Weatherwise, I live in mid-Michigan, we have a fair amount of trees to cut down on wind from the west side, but it's wide open fields to the north - and it can get might wicked in the winter with blowing. It can also get mighty humid and warm in the summer (90's and 90%+ humidity) so I really want to be able to have enough airflow in the summer, but not so much wind whipping through in the winter.
My supplies are a whole lotta scrap wood from our latest renovation which involved tearing off a 10'x18' room on the house, and scrap from building on again. We salvaged a LOT of good wood, which I intend to use. We also added a 16'x16' room to our house, so hopefully we have enough skill to do the coop well
I think I'm thinking out loud here, but feedback would greatly appreciated. I also keep reading patandchickens' Ventilation blog and thinking more....
Thank you!
ETA: Right now have 12 chicks, so I wanted to make sure that I have enough room if I want more. The run will probably be the length of my garden fence it will share and the width of the coop, so 8'x30')
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