I built an 8 x 12 lean to coop. My front and back sofits are open for ventilation and covered with 1/2" hardware cloth, to keep predators out. I made 2' x 2' windows that flip up, two on the front and one on each side. The advantage of top hinged windows is, you can leave them open during rain. I used bimini boat parts for my supports and 4 different length pieces of wooden dowel. I can have my windows open all the way or just a little. Here's a link for my window article.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/window-support-for-top-hinged-windows.74810/
Now the floor..... I made this an article since this has come up a few times lately, if anybody wants to save it for future use.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/black-jack-rubr-coat-57-for-your-coop-floor.75145/
Black Jack Rubr-Coat #57 comes in gallon size cans and 5 gallon pails. If you decide to use this, turn the can/pail upside down 1 - 2 days before you apply it, this will help when you stir it. It is thick on the bottom and will take a lot longer to stir, if you don't. I used a long piece of 5/4 board to stir my 5 gallon pail, it took about 15 minutes, to mix it good. I used a 4 inch paint brush to apply it to the floor and 12 inches up the wall, It goes on pretty easy. I recommend applying 2 coats for better durability. The second coat can be applied 24 hrs after your first coat, it may still be slightly tacky, but that's normal. After your second coat, let it cure for 7 - 14 days depending on your heat and humidity. I let mine cure for 7 days, then put some pine shavings down in one area. I walked on them and they didn't stick to the floor, so I called it good and added all my shavings and put my chicks in.
I use pine shavings for deep bedding(dry) inside my coop. I occasionally add some shavings, to keep it fresh. I clean it out once a year or longer. I take the old bedding and throw in into my deep litter run(moist), where it will break down. I scrape the floor, if there is any poop stuck to it, before I add my new pine shavings. I never wash my coop out with water. Everything is dry inside, so why add water.
I use poop boards covered with 1/4 - 1/2 inch of PDZ, that gets scooped every morning, because they poop a lot while roosting. The poop goes into my compost pile. Using poop boards cuts down on how often you need to clean the coop out, but you are scooping daily, which only takes me 5 minutes for my 12' x 24" board. This also helps with fly control, if you ask me. I rarely have any flies in my coop.
One hand high and one low made mixing easier, plus the longer piece of wood.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/window-support-for-top-hinged-windows.74810/
Now the floor..... I made this an article since this has come up a few times lately, if anybody wants to save it for future use.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/black-jack-rubr-coat-57-for-your-coop-floor.75145/
Black Jack Rubr-Coat #57 comes in gallon size cans and 5 gallon pails. If you decide to use this, turn the can/pail upside down 1 - 2 days before you apply it, this will help when you stir it. It is thick on the bottom and will take a lot longer to stir, if you don't. I used a long piece of 5/4 board to stir my 5 gallon pail, it took about 15 minutes, to mix it good. I used a 4 inch paint brush to apply it to the floor and 12 inches up the wall, It goes on pretty easy. I recommend applying 2 coats for better durability. The second coat can be applied 24 hrs after your first coat, it may still be slightly tacky, but that's normal. After your second coat, let it cure for 7 - 14 days depending on your heat and humidity. I let mine cure for 7 days, then put some pine shavings down in one area. I walked on them and they didn't stick to the floor, so I called it good and added all my shavings and put my chicks in.
I use pine shavings for deep bedding(dry) inside my coop. I occasionally add some shavings, to keep it fresh. I clean it out once a year or longer. I take the old bedding and throw in into my deep litter run(moist), where it will break down. I scrape the floor, if there is any poop stuck to it, before I add my new pine shavings. I never wash my coop out with water. Everything is dry inside, so why add water.
I use poop boards covered with 1/4 - 1/2 inch of PDZ, that gets scooped every morning, because they poop a lot while roosting. The poop goes into my compost pile. Using poop boards cuts down on how often you need to clean the coop out, but you are scooping daily, which only takes me 5 minutes for my 12' x 24" board. This also helps with fly control, if you ask me. I rarely have any flies in my coop.
One hand high and one low made mixing easier, plus the longer piece of wood.
