Homesteaders

[rancher hicks]

hoop coops have collapsed from snow if not shaken off or have a ridge board down the middle.
I put a lot of vents on the south, East and below the roof ,above the roosts so they don't get a draft... just a little for winter on the prevailing wind side, for me that is N and W... good to have ones that can be opened when more humid on all sides

I've got three hoops and because of the framing inside I've never had one collapse.













I opened it up during the day and they birds were fine. It's covered with cardboard and feed bags on the back and fleece on the front. The tarps tend to let the snow slide right off.



This rabbit took shelter under the plastic.

 

[GardenNut]

How much snow do you get in Maryland?  From what I can see you shouldn't have a ventilation problem.  I do think out in the open like that wouldn't be good. Some shelter might be better.  I've never considered these commercial coops they sell as sturdy enough for the colder climates. 

Has anyone used these types of coops in the colder climates?  If so how did they fare? 

I researched and read a lot of reviews about the coop shown. It got great reviews overall. My main concern with it and why I want to convert that run into a coop is I'm concerned about inadequate ventilation in the winter and lack of space, if the 4 chickens I currently have have to remain inside during bad weather. I'd like to use it in the spring as a brood coop or maybe a duck house eventually. It's been a great starter coop since getting it in the spring. It's about 16 sq ft, but it does have it drawbacks.

I do have a large shed that I could convert half of to a chicken coop, but it's a good distance from the garden, although closer to the house. I'm still toying with that idea, even if it's only for the winter. Maybe they could have a summer house and a winter house! Talk about luxury!

 

[lcertuche]

I want to build at least 3 hoop coops like this. I want mine to be mobile but I'm thinking that bad, muddy conditions it would be nice to set it up on a solid floor. Here in Arkansas I'm sure it would be good for all kinds of weather. I know someone who has built them for his birds and he said the only problem he had was he tied the door shut and a coyote managed to get in and got a couple of his birds, the others escaped to the woods and after a couple of days he got them back.

 

[spurrer]

I wish i could build something like you have there. My husband could but he has Parkinson's and is not able to do anything like that anymore. I have a small coop that I bought that is good for my two hens at night but I built a run out of hardware cloth, pvc pipe and plastic ties that I can move around. I also built a small yard using metal posts, cattle wire and plastic ties. It is not movable. It rained yesterday, for which I am thankful but my chickens are walking on muddy ground now. I just need someone to help me move my run. I enjoy my chickens, and appreciate the two eggs I get everyday. Everday at six o'clock I go sit outside and read while my hens are let out to run around and free range until they go to roost. I have hawks and coyotes to worrry about.
That is a lot of snow in that picture. We don't get that much in Ala. I like when it snows. But don't know how it will affect my chickens, I just got them in the spring.

 

[Molpet]

I've got three hoops and because of the framing inside I've never had one collapse.













I opened it up during the day and they birds were fine. It's covered with cardboard and feed bags on the back and fleece on the front. The tarps tend to let the snow slide right off.



This rabbit took shelter under the plastic.

yep when they have a support on the top they are fine..



my 8x 24' has a single ridge pole (2x4) running the length.. the 8x8' doesn't and will sag in the middle.,,
on one of the hoop coop threads ,someone posted one that collapsed in a blizzard that didn't have any support except the ends.

 

[rancher hicks]

I want to build at least 3 hoop coops like this. I want mine to be mobile but I'm thinking that bad, muddy conditions it would be nice to set it up on a solid floor. Here in Arkansas I'm sure it would be good for all kinds of weather. I know someone who has built them for his birds and he said the only problem he had was he tied the door shut and a coyote managed to get in and got a couple of his birds, the others escaped to the woods and after a couple of days he got them back.

I have a more secure method of holding the door closed. The front is and sides are hardware cloth.

Tell you friend that he should "mark" his territory in the evenings and take other precautions.

​

Unless you're concerned about two legged predators you can just turn the padlock and not close it. Or hang the key next to the door.

 

[rancher hicks]

yep when they have a support on the top they are fine..



my 8x 24' has a single ridge pole (2x4) running the length.. the 8x8' doesn't and will sag in the middle.,,
on one of the hoop coop threads ,someone posted one that collapsed in a blizzard that didn't have any support except the ends.

The only problem I've had with the half hoops is the overhang filling with water and forgetting to empty it before opening the door and getting a shower.

 

[Beekissed]

So I want a much bigger coop than my current snap lick prefab coop, because I eventually want to add more chickens to the 4 I have. Hopefully next spring. I was going to build a hoop coop, but I've decided to try to convert my 7x15 rugged ranch walk-in pen to a coop. I have an outer run using poultry electric fencing. The inner walk-in pen is all metal with 2x2 welded wire. So I'm going to cover it with hardware cloth and cover half with a silver tarp and the other half with a clear tarp, so there's light in the coop. I think I can cover the north side with exterior plywood, with an small access door for the chickens. The south end I may be able to cover but that side has the original gate, which will become the human access door to the coop. I may just cover it with more tarp so I can remove it in summer. Add some nesting boxes and roosts, and hopefully I'll have a decent coop! If I could upload a picture I would, but I've had tech issues lately. Thoughts?

I'd skip the silver tarp...I used to think they would be the most likely to reflect the heat of the sun but have since found they do not do that very well. I've found the most shady and cool tarps for the hoop coop turned out to be blue and green, with the green side up. For some reason it was a HUGE difference in coolness with those colors than the silver tarp!

You might also want your clear tarp on the whole coop...in the winter time it really helps to warm and light the coop. Last year I had the roost area with the shade tarp in the winter months and the difference in temps back there compared to the clear tarped area in the front was remarkable, so this year I'm putting a clear tarp on the whole hoop coop for winter, shade tarp for the whole coop in the summer. Makes a difference.

 

[GardenNut]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I've scratched the whole converting the run to coop idea after I went out to my approximately 12x24 shed and started experimenting with ideas to convert half into a coop. It's a good, solid shed, with plenty of Windows for ventilation and light. It has a nice plywood floor (I may paint that instead of putting vinyl) and best of all, it has electricity and lighting! I also can brood my spring chicks in it next year. It means the chickens are far from the garden, which hinders my composting a bit, but there are more pros than cons, including easier access this winter. There's some heavy metal shelving I'm going to adapt to make a dividing wall and put hardware cloth on. There's a small cabinet I can use to make 6 nests also. I just need to build roosts and cut out a pop door!

The run may get converted to a rabbit run eventually.

 

[greenfeathers]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I've scratched the whole converting the run to coop idea after I went out to my approximately 12x24 shed and started experimenting with ideas to convert half into a coop. It's a good, solid shed, with plenty of Windows for ventilation and light. It has a nice plywood floor (I may paint that instead of putting vinyl) and best of all, it has electricity and lighting! I also can brood my spring chicks in it next year. It means the chickens are far from the garden, which hinders my composting a bit, but there are more pros than cons, including easier access this winter. There's some heavy metal shelving I'm going to adapt to make a dividing wall and put hardware cloth on. There's a small cabinet I can use to make 6 nests also. I just need to build roosts and cut out a pop door!

The run may get converted to a rabbit run eventually.

If your shed has exposed rafters they will prefer that to anything you build them for a roost. At least mine do.