Helpful hints for building coops

[CapricornFarm]

So here is the inside of the coop on an overcast day.

 

[jvls1942]

Are they 'regular' or just hope you catch it?

they are pretty predictable.
we just watch our male. he can tell a week before we can..

 

[tigger19687]

@CapricornFarm Will you put bracing half way up on the sides and some center posts to the roof?
I don't know how much snow you get but that will help. Also if you get winds too.

 

[aart]

Are they 'regular' or just hope you catch it?

They drip blood so it is pretty obvious , and they clean themselves a lot.

Was thinking more about the timing for a visiting 'breeder' like Jim has now.

they are pretty predictable.
we just watch our male. he can tell a week before we can..

I'll bet!

@CapricornFarm Will you put bracing half way up on the sides and some center posts to the roof?
I don't know how much snow you get but that will help. Also if you get winds too.

Some cross bracing would be a very good idea.

 

[Molpet]

I put a ridge down the center to help support mine in the snow

 

[jvls1942]

we are not too concerned about a friendly visitor. our two resident dogs won't allow strangers here. and besides, the one to get bred is in a very secure chicken pen.

the thought went through my mind also, if the roof wouldn't hold you up, then a good snow load could turn things inside out.
Or does the roof hold you now that it is screwed into place ?

the ground is covered with snow this morning. but in the next few days we are supposed to get lots of rain.. but never fear, we never go through winter without the slippery white siht ..

.......jiminwisc......

 

[CapricornFarm]

Was thinking more about the timing for a visiting 'breeder' like Jim has now.

I'll bet!

Some cross bracing would be a very good idea.

I figure the roosts will act as cross braces the way i secure them. We don't get all that much snow here, and the coop sits on an incline so it will likely slide off.
As for holding me up, i am quite hefty for a woman so i didn't think it was the best idea to get up there.
I will likely put up a board lengthways to hang waterers, feeders from anyway. I can attach it to the end supports.

 

[aart]

I put a ridge down the center to help support mine in the snowView attachment 1176456

Yes, but that ridge broad is well supported by cross bracing(door framing) at both end and in the middle.

Just cross braces will add great strength to the curved panel, for both snow and wind load.

 

[Elyrian1]

Hey Molpet, you've just given me dangerous ideas for my new hoop coop. Hubby is going to love this, not. I draft him for all my kooky chicken lady ideas. Good thing I have some 2x4s lying around.

We put up our hoop coop and then both us grabbed on the underside and let our body weight hang. We're just shy of three hundred pounds together, but it barely budged. Things is surprisingly resilient. I'm not overly worried about snow load, but still want at least one central support, preferably two. The back edge of the coop is currently hooked up under the frame of the run, and while not intentional, it's very convenient for stability. The girls have already got the idea and started sleeping and laying eggs in it, still have to get the nest boxes properly arranged. Good thing they don't mind drills and impact drivers, but heaven forbid you get a garbage bag anywhere near them... Go figure.

I have a question though. A tarped hoop coop, no hay bales, although not in a particularly windy spot, blue not clear tarp because that was the stronger option... How low have the temperatures gotten for those of you that have one like that or very similar, without harming the birds? I'm planning to stick my remote temperature sensor in the hoop coop to monitor temps over the winter. Maybe I'll make a science experiment of it if no one has good data, but I figured I'd pick some brains first.

 

[Molpet]

Hey Molpet, you've just given me dangerous ideas for my new hoop coop. Hubby is going to love this, not. I draft him for all my kooky chicken lady ideas. Good thing I have some 2x4s lying around.

We put up our hoop coop and then both us grabbed on the underside and let our body weight hang. We're just shy of three hundred pounds together, but it barely budged. Things is surprisingly resilient. I'm not overly worried about snow load, but still want at least one central support, preferably two. The back edge of the coop is currently hooked up under the frame of the run, and while not intentional, it's very convenient for stability. The girls have already got the idea and started sleeping and laying eggs in it, still have to get the nest boxes properly arranged. Good thing they don't mind drills and impact drivers, but heaven forbid you get a garbage bag anywhere near them... Go figure.

I have a question though. A tarped hoop coop, no hay bales, although not in a particularly windy spot, blue not clear tarp because that was the stronger option... How low have the temperatures gotten for those of you that have one like that or very similar, without harming the birds? I'm planning to stick my remote temperature sensor in the hoop coop to monitor temps over the winter. Maybe I'll make a science experiment of it if no one has good data, but I figured I'd pick some brains first.

no frost bite since they were moved into the hoop coop with the 2 huddle boxes.. at -10f the molting girls went into the junk coop and the wood dog house(that the turkeys are standing on).. at below -17 most of the chooks joined them..

pre hoop coop ..the time they got frostbite it was about 30f , just below freezing) and a freezing rain (high humidity).. 8 were locked in at night in the old wooden dog house 4x4 made into a coop w/poor ventilation.. ventilation is the key.