Looking for help in redesign older coop

[NHMountainMan]

Welcome to BYC. Perhaps you could add your location to your profile? I looked to see if you were close enough that I could lend a hand while your hubby recovers. You'll find some remarkably helpful people on BYC! Glad to hear he's on the mend. Hope the doxycycline works it's magic on those tick viruses. My daughter had similar symptoms and fortunately it was caught early and she had no lasting symptoms.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Oh I thought that was updated.
Central Wisconsin. Near princeton

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Also posted pictures! The coop windows are facing north. The roof has a semi clear plastic type roof that lets light in.
Maybe I can remove one window or make it smaller and the other screen w closed wood door option for winter

 

[Bigbluefrog]

They don't need a window by the roost....but some like it.
It could be a problem depending on where you are located in this world and where the coop is located on your site.....too much solar gain can be a problem in the summer or a plus in the winter.
There should be light.... and 24/7/365 ventilation.... in the coop.

The vents are at the peak! And at the base but honestly woodchips get in the floor vents. I posted photos in another post
Vents in winter too? Interesting someone told me to cover all openings in winter other Wisconsinites that raise chickens.
I would think it would get smelly if not vented.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Could you not make a permanent hardware cloth screen for the door, then make solid doors to close when needed? Or are the double doors the people door as well? I think the birds wouldn't like to be closed up completely dark. If you decide to leave the glass doors in, you could orient the coop so the window part is towards the north, so the sun wouldn't shine directly in.
Oh, and welcome to BYC!

Thank you! I did point windows toward north! Yeah! One thing right! Chickens are 5 weeks old. Gonna get cold tonight. I have a infra heat lamp in there.

 

[aart]

Vents in winter too? Interesting someone told me to cover all openings in winter other Wisconsinites that raise chickens.
I would think it would get smelly if not vented.

Yes.
No.
Yes.


Those window doors are interesting, looks like they sized to coop to fit those windows....wonders how they screwed hinges into such a small edge....and the wing nuts must be a bit of a PITA to deal with.
Is that the only access to clean coop?
Not sure if these should kept or not.

The vents are at the peak!

Not seeing these..need more pics.
What are the dimensions of the floor of the coop?
Is the floor wood or mesh under that newspaper?
Lots to look at.
Did your hubs build the run?
If so, he has the skills to revamp this coop,
will take some thought and work tho....hope he feels better soon.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Those window doors are interesting, looks like they sized to coop to fit those windows....wonders how they screwed hinges into such a small edge....and the wing nuts must be a bit of a PITA to deal with.
Is that the only access to clean coop? Yes it is the main clean out. The doors inside coop open too for egg collecting. The original owner had 9 nest boxes 3 high by 3 wide. Since I only have 7 hens I closed off 5. One for my electric outlets, one for a new entrance to run. One for storage, water dish and food dish inside. Yes those wing nuts are a pain!
Coop is 5 by 7 feet.
Screen floor by edges with solid 5/8 solid wood floor with 4 inch vents on 2 sides. Those got covered pine shavings. Vents are at the peak.
Hubby built run! He is feeling better.
Oh I built the ramp

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Sorry don’t know how to circle peak windows. You can see them at the top. It is screen mesh though so I plan to put hardware cloth over it

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Coop is almost done!
Gonna make new doors to replace back ones. I think one framed window and one that is door with screen option inside door

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Original design had 9 nesting boxes.
So I eliminated 2 on the left for the electric and storage.
One became the entrance. I put water and food in another.

Would you use spray Great stuff insulation out of a can to fill gaps? Or would chicks eat it ?