I have chickens!

[CannedMonster]

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That was my way of saying that the coop materials are not the best or the best design and the existing "ventilation" is more drafty than helpful. I just knew I wouldn't be able to build my own coop right now with the ground frozen and quickly, so opted for this rather than that and just taking it a day at a time.

WELCOME!
We have that same coop, although ours has two nesting boxes on either side (4 total) and my husband added another outdoor roost in the run across from the existing one. We bought it at Tractor Supply.
I haven't had a problem with the ventilation, which I ALWAYS keep at least a couple of inches open.
The inside has stayed very dry even though it's winter here in southwest Idaho. It has done well in the snow and rain. I do free range my birds (we have 5) but even then the floor of the run has gotten beaten down.
I felt the coop was lacking in design as I feel the roosts should be higher than the nest boxes and the ventilation should have been placed up near the roof.
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Hello! I use a very similar coop to that! It’s where I keep my chicks when they’re big enough to come out of the brooder in the summer/spring!!

I also plan to use this coop for that same purpose after we build our bigger one. I'm hoping it will be useful to slowly introduce new birds to my existing flock.

 

[HBRRanchCO]

Oh so sweet that the 3 girls have new parents added to their flock to train and spoil. They are beautiful. As payback for a life of hard work laying beautiful eggs, our older hens enjoy a good retirement right here.

Yay! I'm sure my friend would have kept them through their retirement, but where she is she is only allowed to have 4 hens and really wanted to get 4 that will give her some more eggs. She offered them up to me a few months ago when I mentioned I was thinking about getting chickens, but I wasn't really ready to make the jump. This time when she mentioned them I said, oh what the heck I might as well! Then I'll have some chickens and she'll have room to get her new chickens...so it was win win for all of us I'll keep these ladies through their retirement. She sees my posts on facebook about them and is just thrilled that they're getting "pampered" in their retirement

 

[HBRRanchCO]

View attachment 1238346

WELCOME!
We have that same coop, although ours has two nesting boxes on either side (4 total) and my husband added another outdoor roost in the run across from the existing one. We bought it at Tractor Supply.
I haven't had a problem with the ventilation, which I ALWAYS keep at least a couple of inches open.
The inside has stayed very dry even though it's winter here in southwest Idaho. It has done well in the snow and rain. I do free range my birds (we have 5) but even then the floor of the run has gotten beaten down.
I felt the coop was lacking in design as I feel the roosts should be higher than the nest boxes and the ventilation should have been placed up near the roof.

Thanks and that is good to know! I completely agree about the odd placement of the roosts. I may consider finding a way to move them higher when I get a chance. So far they haven't shown any interest in roosting in the run. I'm sure part of that is that it has been so cold since we brought them that they kind of just come out to eat and drink and then head back inside. The other part I think might be that they didn't have anywhere high at my friend's place to roost. Their coop was just above ground level (high enough for them to get under, but not standing up) and they didn't have any roosts higher than the top of their coop. They were allowed to free range in the backyard from time to time, but always in at night so I don't think they ever knew the trees were there to roost in. She also mentioned that the one with the funky neck deformity (Milly) doesn't like to roost, she finds herself somewhere to lay down instead. So far I think she has claimed a nesting box as her bed, and kicked the ceramic egg out of it twice lol

While I like the side ventilation sliding window things, I think they'll be more useful in the summer for ventilation. Does yours have a big open spot in the eave at the front of the coop? We just noticed that yesterday and it seems like a large gaping hole should not be there. While it might be helpful for ventilation, it won't really help without some matching air holes on the back side, and I would think it would be a big heat loss area. When I get a chance I want to block SOME of that off, leave some ventilation at the eave, and add some on the back side to facilitate some air movement. Luckily it is a pretty dry climate here so as long as we are good about keeping the inside clean moisture shouldn't be a huge concern.

I also don't really like that there is no way to completely secure the chickens inside of the coop. Even if we build a door for the coop, if they REALLY wanted to, they could get out of that hole in the eave area.

 

[HBRRanchCO]

Hello! I use a very similar coop to that! It’s where I keep my chicks when they’re big enough to come out of the brooder in the summer/spring!!

That is a great idea! This is a good size for that. It really is a very cute coop.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens glad you have joined us

 

[HBRRanchCO]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens glad you have joined us

Thanks!

 

[CannedMonster]

Thanks and that is good to know! I completely agree about the odd placement of the roosts. I may consider finding a way to move them higher when I get a chance. So far they haven't shown any interest in roosting in the run. I'm sure part of that is that it has been so cold since we brought them that they kind of just come out to eat and drink and then head back inside. The other part I think might be that they didn't have anywhere high at my friend's place to roost. Their coop was just above ground level (high enough for them to get under, but not standing up) and they didn't have any roosts higher than the top of their coop. They were allowed to free range in the backyard from time to time, but always in at night so I don't think they ever knew the trees were there to roost in. She also mentioned that the one with the funky neck deformity (Milly) doesn't like to roost, she finds herself somewhere to lay down instead. So far I think she has claimed a nesting box as her bed, and kicked the ceramic egg out of it twice lol

While I like the side ventilation sliding window things, I think they'll be more useful in the summer for ventilation. Does yours have a big open spot in the eave at the front of the coop? We just noticed that yesterday and it seems like a large gaping hole should not be there. While it might be helpful for ventilation, it won't really help without some matching air holes on the back side, and I would think it would be a big heat loss area. When I get a chance I want to block SOME of that off, leave some ventilation at the eave, and add some on the back side to facilitate some air movement. Luckily it is a pretty dry climate here so as long as we are good about keeping the inside clean moisture shouldn't be a huge concern.

I also don't really like that there is no way to completely secure the chickens inside of the coop. Even if we build a door for the coop, if they REALLY wanted to, they could get out of that hole in the eave area.

No ours doesn’t have a hole in the eave area. That’s weird. I wonder if the manufacturers left out some materials?
Sounds like you have everything worked out though.
Your birds may start using the outside roost eventually.
Sometimes they just need to see another bird do it.

 

[Cryss]

Thanks and that is good to know! I completely agree about the odd placement of the roosts. I may consider finding a way to move them higher when I get a chance. So far they haven't shown any interest in roosting in the run. I'm sure part of that is that it has been so cold since we brought them that they kind of just come out to eat and drink and then head back inside. The other part I think might be that they didn't have anywhere high at my friend's place to roost. Their coop was just above ground level (high enough for them to get under, but not standing up) and they didn't have any roosts higher than the top of their coop. They were allowed to free range in the backyard from time to time, but always in at night so I don't think they ever knew the trees were there to roost in. She also mentioned that the one with the funky neck deformity (Milly) doesn't like to roost, she finds herself somewhere to lay down instead. So far I think she has claimed a nesting box as her bed, and kicked the ceramic egg out of it twice lol

While I like the side ventilation sliding window things, I think they'll be more useful in the summer for ventilation. Does yours have a big open spot in the eave at the front of the coop? We just noticed that yesterday and it seems like a large gaping hole should not be there. While it might be helpful for ventilation, it won't really help without some matching air holes on the back side, and I would think it would be a big heat loss area. When I get a chance I want to block SOME of that off, leave some ventilation at the eave, and add some on the back side to facilitate some air movement. Luckily it is a pretty dry climate here so as long as we are good about keeping the inside clean moisture shouldn't be a huge concern.

I also don't really like that there is no way to completely secure the chickens inside of the coop. Even if we build a door for the coop, if they REALLY wanted to, they could get out of that hole in the eave area.

My coop is basically the same. There are pics of mine somewhere on this forum. I'll post if you like.
Do not block that open eaves area. THAT is the venilation, NOT the sliding doors! The doors are for overly warm weather at night when a draft is acceptable, never for winter except to peek inside and see if they are all cozy. Drafts are not ventilation and to be avoided. Any openings need to be above their heads to prevent drafts but allow heat to rise, carrying condensation up and out. If you wanted to add more ventilation in the back at the top just make sure you add a bit of roofing/eaves to prevent rain coming in, which is why the eaves ventilation you have now is in the front, protected by the roof. Your gals probably won't want to escape out the eaves vent because the only time that would be necessary would be at night when they roost and sleep. That's not likely to happen.
I found the doors to have major drafts because they aren't flush. I screwed thin strips of wood on the outside of the cleanout door along the edges to overlap and block those gaps. I had a spot on the coop where the boards didn't meet and did much the same. Other than sealing up drafty gaps that are lower than chicken head height, the only thing I see is predator protection. Make a 2 foot wide apron of 1/2 inch hardware cloth all around the outside on the ground and well attached to the bottom of the coop to prevent raccoons and such from digging underneath and getting inside.
You are going to have so much fun watching these gals. Welcome!

 

[b.hromada]

Congrats on your new chickens, they are so sweet! Enjoy them. So glad you joined us too!

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Welcome to BYC, glad you are here. Love your coop, and your girls are so pretty. You will love keeping chickens. I started with a few Buff Orpingtons and now I am totally addicted. Enjoy your girls, they are the best pets.