Crate to Coop Conversion -- Part 2

[supercoops]

Quote: Then it wasn't really engineered to start with. We have a saying: "get it right the first time".

Quote: I'm not trying to fix a chicken, I'm trying to fix the environment that a chicken tries to live in -- the same as I do with buildings where people live in them. They breath and give off moisture and heat and CO2... and foul odors.along with noxious germs that infect other people. If I can fix the environment for humans surely I can do the same for chickens. A moist environment is not a good environment for either a chicken or a human. It breeds mold and all kinds of germs. It also feels unpleasant because it affects vital functions like perspiration and respiration. Too little is also a problem. We humans need the right amount. Same as chickens. We are so different from chickens but we all need to breath. Nature chooses the variable and we can choose heat to deal with it.

Quote:
That doesn't have much to do with the "comfort zone" we like to live in.

Quote: Nope, sure can't do that. Neither can you change the laws of nature, but you can negotiate with them.

Quote: Chickens need water alright, but they don't need to live in it. Ducks on the other hand love it that way. I raised some. Wet and cold is duck heaven.
Quote: And I propose the following: if you gave your chickens some heat they'd probably go outside the coop a little more often and become more acclimated to the cold through activity -- kind of like the reptile in them. When the power went out it wouldn't matter at all -- they're already acclimated anyway. Q: What would you gain? A: You'd probably minimize all the moisture-related ailments you hear about on the forums like frostbite, pneumonia, and so on. I assure you that it's hard to get frostbite when it's warm.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ok I guess at this point I am done trying to reason with you.


I wish you well in your ventures.

 

[supercoops]

Ok I guess at this point I am done trying to reason with you.


I wish you well in your ventures.

When you give a chicken heat in the winter -- he/she doesn't run away from it. No point trying to reason with them either.

 

[tridentk9]

When you give a chicken heat in the winter -- he/she doesn't run away from it.  No point trying to reason with them either.

Only if the chicken thinks that it's cold.

 

[supercoops]

Only if the chicken thinks that it's cold.

If they liked the weather in the winter, wouldn't they go outside instead of staying inside -- like they do in the warmer weather?

 

[tridentk9]

If they liked the weather in the winter, wouldn't they go outside instead of staying inside -- like they do in the warmer weather?  

Rain. Dark. Social Meetup. Nest boxes inside. Pattern of behavior. Hardwired to want to be off ground, covered or closed in at night.

Not necessarily hardwired to want heat, depends on body style, type of muscles and feather amount, type and condition.

I didn't say they liked winter weather, I said they might not consider it cold. Desire for a particular weather or temperature is individual, variables in body style, overall condition, health status, muscle type, feather amount, type and condition as well as mental desire will all have a bearing on what is considered "cold".

 

[waynem1983]

As the owner of a very similar sized coop, albeit with bery limited experience, I would like to add some input.

My coop measure approx 4ft x2.5ft and is just shy of 4ft high. I started with 2 full grown 1 year old buff orpingtons and after adding a nest box, I can tell you that floor space is very very limited. since then I have added an additional medium sized hybrid bluebell pullet.

If you are in a position like me, where you open the door in the morning first light, and close them in at duk and live in a fairly temporate climate I could probably get away with another 2 medium sized hens in this hut. The farmer I got this off had it for 10 years and regularly kept 8 hybrids in it, however his nest boxes were scattered around the fields.

However, we do not regularly see the extreme temperatures you have. It might dip to -5c at night rarely, but during the day even in the coldest winters it rarely drops below freezing. Summer might peek at 32c, but usualy around 25c.

for someone like me, who has the outside space, the climate and the time to let them in and out on time every day, a little coop like this is fine for 4-5 medium birds. If I was keeping only large fowl, probably 3 at best.

however, given your climate and the amount of time your birds will be spending inside the coop during winter, I do not consider it unreasonable for people to question the amount of birds you wish to keep in such a small coop. And I believe me, I think the 4sq foot rule is quite generous.

In reality, most people dont let there birds roam as much as I do, have much smaller runs and are'nt quite as much of a morning person as iam.

Now onto this coop. Contrary to some of the more negative things I have read, I actually think its quite cute and has alot of potential.

I appreciate your predators are different to mine, but I would cut the hinged lid off, remove the sheet material from the roof and add in a some cheap corrugated onduline or bitumen, fix it to the frame from the old hinged lid and have a simple latch to fix it onto the box. This will add in ventilation, can easily be removed for cleaning, will last ages and looks better than the cheap *** cover you have. How it stands up to american predators I do not know, the worst I have is an urban fox, but my midget cat chases them away.

 

[supercoops]

And remember that for me as for most animal owners it is a responsibility that we take on when we take on caring for animals.
Coops around 3 grand happy chickens priceless to me.

An economical coop is a better way to "take care of chickens" as I will explain. When feed prices doubled a few years ago -- a lot of people got rid of their chickens according to a hardware store owner I talked to. He couldn't sell any coops. So what do you suppose happened to all those chickens? They probably went in the cooking pot. That isn't my idea of "taking care of a chicken". I'm saying there is a price that makes it affordable, and your price puts chickens in the cooker!

 

[supercoops]

If you are in a position like me, where you open the door in the morning first light, and close them in at duk and live in a fairly temporate climate I could probably get away with another 2 medium sized hens in this hut. The farmer I got this off had it for 10 years and regularly kept 8 hybrids in it, however his nest boxes were scattered around the fields.

"Nest boxes scattered around fields" makes sense for free range chickens, and a farmer did it for 10 years. Most of the other commenters could not survive as farmers. They lose money.

 

[Nwchickma]

I find it very perplexing that you (supercoop) started this thread asking for people's opinions when that is clearly not what you were ready to hear. All you have done is spent time explaining why people's opinions are wrong. You may think your way is the most economical but if you read ANYTHING that was posted on this thread you would see that most backyard chicken owners aren't looking for the most economical. Good luck with selling your coops maybe if you stop being so defensive some of the advice you were given will help sell a few more.