Hoop Coops in the wintertime

[RevlisRemmah]

I’ve been reading up on making a hoop coop to expand our BYC operation. I have a wooden Amish-built coop, but it’s a max capacity with the 16 we have now. I’m interested in building a permanent hoop coop to house my next flock. However, even if it has areas covered in tarps will the chickens be okay through the winter?

I am located in Central Michigan, USA and we have a tendency to have weather below freezing and lots of snow. Would a hoop coop ever be an option for us? My husband keeps saying the chickens would freeze to death so I would love some stories from the experts. I’m hoping it will be an affordable option for us but won’t move forward if we can’t make it safe and comfortable. Thanks in Advance!

 

[RainbowHen]

I’ve been reading up on making a hoop coop to expand our BYC operation. I have a wooden Amish-built coop, but it’s a max capacity with the 16 we have now. I’m interested in building a permanent hoop coop to house my next flock. However, even if it has areas covered in tarps will the chickens be okay through the winter?

I am located in Central Michigan, USA and we have a tendency to have weather below freezing and lots of snow. Would a hoop coop ever be an option for us? My husband keeps saying the chickens would freeze to death so I would love some stories from the experts. I’m hoping it will be an affordable option for us but won’t move forward if we can’t make it safe and comfortable. Thanks in Advance!

So long as the chickens have plenty of ventilation and no drafts ruffling their feathers they will be just fine. Wisconsin here. Our coop is not insulated.

 

[aart]

It can work.
Might have to support the panels from inside to support the snow load, or use hog panels instead of cattle panels as they are much stronger/stiffer with more rods/smaller spacing.
Ventilation might be a challenge with no roof overhangs.
Where it is sited could make a big difference regarding how much wind and snow.
Lots of different ways to make a hoop coop.
Might browse thru these:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/se...nclude_reviews]=1&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

@bigmrg74 lives in MI and I think he has a hoop coop.

 

[bigmrg74]

It can work.
Might have to support the panels from inside to support the snow load, or use hog panels instead of cattle panels as they are much stronger/stiffer with more rods/smaller spacing.
Ventilation might be a challenge with no roof overhangs.
Where it is sited could make a big difference regarding how much wind and snow.
Lots of different ways to make a hoop coop.
Might browse thru these:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/2323048/?q=hoop+coop&t=ams_article&c[include_comments]=1&c[include_reviews]=1&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

@bigmrg74 lives in MI and I think he has a hoop coop.

Yeah, mine's actually a tractor hoop coop, but I've had it for 4 years now and my girls do pretty well with it. Just got most of it all set up for winter last week. I should have some pictures of it. Main thing that I do with it is that I park it up next to the garage to block the west wind and so I can run an heavy duty extension cord for lights and the heated waterer. and then I put straw bales around the edges of the coop, and use more bales to build walls to the south and north to block off the wind there, and I think that it helps to create outside space for the girls to hang out at in the winter as well. I have a smaller coop as well that I have set up as a sun room as well.

 

[bigmrg74]

Two shots of the nesting box area of my hoop coop. I have an extra panel here that sticks out some, which means that I'm under cover when its raining when collecting eggs. Also provides a nice semi-covered shady spot during the year where the girls like to hang out at. there's two layers of plastic under the tarp as well. Pretty sure that the current tarp will get through this winter, but I do have a new one stashed in the garage waiting.

A pallet table I made to put the feeder and waterer up on. Keeps them from being able to kick straw and littler into the water, and it gives them somewhere else to be. Later on I wrapped some chicken wire around it and used panels from a puppy pen to be able to use the underside of the table as an isolation pen for a hen that had been injured by a hawk.

why I believe in the power of half inch hardwear cloth. strong enough that dogs, coyotes, raccoons, and bobcats are just going to bounce off of it, but the gaps are small enough that weasels and mice can't get into the coop.

front of the coop. not totally sealed up tight. a little air getting in is good, just not enough that its going to be getting them cold.

shot of my smaller coop as the sun room. Got a small swimming pool with sand in it for dust baths. worked out ok, just gotta keep it dry.

 

[RevlisRemmah]

Thank you for al of the pictures!! That really helps. I love your set up! Especially the sun room, lucky girls!!! And the pallet table/isolation pen is a great idea!

 

[Sueby]

why I believe in the power of half inch hardwear cloth. strong enough that dogs, coyotes, raccoons, and bobcats are just going to bounce off of it, but the gaps are small enough that weasels and mice can't get into the coop.

Wow!! He got stuck there & didn't make it in? Great pic!

 

[bigmrg74]

Wow!! He got stuck there & didn't make it in? Great pic!

I never moved the carcass, its still there. Its in a spot where the girls were not able to reach him, and now its all dried out now. I left him there as a warning to the others.