Coop Modification Recommendations

[Mjvl]

You'll want to add year round ventilation under the front and back eaves.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[bajabirdbrain]

Our one mistake when building our coop and run was just putting an apron of chicken wire under paver foundation to prevent digging under. First, the chicken wire is too flimsy and is easily broken. Our invasive problem was rats. They managed to tunnel and find small places where the 1/2" hardware cloth was not stapled tight enough to the wooden frame. IF I had to do it again, I would make ALL the sides out of 1/2" hardware cloth, not just the bottom 4 ft with the rest being chicken wire, AND I would bury hardware cloth vertically as a barrier to digging. Oh well, live and learn. I would miss the small birds that can fly thru the chicken wire and peck on the treats. We had to resort to a pest control company putting bait stations out side of the run to get rid of the rats. Various traps inside the run proved ineffective in catching these smart rodents, grrrrr. Metal roof replaced a corrugated plastic roof after a hail storm punched holes in the former.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Very sweet surprise from your DH! Why are you going to put it in your run? That will take 24sqft away from your 150sqft run space

 

[aart]

Here's how I did it with a sawzall, front & back

@Sueby got pics of the front eave mods?

 

[Sueby]

Thank you @Sueby - I really appreciate the pictures and recommendations for the nest boxes. This is awesome. I like the idea of using the HVAC filters in the winter.

I have a few questions:
- What size HVAC filters do you use?
Is your coop attached to a run or inside a run?
- Does your coop have a screen door on the person door?
- Would it be possible for you to share a picture of the bottom of the coop where you added the hardware cloth?

Thanks!

No problem.

This is the filter material I used, really any will do just to keep a good breeze down & to keep the blowing snow out. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GNHP4JB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My coop has a small, secure, covered run attached - but that all sits in a larger 1200sf semi-secure run. This was during the build in the shop, we modified the framing under the coop so we can pick it up with the forks on the tractor. & you can see the HC panels, they are removable.

I guess I don't have any pics of the whole set up, but this is the best I have - the coop is to the very left where you can't see it, that's the attached run you can see & then off to the right is the large run. (& then up at the top of the hill is the integration coop. LOL, chicken math is real.)

Yes, my coop came with the screen door, I saw it in your pic. I like it, I hang a large box fan on it in the summer & then park the tractor in front of it to discourage the bears.

 

[Sueby]

@Sueby got pics of the front eave mods?

Yep, it's the same as the back:

 

[Mjvl]

Our one mistake when building our coop and run was just putting an apron of chicken wire under paver foundation to prevent digging under. First, the chicken wire is too flimsy and is easily broken. Our invasive problem was rats. They managed to tunnel and find small places where the 1/2" hardware cloth was not stapled tight enough to the wooden frame. IF I had to do it again, I would make ALL the sides out of 1/2" hardware cloth, not just the bottom 4 ft with the rest being chicken wire, AND I would bury hardware cloth vertically as a barrier to digging. Oh well, live and learn. I would miss the small birds that can fly thru the chicken wire and peck on the treats. We had to resort to a pest control company putting bait stations out side of the run to get rid of the rats. Various traps inside the run proved ineffective in catching these smart rodents, grrrrr. Metal roof replaced a corrugated plastic roof after a hail storm punched holes in the former.

Good information, thanks.

 

[Mjvl]

Very sweet surprise from your DH! Why are you going to put it in your run? That will take 24sqft away from your 150sqft run space

Yes, I am very lucky to have such an awesome hubby.
We plan to put the new coop next to our raised garden and build the run around it. The dimensions of the will be larger than 10 x15 as it will connect to the other run with the original coop in it.

 

[Mjvl]

No problem.

This is the filter material I used, really any will do just to keep a good breeze down & to keep the blowing snow out. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GNHP4JB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My coop has a small, secure, covered run attached - but that all sits in a larger 1200sf semi-secure run. This was during the build in the shop, we modified the framing under the coop so we can pick it up with the forks on the tractor. & you can see the HC panels, they are removable.
View attachment 3043245

View attachment 3043253

I guess I don't have any pics of the whole set up, but this is the best I have - the coop is to the very left where you can't see it, that's the attached run you can see & then off to the right is the large run. (& then up at the top of the hill is the integration coop. LOL, chicken math is real.)
View attachment 3043249

Yes, my coop came with the screen door, I saw it in your pic. I like it, I hang a large box fan on it in the summer & then park the tractor in front of it to discourage the bears.

This is great. Thanks so much again for sharing all the pictures and info. Gives me lots of ideas that I can apply to my coop. Thanks again!

 

[Mjvl]

HI @Sueby
Which directions do the windows on your coop face? North? South? East? West?
I‘m trying to figure out the best direction to fact the coop windows. Do I face them South so the get tons of light from the sun or North where they will be shaded?
Since there are no windows in the back of the coop, I was concerned if I face it North it will be too dark. Then again, if I face it South, there might be too much Summer sun.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!