Looking forward to egg-y days

[Debbie292d]

Hi there! I've been eyeing up the coops from carolina coops with winter shields for the cold weather. I'm not sure if that would provide enough ventalation? Maybe with a cupola? We would stay within the suggested flock size when the time comes.
Thank you for the breeds insight - I was hoping there would be some cold hardy breeds that have different color eggs (not standard brown and white) so we could add some variety to the flock. I'm excited to share more once we move to our new place!

Here's our Coop Forum where you could puruse different ones our members built. It might help you come up with a better one perhaps.

 

[Jener8or]

Hi there! I've been eyeing up the coops from carolina coops with winter shields for the cold weather. I'm not sure if that would provide enough ventalation? Maybe with a cupola? We would stay within the suggested flock size when the time comes.
Thank you for the breeds insight - I was hoping there would be some cold hardy breeds that have different color eggs (not standard brown and white) so we could add some variety to the flock. I'm excited to share more once we move to our new place!

I kind of looked at Carolina Coops' website and not really sure I like how they are ventilated (looks like if you keep the windows open, there would be direct drafts on the chickens. That would be fine in the summer, but not really in the winter.) I would recommend converting a shed or building your own if you are able. I would just leave part of the eaves/upper exterior walls open or drill lots of holes and cover it with hardware cloth so they circulate air through like soffit or gable vents do. I don't think a cupola will really do that. As long as the part that is open is not letting weather in (protected by eaves) and above their heads, they should do fine.

Any of the 'Eggers' should be a good choice. Olive Eggers have become really popular. I have some Prairie Bluebells that have pea combs and lay blue eggs (they are a type of Easter Egger really). I think if you nail the ventilation, most standard sized layer or dual-purpose breeds will fare just fine. We got down to -28F last year and no frost bite.