Greenhouse-Coop Hybrid

[new chick 203]

I'm in the planning stages of building the dream coop. I've read about the concept of a structure that the south side is a greenhouse and the north side is coop. the ventilation between the 2 benefits both chickens and plants. the chickens breath out CO2 and the plants make fresh oxygen. They help keep each other warm as well, especially if I have a small composter going on the greenhouse side. It all sounds good in theory, but is this a permaculture sub-urban legend? Has anyone actual experience with this on a backyard scale?

 

[Mtn Laurel]

It sounds like a wonderful idea, I'm surprised it's not done more often. It appears that some have done it as I found some pics but they don't show the actual mechanics. Very little construction details found online with a quick search.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/_kristy_/sets/72157606309093095/detail/http://www.flickr.com/photos/_kristy_/sets/72157606309093095/detail/

I hope you find more info as I'm interested.

 

[new chick 203]

Thanks mtnlaurl. Here is the general idea, although mine will be made with some salvaged windows so it will look a little different. I expect that on bad wether days I might let them into the greenhouse part, but we will see.

 

[chickenbythesea]

if it was me, I'd add a hatch so that you could shovel the litter right into a compost box inside the greenhouse... that way in the spring you'd have nice black earth to use and not have to go trucking across the yard to get it.... just a thought.

 

[new chick 203]

There will be my small compost tumbler in the greenhouse. They say that contributes to the warmth. the whole thing is near the kitchen garden and large compost pile and under an apple tree. The idea is that in the winter when there are no leaves on the tree it gets full sun and in the summer it gets some protection from the heat.