First Coop Build

[HenOnAJuneBug]

There are three things that need venting out: moisture, CO2 and ammonia

Moisture, yes; ammonia, yes. CO2 is only a problem if there's not enough oxygen (it's not toxic). But since oxygen is about 21% of air and CO2 is only about 0.04% of air (500-fold difference), there's virtually no chance of there not being enough oxygen.

 

[Deepinblue]

Cute. Beware of predators when free ranging. Likely your birds will be discovered. I have pens/runs for all of my coops. I do let them free range when I'm out working around the coops. I have had Bald Eagles, Hawks, Coyotes, Fox, Bobcat, Coons, Possums and Owls at one time or another. I now have electric wire around my coops and pens, concrete under the gates and heavy duty netting covering all of the pens. I have several game cameras around on my property and most nights I see at least one predator on a camera. Most of the predators here prowl around at night. Good luck and have fun...
A fox last night.
View attachment 1606795

I have alot of deer that sleep on my property and have yet to see fox or coyotes. I will probably set up a camera on the coop to see what is going on. I also am going to make alot of hiding spots for the chickens to help. My end goal is also to understand I will have casualties but try to minimize them as best as possible.

 

[cmom]

Again, good luck and have fun...

 

[Compost King]

Most predators show up at night. if you have a dog they cut back on predators... I have cats.. not much help except they will catch mice and leave them for me to feed to the chickens.

 

[cmom]

I don't have any dogs but there are a couple of Great Pyrenees that roam our property. I have no idea where they live.

 

[RoosterRules]

Moisture, yes; ammonia, yes. CO2 is only a problem if there's not enough oxygen (it's not toxic). But since oxygen is about 21% of air and CO2 is only about 0.04% of air (500-fold difference), there's virtually no chance of there not being enough oxygen.

Yes, dilution air will take care of it. In very cold temperatures I watch for it because I buffer my coop with snow, walls and roof, igloo style.

 

[Compost King]

Yes, dilution air will take care of it. In very cold temperatures I watch for it because I buffer my coop with snow, walls and roof, igloo style.

I do not have to worry about using snow to insulate a coop because I moved south but I remember on those bitter cold nights after a big snow fall shoveling snow up against my house to keep it warm. Its a great practical way to contain heat

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Yes, dilution air will take care of it. In very cold temperatures I watch for it because I buffer my coop with snow, walls and roof, igloo style.

Do you actually measure CO2 ppm? Curious as to what levels you're seeing.

 

[aart]

I'll apologize right now for being blunt, but honest-which I won't apologize for.
First let me say, I do not care for A-frames.
They look really cool, and can be easier/cheaper to build,
but are often sorely lacking in function for chickens.
The roof is also the walls, so no walls for windows/vents without risking rain infiltration.
Would like to see inside and the back of this coop...but will add some thoughts now while it's fresh.

Height is important and the higher you get in an aframe the less space is there.
Weather proofing ventilation is the worst part of this design, IMO.
Some thoughts on heights in coops:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/
I'm guessing 16 feet of roosts in there, that need to be above nests and at least 12" away from walls, is gonna be tight for 23 birds, and keeper navigation. The 'but they only sleep and lay in there cause we're gonna free range' might work...until it doesn't.
Do you plan on having a run? Predation will happen, sooner or later, and having secure run can save birds and a lot of heartache. Depending on the weather there(snow load) you might want that run to have a solid roof.

....and on ventilation:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts
Definitely need some vents and the only place to put them is in the 'gable' peaks.

Anti digging protection...takes more than a few inches into the ground and the proposed stakes driven in might stop large predators(coyote) but not the smaller ones(fox, coon, opossum, weasels, rodents).
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[cmom]

I have alot of deer that sleep on my property and have yet to see fox or coyotes. I will probably set up a camera on the coop to see what is going on. I also am going to make alot of hiding spots for the chickens to help. My end goal is also to understand I will have casualties but try to minimize them as best as possible.

Do you plan on having a run? Predation will happen, sooner or later, and having secure run can save birds and a lot of heartache. Depending on the weather there(snow load) you might want that run to have a solid roof.

Apparently the poster realizes they will probably loose some birds to free ranging but since they only see deer and not the predators, don't think there are many around.
Last night we had a fox and a coon visit.