Expansion time.

[EODcowgirl]

I recently picked up a restaurant egg customer (and a few other customers), so need to expand my chickens. Thus more coop space. We currently have 2 connected wood sided/metal roof coops with separate yards and want to double it. Unfortunately wood prices are through the roof, but got some metal siding and roofing cheep. I know many people use metal, but my concern is we have both very hot humid summers (90+ F 90-100% humidity) and also extreme cold winters (-20 F with lower wind chills and 50+ mph winds). In fact on our hottest days I hose down the metal roof multiple times a day because the coop gets so hot and chickens have trouble breathing even with window open. And in the winter I have to lower my roosting bars cause my roosters sometimes get frost bite if their head is two close to the metal roof or I need to have petroleum jelly on their combs.

If build with metal should I provide some sort of insulation? And how should it be done to keep air flow good and chicks from access to the insulation?
I have a picture of our current coop attached, don’t mind the mess, we are in the middle of spring coops cleaning, so the breezeway storage is a little over loaded. There are also windows on the coop on the opposite sides and in the breezeway, cannot see them in the pic because they are closed due to expected snow tonight. Also as you can see we do free range when weather permits, the chickens in the west coop during in extreme heat will either stay in their coops (when I hose the roof) or go hang out in the horse stables (which is an open metal Morton building) but won’t use their yard. The ones in the east coop will roost in their yard or in the chicken pasture under the brush (not pictured as I was standing in it when I took the picture). We tend to run Jersey Giants, Brahmas and Cochins because we do dual meat and egg plus they all do well in our extreme climate, and are very friendly (and our kids love the fuzzy, funny Cochins) about 60 in the summer and 30 in the winter. Though you can probably see in the pic we currently have Orpingtons due to last years panic. They did not handle our winter well and needed a lot of winter care, but love our summers. Plus the rooster got named after our horrible governor cause the kids think the rooster is as evil as the governor . We prefer gentler roosters.

 

[3KillerBs]

Hello and welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you located?

Climate matters a lot, especially when talking about building coops and ventilating them.

 

[EODcowgirl]

Zone 5 Anything goes. Extreme hot humid summers, cold winters. We usually have at least 2 weeks of heat indexes well in the hundreds sometimes months, with 90F+ and 90%+ humidity, but can also have 70s and 80s. Heavy violent rains too. Winters can be -20 to 50s sometimes deep snow sometimes very little, ice storm common guaranteed high winds most days, wind chills can be brutal at times. Basically anything goes and will happen type of weather. But we keep good breeds for our psycho weather. For example it was almost 70 yesterday tonight we are expecting snow

 

[3KillerBs]

Sounds like you need a lot of flexibility with big vents that can be opened or closed according to the current weather.

This illustration is from an article on cattle barns, but the principles work for chickens too:

 

[Sally PB]

@EODcowgirl, you can add your general location (the state or area of the state is fine) to your profile, and then the info is always there. It helps people know what kind of weather you're likely to get, and target advice accordingly.

Good for you that you have acquired a nice sized egg customer!

And, welcome to BYC!

 

[black_cat]

I totally agree with the adjustable ventilation idea!! Maybe a cupola that is open on top would also be beneficial year round, as well as open soffits.

 

[3KillerBs]

Maybe a cupola that is open on top would also be beneficial year round, as well as open soffits.

Yes, especially if snow might block a ridge vent.