I need shoop building advice!

[wrathsfarm]

Hi! My shed has FINALLY arrived and we are getting busy on turning it into a coop for my chickies!!! It is 10x16. The coop end is the end with the man door. The pop door into the run will go into that door.

I want to do my droppings boards about waist high, which on me is around 40-42" and then do the roosting bars 8-10" above the board. The thing I am worried about is that puts the roosting bars right in line with where the windows open. Obviously in winter, they will be closed, but in the nicer/warm/hot weather, is that going to be bad for them?

Also, for venting, it has a gable vent at each end, but I fear this is not enough. I am looking for ways to get more ventilation. I was going to try to look into making the transom windows operable somehow, but I don't know if we can do that; have them push out (preferably to stop rain) or pull in and have a hardware cloth "screen" on them. Suggestions please!

Lastly, I live in Northern New York. Our summers are hot and humid and our winters are full of a lot of lake effect snow and below zero temps. Should I insulate? Any advice would be helpful as we are starting building! Thank you!!! View attachment 3827706View attachment 3827707View attachment 3827708View attachment 3827709View attachment 3827710View attachment 3827711View attachment 3827712View attachment 3827713View attachment 3827714

Wow that's nice.

 

[emyancey]

View attachment 3851008
Our girls haven't heard of the 1 foot per chicken rule!

Darn chickens not following the rules! hahahahaha

 

[emyancey]

I ended up putting four gable vents in; one on each side of both transom window spaces as suggested in one of the comments here. I put a livestock grade exhaust fan in one end, and I put in two 22x10 gable vents in the other end. I think it will be good!

The temporary run has now been put up. Next spring we will be building a 10x24 to match the shoop.

 

[StaceyKir]

Shoop fist bump!!

I have an 8x12 shed that we put up a dividing wall to make it half storage half coop.

I see yours has a metal roof too. We are currently putting foam insulation up on the interior of the roof to cut down on heat in the coop from the sun beating down on the metal roof. No shade trees near by to cut down on the sun and as the days are getting warmer, its getting hotter in there.

I have a wireless temp/humidity sensor in the coop and in the run so I can monitor the difference. The coop stays at a much lower humidity than the run but on sunny days will get 15-20 degrees hotter easily.

For ventilation I have one window in the back wall, a ridge vent in the roof, and a 650 CFM exhaust fan mounted opposite the window. I can also secure the man door open with out the chickens getting loose on really hot days if needed.

View attachment 3828376

I love your set up!!

 

[KyCoop]

I'm so jealous! That's a great Shoop! Just watch your windows and rain blowing in not having a large overhang. Might have to add awnings on your south and west sides.

 

[emyancey]

I'm so jealous! That's a great Shoop! Just watch your windows and rain blowing in not having a large overhang. Might have to add awnings on your south and west sides.

Thank you!!! Yes, I will be adding awnings to the windows. I learned that I need them over this past summer with the heat and the rain. Also, I didn't get the flower boxes planted with herbs and such and the overhang drips directly onto the edge of the box and splashes into the window, so awnings will be happening this spring.

 

[jreardon1918]

Thank you!!! Yes, I will be adding awnings to the windows. I learned that I need them over this past summer with the heat and the rain. Also, I didn't get the flower boxes planted with herbs and such and the overhang drips directly onto the edge of the box and splashes into the window, so awnings will be happening this spring.

If you do add awnings, you could consider leaving the windows open 24x7x365. I have seen where people add baffles to prevent wind to directly hit the roosts.

Your setup is very nice.

 

[emyancey]

If you do add awnings, you could consider leaving the windows open 24x7x365. I have seen where people add baffles to prevent wind to directly hit the roosts.

Your setup is very nice.

I couldn't leave them open in the winter months. I live in Northern New York and the roosts are at window height. We have regular, prolonged temps with the high in the teens during the day and below zero overnight, tons of snow, and wind, so I have 20 gauge marine grade vinyl over all of the windows right now.

 

[ChaosMom]

I couldn't leave them open in the winter months. I live in Northern New York and the roosts are at window height. We have regular, prolonged temps with the high in the teens during the day and below zero overnight, tons of snow, and wind, so I have 20 gauge marine grade vinyl over all of the windows right now.

Looks great! Have you seen any signs of condensation inside in this cold, or is your ventilation alone handling it all?