Haybale coop

[BarefootMom]

Quote:
Big Round bales will last for us to 3 years before really falling apart Square bales will last for at least a year or longer. You can get old hay that has been stored in a barn for about $1 a bale if it is 1-2 years old. If it has been stored in a barn it will be alright. Usually they won't spontainiously combust if they are dry-they only do that when they are green. Fresh Hay square bales aren't that expensive if you buy direct- average $3-$4 a bale. It wouldn't take that much to build a coop and then you could use the hay for bedding or your garden. I would think Straw would be better because it would last longer and are cheaper- $2-$3 a bale fresh cut.

 

[anniemary]

Quote:
Big Round bales will last for us to 3 years before really falling apart Square bales will last for at least a year or longer. You can get old hay that has been stored in a barn for about $1 a bale if it is 1-2 years old. If it has been stored in a barn it will be alright. Usually they won't spontainiously combust if they are dry-they only do that when they are green. Fresh Hay square bales aren't that expensive if you buy direct- average $3-$4 a bale. It wouldn't take that much to build a coop and then you could use the hay for bedding or your garden. I would think Straw would be better because it would last longer and are cheaper- $2-$3 a bale fresh cut.

We don't have to worry about cost as we grow our own hay and have a square baler. That's good to know about the hay rotting.

I'm still confused about the flooring. How often do you clean out the coop if you have a dirt floor?

 

[annie3001]

quite frankly, i dont like the idear of a (hay coop) !!! i can just imagine rain issues or many bug issues!!

may work for temp housing, but i wouldnt suggest for permanet housing. just my thoughts.

 

[MissJenny]

I am suspecting that the "hay bale houses" are actually "straw" -- It's a different product, a cleaner product. It insulates differently, isn't so attractive to wildlife. The people who write and print these books and magazines don't know the difference. A straw coop makes sense, a hay coop, not so much.

Jenny

 

[BoulderCityFoul]

Quote:
Jenny is correct. I am a formally architect. I designed and built a straw bale home for a client years ago. Texts will use the term "hay" and "straw" interchangeably, although they are different materials. For your coop, you want to build it out of straw. Once the bales are coated (stucco, adobe mud, etc), it is weather tight, bug-proof, and fire resistant. I would recommend you visit an architectural salvage yard (if there is one nearby) to locate materials for the roof and a few old windows for daylighting. A final element of any straw bale building is the "truth window", a small opening on the inside revealing the wall materials to prove it is indeed made from straw.

This sounds like a great project! I hope that you decide to do this and keep us updated on your progress!

-TJ

 

[Ridgerunner]

This old thread might interest you.

Straw bale coop
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=122626

Why are people worried about bugs in the coop? My chickens love the extra protein.

 

[Beekissed]

Dirt floors are perfect in a coop. You can still use the DLM and it will be even more effective as the bugs and worms will be coming up from underneath to inhabit and feed off your deep litter...and become more food for your chooks.

Dirt floors in a coop are easier to clean, the dirt absorbs a lot of moisture and it seems to keep the coop cooler in the summer...plus they have plenty of places to dust.

I like the sound of haybale for chickens as long as you have a good footer to elevate your bales off the ground and a good, thick plastic or tarping for the outside of the walls. What had you planned on using for the roof?

If you wanted a more permanent structure, you could cover the bales with a cob mix to seal the bales. I've seen one of these and the fellow even molded nests right into the walls using the cob mixture. It was darling...and stayed cool in the summer, warm in the winter.

I would love to see the finished project also!

 

[flowerfaerie1]

We have a dirt floor and it's fine. I put cedar pine shavings over it to help absorb and filter down the poo. I would say I clean it out about once a month, or really whenever I feel that it's just that time. I rake it out well and put fresh shavings down. The only problem that we do have with the dirt floor is that we didn't bury the chicken wire well enough and rats dig into it to steal whatever chicken food has fallen.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Just remember what happened to the 2nd little pig.... I'll huff and I'll puff....

Seriously...I would try this!

 

[Laurieks]

Rice Straw is great for this. Hay would destabilize as the yummy parts got eaten by the chooks & bugs, etc.

Sealed with natural plaster and seated on rock to keep the bales from rotting a straw bale structure can outlast traditional buildings.

The key is sealing, and having an umbrella like roof (extends out far enough to keep the rain from driving right on the walls-I forget the name for it atm).

I would vote for that in the next coop contest!

Amazon has tons of book on it... libraries too!

http://www.amazon.com/Strawbale-Home-Plans-Wayne-Bingham/dp/1586858610/ref=wl_mb_recs_5_dp

http://www.amazon.com/Cob-Builders-...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281677796&sr=1-2