fibreglass chicken coop?

[blu-struck]

Fibreglass does get quite hot when its sunny but as the chickens should be scratching around in the day I didn't think it would be a problem but I will add extra wall vents as well just to be on the safe side. On the plus side fibreglass retains heat well in cold weather so as long I can close the vents at night and in the winter time it should be ok. I think your right about the nestboxes on the outside its only 4ft diameter and about 4ft high so spacesaving will be an issue. And I like your idea about the vinyl floor but I also like the idea about using mesh. I was thinking about a grey or terracotta roof and maybe a buff yellow for the sides to make it look like a miniature house. Thanks for the great ideas the design is really coming together now.

 

[patandchickens]

In the UK, I would guess there are a lot fewer areas where the chickens *wouldn't* be outdoors scratching around most days, so, you may be ok over there as long as the coop is well enough vented that it cools off quickly towards evening (rather than retaining heat and being hot for the chickens when they go to roost).

Closing the vents at night or in winter is a BAD IDEA though - you can sort of get away with it in a mild climate but as the temperature approaches freezing it becomes a frostbite factory. You need ventilation in cold weather too, to remove humidity (of which chickens produce oodles) so the air is dry enough to be healthy. Otherwise you get frostbite at not-very-cold temperatures, and potentially respiratory problems.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[blu-struck]

Yes thanks, I didn't think about frostbite what do you think about fittng a small extractor fan to help with the ventilation? like a pc cooling fan. They dont use a great deal of power so I could make a battery casing and run it off rechargeables. And protect it with mesh on the inside and a louvred vent on the outside.

 

[patandchickens]

A pc fan is woefully too small to make any meaningful difference. You don't need, nor IMO want, a powered fan. You just need VENTS. Like, a hole in the wall, screened with 1/4 or 1/2" mesh for predatorproofing. Really. Nothing to break down mechanically, nothing to tie you to an electrical supply, nothing to cause a constant breeze at the chickens, just plain old-fashioned passive air movement. Works REALLY WELL for backyard sized coops of whatever size, and much simpler and more effective than a powered fan.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[alycoop]

I am curious as to how many hens this coop would house.

I know that I prefer a wood floor with vinyl flooring stapled over it rather than a wire floor. Easier on the hens feet and so very easy to clean.

I've lived in the UK (London area) and while it doesn't get the searing heat as parts of the USA, it can get very humid in the summer. I don't think the UK gets the amount of snowfall as parts of northern USA/Canada. I assume you are building for the local climate.

What are the natural predators in the UK? Foxes I know of but what else and how might they try to access the coop?

Do you have any plans drawn up that we could see? Thanks for including us in on your planning!

 

[blu-struck]

Ok no extractor fan then I read your ventilation page after I posted and realised then that a pc fan wouldn't be adequate.
The only predators are foxes, dogs and cats if you have chicks but I'm planning on having a high fence enclosure as well. I've made a start on the mould today I will post pics when its ready but I only have plans on paper and I dont have a scanner plus I'm not very good at drawing apps, but I did write a description on an earlier post.

 

[blu-struck]

Forgot to mention I,m planning on housing between 4 and 6 hens in this coop like I said its 4ft diameter and I was planning on about 4ft high I could make it higher but I cant change the diameter as I have already started on this part of the mould.

 

[NancyDz]

It's much easier to clean if you can stand in it so my may want to make it a little taller.
You can put the roosts really high up too so the space doesnt get wasted. Also if you do
a poop board then the space underneath can be useable for nest box or food too...

Do a search on poop board's .. might be a good option for you.


Nancy