Coop Progress

[aart]

Would you do this in addition to the gable vents, or in replacement of?

Both.

I'll reiterate....
Make large roof overhangs, all the way around, to protect all the vents and windows.

 

[jreardon1918]

Both.

I'll reiterate....
Make large roof overhangs, all the way around, to protect all the vents and windows.

On my list of things to do is to add this to my coop. Where it is already standing and has a roof, it is just a pain to crawl into a 4 year old coop. Here is where I would add it to ours. And the overhangs would be larger.

 

[sals_chicks]

Both.

I'll reiterate....
Make large roof overhangs, all the way around, to protect all the vents and windows.

Thank you @aart !!

One of the gable sides will be under the run (which will will also have a roof), we are planning to extend the roof over the "exposed" gable side as much as we can, our other idea was - if we have trouble with moisture on the "exposed" side, we will add a roll-out awning over the gable vent. So we are planning enough space to add that - and may just add it anyway.

 

[aart]

On my list of things to do is to add this to my coop. Where it is already standing and has a roof, it is just a pain to crawl into a 4 year old coop. Here is where I would add it to ours. And the overhangs would be larger.

View attachment 3024491

..and that blocking between rafters should have been removed,
or not installed,
but a bit late for that now.

 

[3KillerBs]

Great idea! Thank you! Would you do this in addition to the gable vents, or in replacement of?

I agree, do both.

Fresh air is one of the keys to good health for chickens.

 

[Sally PB]

I did paint the interior of my coop, 3 coats, to seal the wood. I also wanted it to be as bright as possible, so I painted it white.

 

[sals_chicks]

We are still trying to sort out the run design. Where we live, the chickens are supposed to be enclosed full time (although we do intend to cheat a little and let them "free range" supervised in our fenced in yard space.) But to follow the rules, we want to build a nice large run for them.

I'd greatly appreciate someone with experience helping me consider what would be best. Our coop and run has to go 30 ft from our property lines on both sides, which places it in a very sunny location in our yard. It's not ideal, but it's what we have to work with. So I know adding shade to the run is going to be important. We want to build a large run, so that would mean a large roof. We get a lot of snow here, so snow weight/ice and other things have to be considered in whatever we build.

Questions I have... If you have a roof-less run...

Are you doing anything in the winter to keep out the snow?

In the summer, what are you doing to add shade? I know we can plant trees, but that is a more long term solution. I am trying to avoid using tarps or anything of the like, because we have cranky neighbors we are trying to appease too.

Do any of you have a partially covered/roofed run?

I overthink everything, it's kinda my jam.

Edited just to add - of course anything we design will be fully secured/predator proof with hardwire mesh.

 

[aart]

Are you doing anything in the winter to keep out the snow?

In the summer, what are you doing to add shade?

I shovel out part of it.
I add shade cloths to the mesh roof.
Pics of both in my image galleries.

 

[jthornton]

The Cinnamon Queens run is attached to the shed they use as a coop. Almost got it right but forgot to extend the roof out over the door... The shade thing is for summer when the sun is shining right in the run. The only problem with snow and ice build up that we get is when it melts the hens think the sky is falling and all run inside the coop.


This is the second run and again needed larger overhangs but the near side is close to deck posts. I did end up putting the nest box out there and adding a 2' overhang over it. Again I should have extended the roof out over the door by 2' for my comfort.




If your yard is predator proof for large daytime predators chicken wire will suffice to contain the chickens.

JT

 

[jreardon1918]

Do any of you have a partially covered/roofed run?

We have a 8'x12' covered secure run. Snow barely gets in. With the deep bedding, it doesn't freeze, so the chickens quickly scratch the little bit of snow into the bedding. We also have an uncovered run through a side chicken door. That is not shoveled. So the girls don't use it for much of the winter. Also, we have had our share of hawk attacks. So, they often are limited to the secure run.

Here is an article we did on preparing for the winter.
Preparing the girls for winter