Is my coop all wrong?!

[CarlaCo]

I’m new here and would appreciate any advice or help. Our chicks are 4 weeks old. We are getting the overpriced coop ready for them and I’m panicked as I notice (too late) bad design. Background info: We will have one rooster and five hens- all Rhode Island Reds.
We live in Upstate NY and our location here is frequently windy. Roosting bars are only about 45”. The top roosting bar is presently 7 or so inches from the vent wall and the next bar slightly lower but only 7 or so inches from the top bar.
I’m panicked our girls won’t fit when full grown and that they may poop on the chickens on the lower bar.
My other major concern is ventilation because it looks like the vent and window will have to be closed during winter and much of the year to prevent drafts while they are sleeping.

 

[nuthatched]

Can you cut under the soffit and under the peak? The coop is a bit snug for 6 birds. Can you sell it/take it back and build one or get a used shed?

 

[TooCheep]

Do not close the windows in winter. It looks like you really do not have enough ventilation as it is, allowing heat build-up in summer and moisture/frost build-up in winter. Most chickens (including RIRs) can handle cold weather, but direct cold drafts from the window is a problem. As long as neither window is facing the prevailing wind, they will be much better off.

As for the roosts, I'd recommend removing one and moving it so they are at least one foot apart. The total roost space is fine, but one roost will not be enough for them.

What are the interior dimensions of the coop (not including nest boxes)?

The common rule of thumb for minimum spacing of full-sized chickens is 1ft/bird roost space, 4sqft/bird in coop, 10sqft/bird in the run.

The fencing may be strong enough, but it definitely isn't small enough. Raccoons can reach through, grab chickens and kill them. Smaller animals- rats, snakes, etc can enter easily. The ideal is 1/2" hardware cloth which is much smaller and can prevent anything except mice and small snakes (annoyances only).

Although you mentioned it in your post, I recommend you add your general location in your profile. Some questions (like this one) are location-dependent and that would be helpful.

Finally, welcome to BYC. People are very helpful here, so feel free to ask questions and people will be happy to jump in and help.

 

[WIchickMama]

it looks like more ventilation is definitely needed. I would like @TooCheep said move one of the roosting bars, you can do it so they are parallel to each other with space in between or make them into a T shape, that is what I did with mine AND they have a ladder to roost on if someone wants to be alone.

 

[perkolator]

Get a hole saw and cut some ventilation holes up high, such as gable vent and under the eaves - cover with hardware cloth. Now you've got more ventilation if you decide you need to close the window due to the rain coming in sideways or something like that

I would relocate the roost bars a few inches further away from the wall, or you'll have poop drips all along the wall there. IMO 6 chickens will fit fine across the 45" span, but the 2nd roost bar would still be a good thing, but I'd space it further away

 

[3KillerBs]

IIRC, @DobieLover is in upstate NY and can give you good advice in re: the weather.

You definitely need to open up more ventilation and to cover everything with 1/2" hardware cloth. Open along the eves under the overhang and at the very peak of the gable to allow good air flow.

Here's my coop ventilation article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

 

[Callender Girl]

It's not a horrible coop; some modifications are totally possible. And, you are getting a lot of good advice.

But, if, like me, you are not comfortable cutting into the coop to add ventilation, you can make a deflector that allows air in but blocks direct drafts from hitting your chickens. I just cut up a plastic water jug and fastened it to the window frame; it directs the air up and away from my chickens. And I leave the window open all winter, even though it's extremely windy in north central Iowa. It's kind of like the ones they sell in catalogs in case you want to put furniture over a floor register and need to redirect the air flow in your house. But much cheaper!

BTW, congrats on your flock; I've always liked RIRs!

 

[DobieLover]

If you can't return it and are stuck with it, I would remove the rear roost entirely. You should be able to install a portion of the removed bar about 12" off the back wall to add to your roost space.

For winter protection you can put a piece of plywood, plexiglass, or some other rigid board across the bottom of the window up to the rafters to direct the wind up over the birds heads. I would just install hooks or something like that level along to bottom of the window framing to set the wind block into then screw it into the rafters at the top.

I would then climb up on that roof, peel off the cap shingles, get out your circular saw and rip the roof deck off 2.5 inches on both sides of the peak then install a ridge vent and new cap shingles. Cap the ends about three shingles in before installing the vent, then cap the vent. That will protect the outer rafters.

 

[CarlaCo]

Can you cut under the soffit and under the peak? The coop is a bit snug for 6 birds. Can you sell it/take it back and build one or get a used shed?

We are looking at adding a vent over the door and one on the opposite side for cross ventilation. We can’t take it back esp as I tung oiled the inside. I feel very deceived by The Hen House Collection which brochure assured it could house 8-10 chickens! So we thought six would easily fit. We also stupidly assumed that Amish built meant the Amish designed it and we figured they ought to know what they are doing. I feel so taken!

 

[CarlaCo]

Do not close the windows in winter. It looks like you really do not have enough ventilation as it is, allowing heat build-up in summer and moisture/frost build-up in winter. Most chickens (including RIRs) can handle cold weather, but direct cold drafts from the window is a problem. As long as neither window is facing the prevailing wind, they will be much better off.

As for the roosts, I'd recommend removing one and moving it so they are at least one foot apart. The total roost space is fine, but one roost will not be enough for them.

What are the interior dimensions of the coop (not including nest boxes)?

The common rule of thumb for minimum spacing of full-sized chickens is 1ft/bird roost space, 4sqft/bird in coop, 10sqft/bird in the run.

The fencing may be strong enough, but it definitely isn't small enough. Raccoons can reach through, grab chickens and kill them. Smaller animals- rats, snakes, etc can enter easily. The ideal is 1/2" hardware cloth which is much smaller and can prevent anything except mice and small snakes (annoyances only).

Although you mentioned it in your post, I recommend you add your general location in your profile. Some questions (like this one) are location-dependent and that would be helpful.

Finally, welcome to BYC. People are very helpful here, so feel free to ask questions and people will be happy to jump in and help.

We are in Zone 5b so loads of cold here. We live on a hill And the wind is tremendous at times so not sure how much we could do with that window as it is directly across from the roosting bars. However we did think we could flip the hinges on the vent side so that we can just sort of block the wind but prop the covering open underneath. If that makes sense. From door to door it is only four feet. It says it’s 3’ x 4’. But including nesting box area it’s 4x4.
I will try to add finer netting. We do get raccoons here!
Thanks for the tips!