Hoop Coop questions

[Shawn's_momma]

Hi,

We built our first hoop coop this weekend. It's got an 8x10 frame and we have 7 hens and 4 nesting boxes. I love it. We also added a couple of roosts for the girls. Is it ok that they sleep out there? It's 3/4 tarpped now and I was thinking during the winter I would put greenhouse plastic over the whole thing and adding extra bails of hay along the sides for added insulation.

Any tips are great!

Lauren

 

[Ridgerunner]

Where do you live? What extreme weather might you be looking at? Not your normal highs and lows but your extremes.

It is very possible that would work for you. To me the biggest risks would be high winds or a wet snow or ice storm that would weigh it down.

 

[Shawn's_momma]

We live on Cape Cod. Not super extreme conditions. We do get some snow, but it doesn't last long.

 

[Molpet]

hoop coops with a ridge 2x4 do great in the winter.. I cover the N end with heavy plastic and use a clear tarp over the sides. last winter the s side was open on my 8x24' coop and partially covered on the 8x8' coop (less birds). Ventilation w/- drafts helps prevent frost bite.. most frost bite is just below freezing and damp.. ventilation
helps get rid of the moisture from the birds, if the air is dry.