little tikes log cabin

[CoyoteMagic]

I think you should be good. Our buddy, Pat, up in Alaska doesn't use any insulation and does fine.

 

[redhen]

Insulation... and maybe a heat lamp...
You should be okay...
I always worry about mine too in the winter..
Very cute set-up!

 

[2txmedics]

This is mine...found it trashed, spray painted it, ...added shavings and two nest boxes, one on the shelf thats in there and one under the shelf...I can close it at night if I choose, and also on the open grill part, I add a covering in winter...has a light installed inside at the top part of the roof.

 

[Shannoniganshens]

I'm not alone, I have 2 playhouses for my girls, pushed them together, have 3 nest boxes, 2 in the large one and 1 in the smaller, both with roosts. My girls love it........or is that me?

 

[@~rosecityfarmgirl~@]

Oh my gosh, if this thread gets any cuter...

I love the little Barbie house! We tried buying one off of kijiji when we were looking to do our first coop, but they were expensive, even used. As a result, I have a much less expensive, shall we say 'proletarian' coop. No luxuries. Nothing extravagant. But it works lol! I think it would be cool to have a thread for 'odd' coops - I've even seen one made from an old clothes dryer!

 

[Vepla]

Quote:
Hi dcasey,
I love your coop! And the run is wonderful, too!
I am also in Massachusetts, just south of Boston, and have a new plastic log house coop which I'd like to insulate with the spray stuff. How many cans did you end up using for yours?
Someone told me to try to do 1sq. foot section at a time and then wait an hour for the foam to fully expand before adding more. This will work on the roof, door and shutters (they are kind of see-through if you hold them against the light), but how do you know how much space is left in the walls with this "stop and go" method? And if you just drill holes only at the bottom, how can you be sure you got the whole wall filled?

CoyoteMagic, using political signs in a chicken coop is a great idea! Might be a political statement in itself...

I used sections of leftover vinyl house siding in the inside corners to cover the joint gaps. It works to stop the drafts and it seems to be pretty sturdy.

I am also planning to make plexiglass windowpanes, maybe velcroed on the inside? I already have hardware mesh screens on all the windows, so they should be secure. The plexiglass would just be for the winter. I am more concerned about providing enough ventilation when it's cold than stopping drafts, which is relatively easy. It might be better to hinge the plexi on top so that it can be opened like an awning on the inside, to let some air in during the day (but not an artic blast).

Any suggestions or thoughts would be very helpful! I have only had my two outside girls (the two inside girls are feline tabbies) since June. Sorry for the long post, but I just joined the forums (finally, after reading them for a long time!) and this is my first post.

Thanks!
Vepla

 

[dcasey]

Hi Vepla,
Thanks for writing. As far as insulation, I only used two cans. There was already a hole in the bottom of each wall panel when I bought it (water was draining from them), so I sprayed insulation in those and don't think it is filled completely. I didn't want to overdo it and just stopped. On the corners of the walls on the inside I had screwed wood with hardware cloth and then sprayed the insulation on the outside in the crevices along the sides. (I like your idea using vinyl siding.) I also put caulking along the bottom and along the center of the roof line to keep out water. I did have some leakage during those really rainy days a few weeks ago near the bottom of the sides and just tightened it up with more caulk and insulation where there were holidays. Still worried about the extreme cold weather. What do you plan to do about that? I was thinking of putting bales of straw around the cabin and covering it with a tarp if the chicks seem uncomfortably cold. They seem very happy now and actually just started to roost (they were piling up on the floor before). These are my first chickens and I'm having a blast with them. Let me know how you are doing with yours. deb

 

[Baymule]

1st of all, a big WELCOME!!!! to Vepla. 2nd, 3rd and into infinity, I LOVE YOUR TIKES COOPS

I too lurked on BYC for months before chiming in. I garnered much useful info from the members and I enthusiastically reccomend BYC to friends, strangers and the un-chickened. LOL This thread makes me want a Tikes coop. I will have to start checking craigslist for one.....or two........ well, ya'll understand chicken math.

 

[jomercer]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41679_july2010_007.jpg

What is the purple ball thing?​

 

[MJCooper42]

a cat litter box?