My first coop and first chicks!

[JustYokingAround]

Very cute! You are off to a great start with your design.

Other than your window facing the run, do you have additional ventilation in the coop up high?

You are still working on the run but make sure you close the gaps between the coop and the run. Animals can still get to your chicks through chicken wire so you might want to add hardware cloth.

My plan is to cut holes in the top portion of the coop. Sometime this week. I have left the chicken door and window wide open in the mean time to keep the air flowing.

 

[Dayrel]

I have the chicken wire laying on the ground under the mulch and fastened to the run. It extends 3ft out all the way around. The hardware cloth is a great idea! I will get some this week and incorporate it in. It's hard to see but there is shade 80% of the day on the run. I cut out that area in the trees just for that reason. Only in the morning until 10 am is there full sun. Should I make my outdoor roost out of 2 inch thick branches? Or treated lumber? Curious if the treated lumber would absorb into there feet. Thank you!

2" is a good width- both branches and finished wood work fine. You can actually go up to 4", particularly inside.

 

[JustYokingAround]

2" is a good width- both branches and finished wood work fine. You can actually go up to 4", particularly inside.

Ok I will make some tweaks to the plans.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Should I make my outdoor roost out of 2 inch thick branches? Or treated lumber? Curious if the treated lumber would absorb into there feet.

Nice sturdy tree branches work just fine for outdoor perches

One thing you do need to look into is more ventilation. It doesn't seem that practical, especially if you are in a cold climate, but more is better. A closed up coop gets very dusty, sometimes moldy and can be a breeding ground for respiratory disease.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/c...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

 

[JustYokingAround]

Nice sturdy tree branches work just fine for outdoor perches

One thing you do need to look into is more ventilation. It doesn't seem that practical, especially if you are in a cold climate, but more is better. A closed up coop gets very dusty, sometimes moldy and can be a breeding ground for respiratory disease.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/c...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

Wow great article! Thank you for that. I was just going to drill a few holes but now I think I am going to do more

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Wow great article! Thank you for that. I was just going to drill a few holes but now I think I am going to do more

You can always make covers/partial blocking for winter time if need be. My husband used a large hole saw on the back beam of my coop. I saved those wooden plugs and use those to block the holes directly over the roosts in winter when the wind is blowing hard (North side coop). Or you can staple a little plastic to slow the air flow.

I do like your coop

 

[21hens-incharge]

I use big branches in my run. They came from my own trees so had never been chemically treated.

I assumed you had open soffits. Yes to more ventilation.

I put plastic baffles in my coops to direct airflow off the sleeping birds. Super easy to add in and works well.

 

[techbsmith]

The others are Easter Eggers?

I was thinking the same.

 

[bruceha2000]

Good build.

Agree on the need for more ventilation, it is actually more important in the winter than in summer in cold climates. I would suggest you run the roost along the back wall higher than the nest box entrance, make it at least 12" from the wall. Then put some low openings on the pop door side so fresh air can come in low and the "old" air can (via natural convection) go out the upper vents you are planning to install.

That chip board NEEDS to be waterproofed or you are going to have a lot of mold and a rotting floor. I've seen people post that they use a product called Black Jack.

And x2 on the chicken wire. Coons can reach through it and rip a chicken's head off. It is also very weak protection against canine predators.

 

[JustYokingAround]

Good build.

Agree on the need for more ventilation, it is actually more important in the winter than in summer in cold climates. I would suggest you run the roost along the back wall higher than the nest box entrance, make it at least 12" from the wall. Then put some low openings on the pop door side so fresh air can come in low and the "old" air can (via natural convection) go out the upper vents you are planning to install.

That chip board NEEDS to be waterproofed or you are going to have a lot of mold and a rotting floor. I've seen people post that they use a product called Black Jack.

And x2 on the chicken wire. Coons can reach through it and rip a chicken's head off. It is also very weak protection against canine predators.

Maybe I will drill holes in the sliding door for air flow. Maybe that will help circulate better. My floor is 3/4 treated ply. Thinking about running some oak 1x6 lumber as a trim around the floor to combat that.