Major coop overhaul and a ventilation question

[Ste]

Five years ago we bought our house with this little garden shed.

We converted it to a coop with a temporary run.

We finally got the trees taken out and the new fence up and we are doing a major overhaul of our coop/run and storage. Tore down the old run and took the roof off.

Using the original coop as the corner we framed the new run and the roof. End of day 1 overhaul.

The original coop is 8x8 with this window in the end and one in the front. The plan is to raise the floor 30 inches to add additional run space and keep the rats at bay.

We have a pretty mild climate in the Pacific Northwest. We get occasional days in the 30's and Occasional snow but usually not much. We also get occasional days in the 90's but usually not many. We do get a lot of rain.

I'm thinking of removing the front window since it faces the house. I'm not sure if the porch lights from the house are an issue in the window at night.

do I leave the front window or cover over it? Do I remove the window and add vents at the top?

Will add a comment with Day 2 overhaul.

 

[Ste]

Day 2 overhaul. My son attaching hardware cloth. I'm going to add a couple upright 2x4's in the middle to support the length of hardware cloth.

Two layers of hardware cloth attached. OSB added to top front. Still need to frame the door and decide what to do with the window.

"Back" wall. This will actually become the middle of our structure when we are done. There will be an 8x24 foot storage shed attached to this back side. We are doing the building in two parts.

End of the run with two layers of hardware cloth. I need to trim the ends of the beam still and add OSB at the top.

The ladies enjoying their new space!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Don't forget to include a "poop board", big MUST in the coop.

 

[aart]

I'm thinking of removing the front window since it faces the house. I'm not sure if the porch lights from the house are an issue in the window at night.
do I leave the front window or cover over it? Do I remove the window and add vents at the top?

Nice work!!

If the window hasn't been problem in the past, I would leave it.

Would leave the new soffit areas on the coop open,
but covered with 1/2" HC from the outside(check My Coop page).
Maybe gable vents on both ends of coop,
or only on the run end as it's well protected from rain.

 

[Folly's place]

x2! You can't have too much ventilation, and the window is fine, covered in hardware cloth. I'd add more security to the hardware cloth run area. Mine has 2"x4" woven wire over the lower 4', in addition to the hardware cloth, all stapled in with 3/4" staples, and then 1"x4" boards screwed in over all the seams. I tried to plan for both weasels, and 100 lb. dogs trying to get to my birds. Also, a dig proof foundation, if it's not already done. Predators are tricky, and motivated! Mary

 

[Lady42]

Looks awesome, good job. Does your fencing go into the ground at all? In my area predators would dig under, we have to bury fencing a few feet down. Such a pain.

 

[Ste]

This hen is the work supervisor two different days!

 

[Ste]

Day 3 renovation

Today we demo'd the bottom part of the coop. The back wall will stay all the way to the ground. End and front will be wire. Inside side will be open to the run for additional run space.

Temporary wire on the front and side. Thankfully we live in an area that doesn't have many predators and our dogs are pretty protective of the hens. We had an eagle that tried to take off with one of our hens unsuccessfully. We haven't had anything else get in there.

Next step will be framing in the new raised floor and framing the end wall out to the new posts.

 

[Ste]

Don't forget to include a "poop board", big MUST in the coop.

We normally do pine shavings in the bottom. Thinking of doing a drop down door so I can rake straight into the run from the coop.

 

[Ste]

Nice work!!

If the window hasn't been problem in the past, I would leave it.

Would leave the new soffit areas on the coop open,
but covered with 1/2" HC from the outside(check My Coop page).
Maybe gable vents on both ends of coop,
or only on the run end as it's well protected from rain.

I was wondering if I could do hardware cloth at the top between the run and coop. Would be good ventilation.