Coop Progress

[rayrose]

Look at my run pics. It's 28x18 and totally roofed
with galvanized roofing that is painted white on both
sides. I don't have any shade either, and the white paint
keeps it 20 degrees cooler inside the run than outside.
The roof is slanted by one foot for rain run off. I don't
have the snow you have, so you might want some additional
bracing.

 

[rosemarythyme]

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

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

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

My run is covered by netting, so when it snows, I have to shovel. We get snow most years but it's relatively light compared to many parts of the country.

A partially roofed run might be doable - it'll ensure that you have run sections that are protected from sun and weather for use year round, but it'll reduce costs a little bit since netting or wire mesh should be cheaper than a solid roof.

 

[junior67]

My coop is an 8x8 raised coop. The area under it is open (blocked on the 3 sides) so the chickens can use that area. then I have an 8x8 covered run attached to my coop and attached to that is a 10x8 HWC covered run. Some snow did get in the HWC covered part so my chickens didn't use that area when there was snow in it. They basically refused to step on any snow. haahaa. We had one blizzard this year (I am in MA) so snow did blow in the covered area even though I had the sides mostly covered, the top part wasn't covered for ventilation and it blew in there. my husband had to go out and shovel it before my girls(and boy) would leave the coop. But I have seen that otherspeoples chickens will go in the snow. I think I just have a bunch of Divas!

 

[sals_chicks]

End-of-weekend-update! Happy Spring everyone!

We got the ground dug out and leveled, the footings set, the coop is moved outside and assembly has started. We staked out where the run will be - making it about 8' x 20'. Still thinking we may put a roof on at least half of the run, but we shall see how it progresses!

Eventually planning to add raised garden beds and a small greenhouse with a stone path between the coop/run and our fenced in backyard too! So exciting to finally see this space at the back of our lot coming together!

 

[sals_chicks]

My coop is an 8x8 raised coop. The area under it is open (blocked on the 3 sides) so the chickens can use that area. then I have an 8x8 covered run attached to my coop and attached to that is a 10x8 HWC covered run. Some snow did get in the HWC covered part so my chickens didn't use that area when there was snow in it. They basically refused to step on any snow. haahaa. We had one blizzard this year (I am in MA) so snow did blow in the covered area even though I had the sides mostly covered, the top part wasn't covered for ventilation and it blew in there. my husband had to go out and shovel it before my girls(and boy) would leave the coop. But I have seen that otherspeoples chickens will go in the snow. I think I just have a bunch of Divas!

Your coop and run are awesome - thanks for the inspiration! This is very similar to what we want to do!

 

[junior67]

Your coop and run are awesome - thanks for the inspiration! This is very similar to what we want to do!

Thank you! It was a lot of work but I really love it! It gives them lots of covered space and then the uncovered area as well. I am thinking about adding on this year. Coming out the side of the uncovered area to make it like an L shape and doing more of a lean to design (for ease mainly) with a metal roof just so they have more covered area. think I will do it 8x10. I am adding more chicks this year so want to be sure they have LOTS of room to run around with the extra's.

 

[sals_chicks]

The latest progress, just wanted to document- not very glamorous, but vital.

We did decide to run electricity to the coop, so trenches are being dug. Hoping to get the walls and roof on this weekend, and then I can get started on painting!!

 

[jthornton]

A very good move to have power in the coop.

JT

 

[sals_chicks]

A very good move to have power in the coop.

JT

Thanks @jthornton - I was originally wanting to do solar power, but decided to just run the electric. We are thinking that we may (instead) work toward getting our house setup with some solar panels down the road, and can eventually tie the coop into that. So for now, this will have to do. It will be good to have something to work toward down the road!

I was really wanting the coop to be a net neutral on the property, but my electrician step-son convinced me that the coop wont use a lot of power.

 

[jthornton]

In the winter you will want some kind of heated water device, my favorite is a heated plastic dog bowl. Simple to operate.

I have made a vertical nipple water device that is heated and insulated a bit but it's not near as easy to install as a heated dog bowl. At the least I'd run a 20 amp circuit out there.

I know you're not supposed to heat a coop but I put two oil filled heaters under the poop table this winter for many reasons. I have two large louver vents one on each end of the shed. The chickens use 1/2 and keep the other half pretty dusty. I was able to keep the shed above freezing. I did insulate the walls before covering them with OSB.

#1 Prevent frostbite on the hens combs.
#2 Make cleaning the poop table each morning easier (nothing like trying clean frozen poop that was less than ideally hard stuck to the table)
#3 Their nest boxes are inside the coop so I don't have to worry about frozen eggs.

JT