How much is too much? (or not enough)

[Arielle]

THe coop looks good.

In one coop, my girls like to sit so they can look out the windows. THey cram together in the colder months all on one roost a 1 x 3. Last summer they spred out, some on the front roost and some on the back roost. The best seating is apparently the front roost with the best view.

You may want to reconsider the broom pole, if they use it. Most broom sticks are too thin for a proper roost. Wide and flat keeps their toes well under the fluffy feathers to prevent frost bite. Perhaps a thick branch could be substituted.

At over 30 degree today, the girls have spread out and are sitting 8 per pole. THe top birds take the top branches in another coop. THe highest are filled first then lower branches and nest boxes. THe ventilation in this coop is high, too high to see thru. In the summer when I open the extra ventilation window, they move down and sit where they can look out.

I guess my point is, you need ventilation above and below them when the wind is blowing and you don't want the winds hitting on them directly. With the current set up, perhaps shut the windows on three sides when it's windy. You'll know what works by the birds behavior.

Our weather here in New England has been a very dynamic year. THree days over 100 degrees last summer , when 1 is a maybe, mid 90's is normally the highest; and now in winter several nights near zero. Sounds like TX weather!

 

[kari_dawn]

The broom pole or dowel rod is quite thick...thicker than the dowel rod in their current coop, and frostbite is not really a concern in TX as much as heat dispersion, and money is an issue for me at the moment, so I kindof have to use what I have available

but the second roost will be a 2 x 4 so that they may choose what kind of roost they prefer. Basically, there will be three levels of roosts for them to choose from. One above the window, one at window level, and the third below the window far enough down for it to block any wind/rain from hitting them.

The point of retaining the cutouts and turning them into "shutters" is to adapt to changing weather (hopefully!)...but you are saying I need to add more ventilation? I was considering putting a small closeable vent at the bottom and top of each wall, but both my dad and neighbor think the windows are plenty, and if they are right, that means I don't have to cut more holes and spend more money! (some day, I will have an amazing, beautiful, well constructed coop! *sigh*)

 

[BoltonChicken]

I am more concerned with the available floor space than anything else. Almost all recommendations require coop floor space to be a minimum of 4 sq. ft. per bird and run space to be 10 sq. ft. per bird. Height does not factor in.

 

[kari_dawn]

See, this is why I asked before I bought this thing! no one seemed to think that small sleeping quarters would be an issue. It is a bit late to change that now.

Is it reasonable considering that the rest of their coop is 10x10, and the door to this structure will eventually have an automatic door, and will only be closed in bad weather? Additionally, the birds spend most of their time free range.

 

[Arielle]

My girls cram in. Really sit tight against each other, with several roosts completely empty. My coop is far smaller than the 4ft/bird because my birds can use their very large run or free range. So if they are stuck in the coop overnight, they don't seem to mind.

IMO go with what you have. DOn't make many changes that cost money. See how the girls like it.

I also spend almost no money on coops, just screws and some rat wire. Mostly use pallets and cut those apart as needed. I use scrap lumber from a fencing company and old projects. My roosts are either tree trunks or 1 x 3 scraps from the fencing company. I try to keep the $ spent very low as their feed is the most costly.

GL