Illinois...

[Justso]

View attachment 2636094

She's smiling

 

[Justso]

FYI be on the lookout for ticks. I just had one crawling on my chin. I hate ticks

@Justso do you know when Annie is due for flea tick prevention?

First of the month.

 

[jdragonwings]

So I mentioned that we got more chicks... Which requires me to modify my newly completed coop. I'll need to enclose the whole structure and make the whole thing into our new coop. I'm planning on continuing the wood siding over the whole building.
The way I built the coop was by putting plywood up and then covering it with siding to make sure it was draft free.
I already have the siding (it was free, and is 1x8's). But I don't want to have to buy 4 big sheets of plywood to keep the drafts out.
My question is any ideas on what I could put behind the siding to keep winter drafts out? Would heavy duty plastic work? Or will the chickens immediately peck it to death and destroy it? House wrap?

 

[BReeder!]

So I mentioned that we got more chicks... Which requires me to modify my newly completed coop. I'll need to enclose the whole structure and make the whole thing into our new coop. I'm planning on continuing the wood siding over the whole building.
The way I built the coop was by putting plywood up and then covering it with siding to make sure it was draft free.
I already have the siding (it was free, and is 1x8's). But I don't want to have to buy 4 big sheets of plywood to keep the drafts out.
My question is any ideas on what I could put behind the siding to keep winter drafts out? Would heavy duty plastic work? Or will the chickens immediately peck it to death and destroy it? House wrap?

The 1x8s are free right? Can you get enough of them to put a flat layer on and then an overlapped layer as siding over it? In the days before plywood, planks of wood were used as sheathing on wood framed homes. You could cover the sheathing with house wrap if you desire and then siding, but I think it's an unnecessary layer for a chicken coop.

 

[jdragonwings]

The 1x8s are free right? Can you get enough of them to put a flat layer on and then an overlapped layer as siding over it? In the days before plywood, planks of wood were used as sheathing on wood framed homes. You could cover the sheathing with house wrap if you desire and then siding, but I think it's an unnecessary layer for a chicken coop.

Yeah I could possibly do that... I'm trying to save some of the wood for other projects, lol. And I'm not sure if I have enough to do all that. Would it look bad if I did the additional siding vertically, like board and batten?

 

[SnootyHen]

So I mentioned that we got more chicks... Which requires me to modify my newly completed coop. I'll need to enclose the whole structure and make the whole thing into our new coop. I'm planning on continuing the wood siding over the whole building.
The way I built the coop was by putting plywood up and then covering it with siding to make sure it was draft free.
I already have the siding (it was free, and is 1x8's). But I don't want to have to buy 4 big sheets of plywood to keep the drafts out.
My question is any ideas on what I could put behind the siding to keep winter drafts out? Would heavy duty plastic work? Or will the chickens immediately peck it to death and destroy it? House wrap?

Over the winter, I wrapped my run in HUsky plastic sheeting secured with Flex Tape and it held up to this crazy winter we just had from November until March with just a few tears here and there. The chickens didn't bother it at all. My new puppies, on the other hand...

 

[SnootyHen]

Finally got the run roof re-done today. I am excited to see how it hold up in the rain now although I still have a little work to do in the coop so I am not overly excited to get a ton of it. Just enough to see if the roof leaks would be great!

 

[cavemanrich]

The way I built the coop was by putting plywood up and then covering it with siding to make sure it was draft free.
I already have the siding (it was free, and is 1x8's). But I don't want to have to buy 4 big sheets of plywood to keep the drafts out.

Let me chime in with some ideas that should calm your mind. .
Many peeps want to build their coops draft free, and actually overdo the build. They eliminate every little extremely narrow opening, thinking they are doing the right thing. Of course if the cracks are vertical, they can cause water leaks. Those can be caulk-sealed. Siding boards placed horizontally naturally are water free .
So this brings the subject of VENTILATION. Ventilation is of course the most important portion of a coop. Without it properly working, moisture, and ammonia buildup are the possible bad results. So good ventilation also requires a sufficient opening for take-in air somewhere low. An open pop door in a secured run is a good option. Obviously the openings at the roof-line, are very important. Openings at roost level are also good to have,,,,,,, BUT ONLY AS SUMMER CROSS VENTILATION IN HOT WEATHER.

So now we get to your situation. If you would simply nail those siding 1x8's to the structural upright studs, you would have more than sufficient draft free interior. Just because there may be a tiny crack that develops in time due to wood warping, or shrinking,,, IT WILL NOT CREATE A DRAFT SITUATION.

VENTILATION= a constant gentle movement of air, to replace coop air with outdoor air.

DRAFT= a vigorous movement of air strong enough to ruffle chickens feathers.

So you can see, that not all air movement is draft.

If you have concerns, it is best to go inside your finished coop, on most windy day, and observe your chickens feathers. If there is not feather movement cause by moving air,,,,,, there are no drafts.

Of course if you put your hand near door openings, or window openings, or small cracks, you may feel a draft on your fingers. That does not equate to draft inside coop.,,,,, just added air infusion, that replaces interior air, and is removed overhead. (top roof line ventilation)

 

[jdragonwings]

Let me chime in with some ideas that should calm your mind. .
Many peeps want to build their coops draft free, and actually overdo the build. They eliminate every little extremely narrow opening, thinking they are doing the right thing. Of course if the cracks are vertical, they can cause water leaks. Those can be caulk-sealed. Siding boards placed horizontally naturally are water free .
So this brings the subject of VENTILATION. Ventilation is of course the most important portion of a coop. Without it properly working, moisture, and ammonia buildup are the possible bad results. So good ventilation also requires a sufficient opening for take-in air somewhere low. An open pop door in a secured run is a good option. Obviously the openings at the roof-line, are very important. Openings at roost level are also good to have,,,,,,, BUT ONLY AS SUMMER CROSS VENTILATION IN HOT WEATHER.

So now we get to your situation. If you would simply nail those siding 1x8's to the structural upright studs, you would have more than sufficient draft free interior. Just because there may be a tiny crack that develops in time due to wood warping, or shrinking,,, IT WILL NOT CREATE A DRAFT SITUATION.

VENTILATION= a constant gentle movement of air, to replace coop air with outdoor air.

DRAFT= a vigorous movement of air strong enough to ruffle chickens feathers.

So you can see, that not all air movement is draft.

If you have concerns, it is best to go inside your finished coop, on most windy day, and observe your chickens feathers. If there is not feather movement cause by moving air,,,,,, there are no drafts.

Of course if you put your hand near door openings, or window openings, or small cracks, you may feel a draft on your fingers. That does not equate to draft inside coop.,,,,, just added air infusion, that replaces interior air, and is removed overhead. (top roof line ventilation)

Oh my gosh; thank you!! I totally get what you are saying and that makes perfect sense.

 

[SnootyHen]

The roof held up!!!! We got a fair amount of rain and the run is dry!!! OMG this is the best day!!! I have spent way too much time cleaning up a sloppy wet run from that stupid roof and I am so exited that those days are over now. And now that I know it's going to hold up, I can finish putting on the top layer of PDZs since the re-grade. I didn't want to waste it all just to get water-logged in week but now I can. Happy day!!!