Coop ideas for WINDY place?

[click cluck]

I live in the High dessert in southern cal. And where I live its REALLY windy for 2 months of the year, I actually live next to an egg farm lol And I called the owner and ask him about the problems up here and he said my biggest problem would be the wind. Does any one else have this problem? I was thinking of making a huge panel with clear plastic that I can put on the side of the run where the wind blows from, just for the 2 months. If you have any ideas or coops build for wind yourself please let me know!!!

-click cluck

 

[PirateGirl]

I live somewhere that is persistently windy. Every time the weather service issues a wind warning it applies to my house. Today the winds are supposed to be 35mph sustained and 85mph gusts. We jokingly have visions of coming home one day to a chicken or duck plastered to the fence and pinned in place by the wind. One thing we did to help was to position the chicken coop on the property in a spot where our house helps to block the prevailing winds. Another thing we chose to do was have the pop hole in the floor of the coop with a drop down ramp instead of on a wall (the coop is raised on stilts). It was a little harder to build this way, however the chickens are not getting blasted with wind through their door all day every day. We also have plywood positioned on the side of the chicken run (and duck run) in a spot that acts as a wind block, but it is also positioned near the entrance to the chicken coop (and duck house) so that it's giving them shelter right where they enter and exit the coop as well as blocking wind from blowing inside. Honestly the chickens and ducks don't ever seem to mind the cold, but the regularly seek shelter from the wind. One more thing is to make sure they have plenty of room to hang out in the coop, I find my birds prefer to hang out inside when the wind picks up, their choice, the door is open. Also the legs of the coop, all fence posts, and fencing are buried at lease a foot in the ground, the whole thing is essentially anchored. Good luck. There are lots of people on this site with lots of creative ideas. I'm sure you will get more.

 

[click cluck]

I live somewhere that is persistently windy. Every time the weather service issues a wind warning it applies to my house. Today the winds are supposed to be 35mph sustained and 85mph gusts. We jokingly have visions of coming home one day to a chicken or duck plastered to the fence and pinned in place by the wind. One thing we did to help was to position the chicken coop on the property in a spot where our house helps to block the prevailing winds. Another thing we chose to do was have the pop hole in the floor of the coop with a drop down ramp instead of on a wall (the coop is raised on stilts). It was a little harder to build this way, however the chickens are not getting blasted with wind through their door all day every day. We also have plywood positioned on the side of the chicken run (and duck run) in a spot that acts as a wind block, but it is also positioned near the entrance to the chicken coop (and duck house) so that it's giving them shelter right where they enter and exit the coop as well as blocking wind from blowing inside. Honestly the chickens and ducks don't ever seem to mind the cold, but the regularly seek shelter from the wind. One more thing is to make sure they have plenty of room to hang out in the coop, I find my birds prefer to hang out inside when the wind picks up, their choice, the door is open. Also the legs of the coop, all fence posts, and fencing are buried at lease a foot in the ground, the whole thing is essentially anchored. Good luck. There are lots of people on this site with lots of creative ideas. I'm sure you will get more.

Thank you for the reply! I never thought of putting the door in the floor, I think that's a great idea! I have a four car carport and am thinking of putting the coop on one side of that, my only concern is that towards the end of the day they might not get enough sun, they would be in the shade. In the summer that would be ok (since it gets like 110) but it can get pretty cold in the winter. Thanks again!!

 

[aart]

Another thing we chose to do was have the pop hole in the floor of the coop with a drop down ramp instead of on a wall (the coop is raised on stilts).

One more thing is to make sure they have plenty of room to hang out in the coop, I find my birds prefer to hang out inside when the wind picks up, their choice, the door is open.

I usually recommend against pop holes in floor, but I can see where it might be a big advantage on a windy site.

Plan carefully for angle of ramp and size of opening('head room'), would take up a good bit of space on the floor so coop would need to be bigger. Bedding can fall out, so blocking that yet making ramp easy to get onto can be a conundrum.

@PirateGirl do you have pics of your pop floor door you could post?

 

[PirateGirl]

I could probably take some pics when the sun comes up. It wasn't our first choice design, but it works for us. The chickens were warm and dry yesterday and the ducks (door on south side of duck house) were getting hit with wind and snow inside their house. We did have to modify the ramp because otherwise it would be quite steep. Bedding falls out over time, it's already soiled, I let it further compost in the run and just periodically top off the bedding on the coop.

 

[PirateGirl]

First photo. The plywood wall extends down to the ground below the coop, this serves as a wind block under the coop, the girls really like hanging out under the coop and behind the wind block on windy days and seem to really like the shade it provides in summer. The pop hole and ramp are also behind the wind block so it prevents wind from blowing straight in the pop hole and prevents the chickens from being blasted when they decide to venture outside. The strap dangling on the right is attached through the wall of the coop to the ramp (which is also the door/covering to the pop hole) so I can easily raise/lower the ramp (open/close the door) from the outside of the coop. It hooks on a hook down below to hold the ramp shut. As a secondary lock on my door (I believe everything that opens/closes should have two locks in case one fails, you forget one, or a predator figures one out) a board can be slotted through the hole bottom right and it crosses over the outside of the ramp preventing it from dropping open.

Second picture, you can see the ramp coming down, it would have been short and steep, so we added a 90 degree turn (that does not raise and lower), this part of the ramp is also behind the wind block. It doesn't have to make a turn, it could extend straight out, personal choice depending on space.

Picture three is the hole in the floor. The hole is framed with 2x4s and when the ramp is closed it fully covers the hole and we chose to have it come flush with the 2x4s not flush with the inside floor of the coop. The ramp/door is actually bigger than the opening so when shut it extends at least an inch beyond all sides of the hole and there are no gaps. As previously mentioned, I do not have a lip to keep bedding in, but if you are doing deep litter or something this would be helpful. Additionally the roost is on the opposite side of the pop hole, so if a chicken is roosting it's not right above the hole and above a draft or pooping on birds going in and out.

Last photo is from under the coop behind the ramp. You can see where the ramp attaches to the 2x4 that is framing the pop hole. It is hinged on the 2x4 at one end.

 

[click cluck]

First photo. The plywood wall extends down to the ground below the coop, this serves as a wind block under the coop, the girls really like hanging out under the coop and behind the wind block on windy days and seem to really like the shade it provides in summer. The pop hole and ramp are also behind the wind block so it prevents wind from blowing straight in the pop hole and prevents the chickens from being blasted when they decide to venture outside. The strap dangling on the right is attached through the wall of the coop to the ramp (which is also the door/covering to the pop hole) so I can easily raise/lower the ramp (open/close the door) from the outside of the coop. It hooks on a hook down below to hold the ramp shut. As a secondary lock on my door (I believe everything that opens/closes should have two locks in case one fails, you forget one, or a predator figures one out) a board can be slotted through the hole bottom right and it crosses over the outside of the ramp preventing it from dropping open.
View attachment 1271721


Second picture, you can see the ramp coming down, it would have been short and steep, so we added a 90 degree turn (that does not raise and lower), this part of the ramp is also behind the wind block. It doesn't have to make a turn, it could extend straight out, personal choice depending on space.
View attachment 1271730



Picture three is the hole in the floor. The hole is framed with 2x4s and when the ramp is closed it fully covers the hole and we chose to have it come flush with the 2x4s not flush with the inside floor of the coop. The ramp/door is actually bigger than the opening so when shut it extends at least an inch beyond all sides of the hole and there are no gaps. As previously mentioned, I do not have a lip to keep bedding in, but if you are doing deep litter or something this would be helpful. Additionally the roost is on the opposite side of the pop hole, so if a chicken is roosting it's not right above the hole and above a draft or pooping on birds going in and out.
View attachment 1271732


Last photo is from under the coop behind the ramp. You can see where the ramp attaches to the 2x4 that is framing the pop hole. It is hinged on the 2x4 at one end.
View attachment 1271737

Thank You so much for taking your time to shot these pics! They really helped me to get an idea of how to design a door like that. I love your chickens I have a light brahma as well, and a buff brahma. These are my first chicks/chickens and I am really excited/nervous, lol I just don't want to do anything wrong. If you read my intro post it talks about all the breeds I have, a mixed flock I think you would call it? lol Thanks again!

 

[PirateGirl]

No problem! There was a bit of a nest box standoff when I was trying to take pics my white girl is actually a Delaware (wish I had brahmas) with her being as round as a bowling ball she may as well be a brahma. Good luck with your coop! Share some pics when it's done.

 

[click cluck]

No problem! There was a bit of a nest box standoff when I was trying to take pics my white girl is actually a Delaware (wish I had brahmas) with her being as round as a bowling ball she may as well be a brahma. Good luck with your coop! Share some pics when it's done.

Ok will do! I looked at your chickens feet after I replied and I was like "oops" lol I'm going to make a post on a brooder my mom built, once the coop is done I can do that as well. Still you have beautiful chickens!

 

[PouleChick]

Hi, great info pictures - such a help! How have you laid out your interior with roosts and nest boxes compared to where the pop door is?