NWHeather
Chirping
I'm building my coop, expanding off a 8x8-ish sized shelter that was used for goats and a pig. I'm basically adding 12 feet out to the side, to make a 20 x 8 -ish coop. I will have about 40 chickens and a few ducks. I am going to make the original 8x8 part a food/water area that can be closed off (small doorway that can be closed off) with doors to access the main part of the coop and the feeding/water area.
It is 6ft tall at the front, 5ft tall at the back.
I've read about ventilation, and am trying to figure out how best to incorporate that. I also want to add some sort of windows for natural light inside.
I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but I was thinking of putting the clear roofing panels at the top of each end, where the roof is angled, and the 1 inch metal fencing on the inside for predator protection. It would allow for some natural light, and some air flow in both parts of the coop.
Would that allow too much air flow?
The coop itself is elevated off the ground 4 inches, with 2x4's, and I was planning on trying the deep litter in the nesting/roosting part of the coop, and I haven't decided on the feed/water side. I thought about putting some linoleum down, for easy cleaning. I worry about rodents if I used deep litter on the food side, if too much food ended up in the litter. Plus, as messy as the ducks are with water, I imagine I'd be cleaning all the time. LOL
The coop will have double walls on most of it, one on the interior, one on the exterior, and I was thinking about insulating it as well, but I'm not sure if that is necessary.
Part of the reason for the design of this coop is I was given a 10ft long double stacked nesting box setup, and a huge roosting platform. I will probably modify the roosting platform, but the nesting boxes are all one piece, that will be secured to the wall/studs.
I am going to put a door on the outside of the coop to access eggs without going into the coop.
I'll post pics once I get further along. Right now I'm still working on the framing.
It is 6ft tall at the front, 5ft tall at the back.
I've read about ventilation, and am trying to figure out how best to incorporate that. I also want to add some sort of windows for natural light inside.
I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but I was thinking of putting the clear roofing panels at the top of each end, where the roof is angled, and the 1 inch metal fencing on the inside for predator protection. It would allow for some natural light, and some air flow in both parts of the coop.
Would that allow too much air flow?
The coop itself is elevated off the ground 4 inches, with 2x4's, and I was planning on trying the deep litter in the nesting/roosting part of the coop, and I haven't decided on the feed/water side. I thought about putting some linoleum down, for easy cleaning. I worry about rodents if I used deep litter on the food side, if too much food ended up in the litter. Plus, as messy as the ducks are with water, I imagine I'd be cleaning all the time. LOL
The coop will have double walls on most of it, one on the interior, one on the exterior, and I was thinking about insulating it as well, but I'm not sure if that is necessary.
Part of the reason for the design of this coop is I was given a 10ft long double stacked nesting box setup, and a huge roosting platform. I will probably modify the roosting platform, but the nesting boxes are all one piece, that will be secured to the wall/studs.
I am going to put a door on the outside of the coop to access eggs without going into the coop.
I'll post pics once I get further along. Right now I'm still working on the framing.
