Coop question! Ventilation, windows, doors, etc (Michigan)

[carrieroer]

We’re taking a shed that was on our property and making it into a coop. The roof and sides were rotting so we pulled them off, but the main frame is solid. It’s 16x8 ft, height is 8 ft in front and 4 ft in the back. We’re splitting the interior so half is the coop and half is storage.

I’m stuck on ventilation vs drafts vs winter warmth. What would you do? We’re in mid-Michigan, so our temps can easily fluctuate 100° over the course of the year.

Our current thought is to put a hinged 2x2 ft window in each of the end “triangles”, and make the top half of the interior divider and door wired instead of solid.

But is that enough? Especially in winter? But we also don’t want it too open to get too cold... and the frame of the shed (see those 2x6’s?) doesn’t exactly look like we can easily have a wired opening all the way around...

Thoughts? We hope to make a ton of progress by the weekend. We have six almost-5-wk-old chicks that are getting too big for their brooder in the basement...

 

[Peppercorngal]

Chickens have feathers, and that is the warmest coating nature offers. I wouldn't worry about the cold, but freezing wind is another issue. I'd "point" the door that you may want to leave open away from prevailing winter winds, also the windows. That way you can keep them open even when it's snowing. Windows are always good, and when windows don't work add vents. You have to consider predators as well in your build. Do you have Racoons? Fox? Coyote? You will need to consider what steps you need to be sure the coop (and a run) is predator proof. Put hardware cloth in the inside of the windows, put an apron around the bottom perimeter with rocks on it so predators cannot dig under. I love what you are doing, that is a great building! I would also consider buying a resin shed for the food storage, or building another small building, and leaving the entire coop for the chickens. Have you heard of chicken math? Five will turn into 7 then 10! Good Luck!

 

[SherryannM]

Good luck with your coop, I love it so far. I am also in Michigan and I am just learning the ropes!

 

[aart]

Large(~12") roof overhangs with open soffits, covered in 1/2" Hardware Cloth, is the best winter ventilation, IMO.
Glazed and top hinged windows, HC on inside, for summer ventilation and for light when closed in winter.

Kinda of confused about which of the 2 structures I see there is the coop...
...I'm assuming the larger one?

 

[carrieroer]

I'd "point" the door that you may want to leave open away from prevailing winter winds, also the windows. That way you can keep them open even when it's snowing. Windows are always good, and when windows don't work add vents.

Thanks Peppercorngal! This structure sits east-west, so the long, tall, "front" is to the north. It's surrounded by LOTS of trees, which thankfully offer some windbreak even in the winter.

You have to consider predators as well in your build. Do you have Racoons? Fox? Coyote? You will need to consider what steps you need to be sure the coop (and a run) is predator proof. Put hardware cloth in the inside of the windows, put an apron around the bottom perimeter with rocks on it so predators cannot dig under.

We're definitely planning on HC inside the windows, and as we put fresh plywood around the perimeter we also laid down paver bricks under the 2x4s. We've only been here not-quite a year, and haven't seen anything more than squirrels and deer, but are told there are at least coyote and maybe even a bobcat around.

I would also consider buying a resin shed for the food storage, or building another small building, and leaving the entire coop for the chickens. Have you heard of chicken math? Five will turn into 7 then 10! Good Luck!

Oh yes chicken math. I already imagine we'll get another 6 next spring. When this thing is complete we should have 64 sq ft interior space (8x8) and 120 sq ft run space (10x12). That sounded sufficient for a dozen chickens!

 

[carrieroer]

Large(~12") roof overhangs with open soffits, covered in 1/2" Hardware Cloth, is the best winter ventilation, IMO.
Glazed and top hinged windows, HC on inside, for summer ventilation and for light when closed in winter.

Thanks aart! We're going to work on the roof today, the plan is plywood with corrugated metal on top. The length of the roof itself (9 ft) is shorter than the length the metal sections come in (12 ft), so we should easily have an overhang at the front and the back. I'm just not sure of open soffits, as the main frame seems to have 2x6's all the way around. We'll look today to see if we can adjust them.

Kinda of confused about which of the 2 structures I see there is the coop...
...I'm assuming the larger one?

There's only one structure. The pictures are all of the same building, from different angles. There is a lean-to to the left, which will become the run. We put up more plywood walls yesterday, I'll get a picture sometime today and post it.

 

[Aunt Angus]

IMO you'll need more run space for 12. But that's just my non-expert opinion. I have 8 in just over 200 sq ft, and it feels a bit cramped to me - lol! But that coop will be awesome! And @aart knows ventilation. Soffit vents are def your friend!

 

[aart]

The length of the roof itself (9 ft) is shorter than the length the metal sections come in (12 ft), so we should easily have an overhang at the front and the back.

Might even think about overhanging the plywood at the ends for some overhang there too. If you're really handy, and motivated, could add some fly rafters at the ends to support that plywood overhang.

I'm just not sure of open soffits, as the main frame seems to have 2x6's all the way around.

Yeah, the way they installed the rafters is kinda weird, at l least from what I can see on the low end, looks like they attached the rafter ends to that 2x6 instead of the top of wall?
Might take some major modifications to change that.
At least there is some gap there, it will help, and you could always drill some big(3-4") holes in that 2x6 for more airflow.

There is a lean-to to the left, which will become the run.

Ah, OK.