Large, Open-Air Coop in Central NC

[3KillerBs]

I finlly sat down and read this whole thread. You guys are amazing. A great design and fantastic work.

Thank you.

DH's roof design is the key factor in the success with airflow.

 

[kmart60]

Our coop does not allow for an automatic door and I can't justify the cost of one.

Yeah, you can. Our auto door cost $300 and has a 3 year warranty. Assuming it only lasts as long as its warranty, that's 30 cents/day to sleep in or stay out late. Cheap as...

 

[3KillerBs]

Yeah, you can. Our auto door cost $300 and has a 3 year warranty. Assuming it only lasts as long as its warranty, that's 30 cents/day to sleep in or stay out late. Cheap as...

That's a pretty big lump sum for some people -- me included.

A couple week's groceries worth of investment for my household.

 

[My_3_Hens]

Yeah, you can. Our auto door cost $300 and has a 3 year warranty. Assuming it only lasts as long as its warranty, that's 30 cents/day to sleep in or stay out late. Cheap as...

Our coop is plastic; an automatic door is not an option. Also, because our coop sits entirely inside a predator proof run, I won't have to close the coop door at night in the summer -- they'll go in at dark and come out when it's light -- and be protected the entire time.

 

[3KillerBs]

I thought I'd note that, with the small adjustments made in this thread, Hurricane Ian barely dampened the wires and, thanks to very dry ground after a month with almost no rain, my deep litter is still bone dry -- too dry, in fact, to compost well.

Super-generous roof overhangs make a tremendous difference.

 

[linguini]

I thought I'd note that, with the small adjustments made in this thread, Hurricane Ian barely dampened the wires and, thanks to very dry ground after a month with almost no rain, my deep litter is still bone dry -- too dry, in fact, to compost well.

Super-generous roof overhangs make a tremendous difference.

I constantly have the overhangs envy

 

[3KillerBs]

I constantly have the overhangs envy

When I ended up with those giant overhangs on the uphill side my DH asked if he should trim them back and I said not to because it would be useful for storage and as a path to walk around the coop in wet weather.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Still regret the almost nonexistent overhangs on my goat shed. One foot minimum is my new rule of thumb. Glad to hear Ian left you unscathed @3KillerBs

 

[3KillerBs]

Still regret the almost nonexistent overhangs on my goat shed. One foot minimum is my new rule of thumb. Glad to hear Ian left you unscathed @3KillerBs

Part of the reason we left the "back" overhang so big was the reluctance to trim the size of the metal roofing sheets. DH was afraid that even with the electric shears we'd have a hard time making a neat cut.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Part of the reason we left the "back" overhang so big was the reluctance to trim the size of the metal roofing sheets. DH was afraid that even with the electric shears we'd have a hard time making a neat cut.

DH was right. Even with a cut off wheel, a clean cut of sheet metal is as much art as science.