My first try at a coop? ? ? ?

[Crazy Mitch]

any interest?

 

[J-Sanders]

In what?

 

[Crazy Mitch]

I posted a bunch of in progress shoots of my first coop asking for some insight and direction. I hoped to get an immediate response . . . silly me. . . living in a tech world I thought I would get some instant answers. . . that is why they call me crazy.

I have 11 chicks about two months old . . . awkward pre-teen mode I think? ? ? Still learning. I'm in the Far North Northwest of Chicago.

It is 6'X 8' coop and the run is 4'x4'x9' and I will need to add a roof over the run.

I have electric for a heat lamp for winter? And water heater for winter.

1) I don't know about venting (year around)? There will be two windows that open.

2) And just saw Opa's link on nesting boxes. . . which I will try to build.

3) Flooring? ? ? I used deck paint. . and maybe needed to use something else?

4) pest control? ? ? I will have to adapt what I have? Somehow?

Here is the start of my coop. I do have three walls up now and there are going to be 3/8 ply on both sides of the studs.












Thanks for asking and looking.

Crazy Mitch

 

[ellandeeranch]

Well, from another newb, I think you're on the way. Sounds like your square footage is sufficient. I used some old linoleum I have for the floor, then plan to toss pine shavings on it once the chicks go in. Mine are about the same age as yours.

 

[Crazy Mitch]

That sounds good . . . I will look for some. What about the walls?

 

[ellandeeranch]

As I look on line and at the folks around here who keep chickens, several philosophies emerge. It depends on how pretty you want it, I guess. Our winters are cold at night (single digits are rare, the teens and twenties are normal), but we never stay frozen all day unless it's snowing. We have what I call "friendly snow." It comes in, makes everything pretty, then is gone in a day or two. We get a half-dozen or so of those.

So I'm not planning on doing inside insulation. I could see where people would like to make it nice inside, but we're just doing a ton of other things around here.

That sounds good . . . I will look for some. What about the walls?

 

[Crazy Mitch]

As I look on line and at the folks around here who keep chickens, several philosophies emerge. It depends on how pretty you want it, I guess. Our winters are cold at night (single digits are rare, the teens and twenties are normal), but we never stay frozen all day unless it's snowing. We have what I call "friendly snow." It comes in, makes everything pretty, then is gone in a day or two. We get a half-dozen or so of those.

So I'm not planning on doing inside insulation. I could see where people would like to make it nice inside, but we're just doing a ton of other things around here.

I love those snows. . . however our snow lasts. . . .for a while longer and sometimes all season and deep (Lake Michigan Snow Storms).

I'm sure there isn't a set standard and every coop is different. . . I read/heard you don't have to insulate the walls. . . but maybe in the nesting boxes with Opa's ramp system on an outside wall.

But you need ventilation all winter . . . correct? So I will have roof vents (under the overhang - over the nesting boxes) that are open into the coop. . .and at the peak I need some vent to the out side (that is protected from rain and the wasps nesting in there) I was thinking of a PVC pipe of a dryer duct vent cap? I just don't know how big or small is needed.

Also I have 1/4 inch wire but the wasps can crawl through there. . . .has anyone used screen to close up an opening? Does it clog up with air born dust and "things" ? ? ? I was thinking of using a combo of the 1/4" and screen?

This is what I was thinking. . . (have to open area inside the coop stay open but I need to open up at the peak to let the air out). . . and then a vent of some sort at the peak? ? that vents out the peak of the coop on both sides?




Is this ok? ? ? ? ? ? ?

I read you need ventilation but not drafts?

Thanks for the help.

Crazy Mitch

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Chickens will eat wasps...and most other pests that find their way in. Chickens can't have too much ventilation. You need the roof vent, and large windows on te south and/or east side. I just have hardware cloth over the opening and shutters to close them later. Chickens like cold bt they can,t tolerate dampness and cold. Also their poop will dry out faster and smell less.

 

[Crazy Mitch]

Great information! ! ! I love they will eat the wasps . . . they are everywhere! Thanks!

I have regular house windows with screens that open/close. . . and I will put hardware cloth over those and secure it from the outside for big predator prevention! I planned by chance a window on the south and east side of the coop! Lucky! The lower right box above the nesting box and the far left upper box are going to be windows . . .I still have to put the outer layer of plywood on first.

So what do you think about the vent idea that I just posted above? Is that enough. . .

 

[DianaMallory]

Looks like you did your homework before building! Good start! You said you are going to use hardware cloth over windows, but is that hardware cloth or chicken wire that you have skirting the bottom of the coop? Your run looks big enough but I wasn't happy with mine after my 11 girls grew. I had 4'x5'x8' I thought they looked crowded so I made my husband make it bigger. Here is before and after pic


Look at all the leaves laying on the ground looks like fall in my yard, this was taken the middle of July and the drought is blame for the leaves.