Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

Putting something like this at that one opening in the roof will pull the moisture out. You can even put a damper on inside to control how much gets pulled out.

 

[lalaland]

I think I would cut some windows out the back end - just take a sawzall ( draw a line first unless you are experienced). If you get the wood out in one piece, you can put a frame around the opening and then use the cut out piece - just hinge it to the frame you made so you can shut it when you want.

I wouldn't use glass, I would just use 1/4 hardware cloth. You will have plenty of ventilation and it will add more light, which I'm thinking you are going to want inside in the winter.

 

[nordicacres]

Gofeedthegirls (hope I got it right!), I love that little shed! It will make a great coop.


Ralphie, thanks for thinking of me. Alas, I have no incubator. Next Spring I will convince DH we need one. It shouldn't be a hard sell, but we have too many projects in the works now. Have fun in FL! Weather sounds amazing

 

[Cluckies]

Do you folks know what Catbirds look like? I have seen them very seldomly, but I hear them in our trees and bushes a lot. Well, yesterday morning while I was turning eggs in the big 'bator, and checking on my started garden plants, I heard a something and turned to see a Catbird had flown into the house with our 3 dogs in pursuit! It must have gone on the porch first, then gotten chased in by the dogs. So, it made its way into our dining room and was flying back and forth between two rooms but keeping as high as it could get rather than coming down to go out a window or door. Finally, after beating the heck out if itself, it did go into the kitchen and rested on top of the cupboards a few seconds, then flew into the family room, straight into a window where it knocked itself for a loop and fell on the floor. I ran over and grabbed it and opened the window and tossed it down the few feet to the ground, where it say for a few seconds then flew off.


That was the fun news.
Now, the bad news...
Weasel returned last night. I lost another 10 birds. It didn't go to the pens where I had the traps, but a different one. So, tonight, i have put out 2 more traps and used the dead birds to bait them with some nice bloody pieces to get their attention. If I don't get that thing killed soon, I might as well kiss my birds goodbye, because I can't keep losing all these 10-12 at a time. I did mow , leaving strips to hopefully direct it/them to where the traps are set.

I'm so sorry you lost more birds. How are the weasels getting to your birds? are your pens 1/2 inch hardware cloth?

 

[gofeedthegirls]

Thank you for your suggestions everyone on the coop setup! I will be sure to post a picture of the coop all finished. It will be a while before I can get to work on it tho. I cannot wait to start on it!

Thanks again,
mike

 

[Cluckies]

Heres what I have right now as my "future" coop. My main concern with this design is ventilation. There is a vent in the top of the building. Although I do not think that will be enough and im asking for advice on how to make this coop happen. I obviously cant cut holes in the metal roof so all I have to deal with is the two end walls. The building is not insulated one bit and there needs to be some repair in one of the corners. The front with the two windows is facing east which is nice. This was used as a larfe scale brooder for 200+ chicks.
How can I make this work any suggestions?

The first post on this thread by Thespoiledchicken has a coop that looks amazingly similar to your coup, she says she has ridge vent installed. She is very active online, i'm sure she would answer any questions you have about her ventilation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621363/poop-board-convert-warning-graphic-gross-poop-pictures

That is a fantastic coop!

 

[gofeedthegirls]

Thank you Cluckies

 

[Minniechickmama]

@gofeedthegirls

Do you live near a Fleet Farm? They have fans that are very decent priced for what you need and you can get the wind guard and all that too, but you will want a small vent on the other end to draw in fresh air too, something with a screen to keep bugs and critters out that might fly in.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I'm so sorry you lost more birds. How are the weasels getting to your birds? are your pens 1/2 inch hardware cloth?

Thanks.
No, those are tractors I built and used chicken wire on, but I believe it is getting in under the edge where mice dig their way in, and probably the mice lead it there in the first place. I have used those two tractors for 4 years with no problem, then this. Last year I had 2 birds that I think a weasel or some polecat got too. I set traps and never caught anything. I am sure the unmowed grass hadn't been helping me either. Everyone send me good vibes so that I catch that little piece of poop.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Polecat....@Minniechickmama LoL. I use that word all the time and I think I got it from my dad. You don't know how many people have asked me, "what's a polecat?!"