Hubbys gonna make me a coop

[Debby in france]

Eek ! Hate rats !

I have a rat proof feeder which, from spy cameras, works well. Love getting one up on the nasties. We also have three cats who are good hunters according to the spy cameras. Despite living next to a wood and the coop being next to a wood pile we are okay and I haven’t seen any sign since the new feeders. The food is stored in galvanised dustbins weighted down by a terracotta roof tile. The poop is collected each day and goes into the compost bin which is locked and weighted down with, you guessed it, another Terracotta roof tile.

I think I am going to be changing my husbandary a lot with the new coop. I will leave the food outside as in the summer I leave the door open but when closed I will put the food inside. Water in and out.

All very exciting, I will put the plans together and put them online for further comments

 

[Debby in france]

If they are awake you should provide food and water. Mine sleep in a small roosting area that is closed off at dusk and the door opens and the lights come on magicly at dawn this time of year.

Sounds like it will be a nice coop and run for both you and the chickens.

Gets pretty warm there I see 38C = 100F so lots of ventilation is going to be needed in the summer time. Lots of rain need long overhangs on the roof to help keep the water out of the run. I still need to extend the roof of my run over the door area so I don't have to stand in the rain while locking up and unlocking the run door.

JT

Hi JT, thanks for your comments. Yes heat is a concern. I was thinking of fitting an expelair device. Do you remember in the 70s every kitchen window had one ? I wonder if it would help ? Please excuse my assumption you are able to remember the 70s. They used to be activated by a pull cord but I think nowadays they are automatic. Little more than I would like to pay but if the alternative is aircon I think it’s cheap at half the price. Also hubby would have a meltdown if I fitted aircon for them lol

 

[Ridgerunner]

On where to put the food and water. Some people put both in the coop only, some in the run only, and some in both in different combinations. We all have our reasons for however we choose. How we manage them makes a difference. Some like to feed in the coop instead of the run so they don't lose so much feed to wild birds. Or as JT said, they need food and water shortly after they wake up and some people like to sleep in. Or it is easier to keep water thawed in winter if it is in the coop and you have electricity. Some feed in the run to not attract rodents into the coop and to reduce the poop load in the coop. They poop wherever they are so if they are hanging around inside eating they will poop more in the coop than in the run. I have food and water in both. I almost always have adolescents in the flock. Having multiple food and water stations keeps the older ones from bullying the young by keeping them away from food and water. Plus I like to sleep in at times.

One problem with a motor is that chickens make a lot of dust. Some of that is from bits of skin, down, and feathers flaking off but most is from their scratching. If you put a fan motor n there you need to take that dust into account.

You yourself may feel cold in winter with that -2 C but with their down coats that's pretty comfortable for chickens. Heat is your enemy where you are, not cold. I've seen chickens sleep in trees at -18 C. They were not out in the open, that area was pretty well protected from wind. They need to be able to roost out of a direct wind but lots of ventilation in summer is important.

 

[jthornton]

Hi JT, thanks for your comments. Yes heat is a concern. I was thinking of fitting an expelair device. Do you remember in the 70s every kitchen window had one ? I wonder if it would help ? Please excuse my assumption you are able to remember the 70s. They used to be activated by a pull cord but I think nowadays they are automatic. Little more than I would like to pay but if the alternative is aircon I think it’s cheap at half the price. Also hubby would have a meltdown if I fitted aircon for them lol

Yes I do remember my 20's and when we lived in New Orleans a lot of houses had vent fans in the kitchens. I also remember my teenager years in the 60's lol.

My new coop has an old central air conditioner 6 speed blower to help cool them at night. I'll run it on low speed so it's really quiet. Like @Ridgerunner said chickens make an enormous amount of dust that just gets everywhere. I'm so amazed at how much dust can fit through a 1" hole into my electronics cabinet. So what I do with the fan is to not blow air out of the coop but rather blow clean air in so the dirt and dander can go out the other vent. We will have to see how that works.

In my shops I use a poor mans filter system, a 20" box fan with a 20" x 20" filter on the inlet side to filter out the airborne dust. I'm always surprised how dirty the filters get.

JT

 

[aart]

So what I do with the fan is to not blow air out of the coop but rather blow clean air in so the dirt and dander can go out the other vent. We will have to see how that works.

That's what I do too...window fan in east window turned on late in day...not perfect but helps blow some cooler air and and hotter air out.

 

[Chickassan]

Congratulations! draw it out exactly how you want it, think it out.
Husbands are one trick ponies when it comes to coop building a lot of times.

 

[Debby in france]

Oh wow , what a great idea. Thanx guys. Just been to Agen looking at extractors, vents and stuff. Hubby was getting wiring as we are building our own house. The hen house should be a walk in the park for him ... ha ha ha.
Think he’s looking for something other than sockets (sorry you call them outlets).

 

[Debby in france]

Ah ! Hubby (ex heating and air con engineer) has just told me that he will ensure that the vents and cooling with be a1 for my girls. Don’t you just love him. Mmm ? Perhaps I will check that kitchen order ...