Arielle
I'm half way in to the construciton of a woods style-- if you are considering this sturucture, which really good, why not a woods style instead???Up for discussion...
I would really like a Woods style chicken coop but I don't think it would be feasible for my situation. This is what I have come up with... if I'm ever able to get my custom coops built. Speaking of custom, if there's something I have not thought of (outside of the basic necessities) please chime in. Dragon Lady, would one of your double walled nesting boxes work with this situation? I'm thinking I would put it up high as my birds are constantly looking at the roof of my current "barn" and wondering if they can get any higher. If I could make a cozy place for them to sleep and still have lots of ventilation without risking frost bite, that's what I will do.
First up: The western exposure. We get lots of wind here coming from every direction except east and yet occasionally, it comes from the east too. So, ventilation at the floor level on the west side.
Each of the windows in the building will have covers available.
Next up: Eastern exposure. We only get 5 inches of precipitation here per year so having the roof open this way will not present any moisture issues. It dries quickly when it does rain/snow.
I plan to have a deep litter set up so the air coming in would sweep over the litter, keeping it dry and go up and out the roof vent on the eastern side. This should provide a warm pocket at the top of the western wall, especially if I can put some kind of box for them to snuggle together up there. Of course that would mean building ramps as a means to get way up there. Not a problem.
Anybody have any comments? suggestions? I'm all ears.
My favorite too. Have a digital setter and a separate hatcher. The digitals are SO much better than the analogs were. Literally plug and play.
LOL! Belgians are the same way. My grandfather had a Belgian named Junior who used to kick the door out of his stall to go walkabout. They would up having to run a chain across the door to keep him in (and these are big broodmare stalls.)Jeff,
Congrats on both of those gifts! I would not mind getting either or both, myself. Love Percherons. It's costlier to have them trimmed/shod ...but they are so nice to be around...ride and drive fine too...gentle giants. Most Percherons are black but I have seen an occasional grey. Make sure your fencing is solid...you'd be surpised what they can do with just leaning and rubbing...I've had a 'warped' fence or 2
Love your set up for the chicks!!Here are some photos of the double walled Suncast storage boxes I use for babies, and trios.Do not use the single walled ones. They sag, and don't retain heat. I use the 32 cubic foot boxes. You can keep boys' combs from freezing with a 40 w. bulb, and keep babies warm enough to go out at 4 weeks with a 100W. bulb in the winter.We built bases that are enclosed on the back and sides. The birds love to dust under them in the heat. All my runs are covered, so I pop the lids on these boxes in the summer, to let hot air out. These are easy to clean too. My husband cut poop doors in them. In a very cold climate you can add a door curtain.
I grab these boxes every time they go on sale. Makes my husband very nervous,as he envisions MORE runs, but you can't build anything like these for $175.
I leave the right hand door open most of the year.. The board below helps contain the wheat straw I bed with.Both doors open for easy clean out.
Poop door and ramp . The boxes are 30" above the ground. This box has a 2 step roost in it. I no longer use those in the boxes. The Orps prefer to just snuggle as babies, but transition well to the big coop sleeping roost that has multiple perches.
Baby run under construction, just before it was roofed.
That should work well for you. The dickey has a hatching tray on the bottom but not sure how well it would work since the humidity for hatching needs to be higher. I also like the fact that my Dickey is always clean since I don't hatch in it.
