Hi everyone! I've been a chicken mama for about 3 months now and am loving my 4 girls! It's getting cooler here in CT and pretty soon the snow will be falling. I'm looking for some ideas and advice on how to get my coop in good order for the Winter months. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!!
The coop is a very large dog house set up off the ground with a enclosed run around it. The chickens use the ramp and "dog" door to go into the coop to roost at night and to lay their eggs in their nesting boxes during the day. At the current time, there is no actual door that closes over the dog door. Thinking this is a necessary change with Winter coming.
Our egg door is HUGE...my parents helped build our coop and while this wasn't my original idea for an egg door, it's worked out well for collecting eggs and for cleaning out the coop. I don't think drafts are an issue with the door because of the way the dog house was originally designed (2x4's, T-11 and insulation) - the way the egg door was cut, it butts up against wood, so it doesn't swing all the way in...if that makes any sense.
As of now, the coop has no ventilation. I know that I need to put some in. I'm concerned about where their roost is vs. where I can put vents in. I know I don't want the air blowing directly on the girls and am wondering where I should put the vents so air won't blow directly on them.
I'm thinking of putting tarps over the top of the run for the Winter to help keep snow out of their run but then I worry about them not having enough sunshine for them. Also, right now we put their feed under the coop and their waterer is out in the run. Do I need to move these into coop for the Winter or leave them just as they are?
Thanks so much for taking a look, hopefully I can get some good ideas from you wonderful BYC'rs
~Jaime
A view of the coop & run. That side door on the coop is their only access and it doesn't have a door on it to close - thinking should add one to close up at night once they've gone in to roost
The egg door closed
The egg door open - see how the door butts up on boards, thinking less of a draft because of that. Also, see the roost...the coop is at an angle. The highest point is at the egg door, the lowest point is at the roost. Maybe vents on the left and the right sides of the coop by the egg door that way there's no direct air flow onto my girls but ventilation?
*edited to change title
The coop is a very large dog house set up off the ground with a enclosed run around it. The chickens use the ramp and "dog" door to go into the coop to roost at night and to lay their eggs in their nesting boxes during the day. At the current time, there is no actual door that closes over the dog door. Thinking this is a necessary change with Winter coming.
Our egg door is HUGE...my parents helped build our coop and while this wasn't my original idea for an egg door, it's worked out well for collecting eggs and for cleaning out the coop. I don't think drafts are an issue with the door because of the way the dog house was originally designed (2x4's, T-11 and insulation) - the way the egg door was cut, it butts up against wood, so it doesn't swing all the way in...if that makes any sense.
As of now, the coop has no ventilation. I know that I need to put some in. I'm concerned about where their roost is vs. where I can put vents in. I know I don't want the air blowing directly on the girls and am wondering where I should put the vents so air won't blow directly on them.
I'm thinking of putting tarps over the top of the run for the Winter to help keep snow out of their run but then I worry about them not having enough sunshine for them. Also, right now we put their feed under the coop and their waterer is out in the run. Do I need to move these into coop for the Winter or leave them just as they are?
Thanks so much for taking a look, hopefully I can get some good ideas from you wonderful BYC'rs

~Jaime



*edited to change title
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