My first try at a coop? ? ? ?

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Insulation isn't really needed unless you are in a very cold artic envirment, it might be nice in the roof to keep the coop cooler in the summer...you wouldn't want just tin for example in the hot sun. Drafts are those places that let the breeze blow through intermitantly. So you do want the west and north sides pretty tight. You don't want huge differences in temp between the indoor and out. Every notice how people with a/c never go outside? If your house is very warm in winter it seems way too cold outside? And you can feel those drafts. Ventilation will allow a steady state of evaporation to occur, and as hot air rises it will carry moisture and fumes up and out the vents. You also don't want the chickens roostng directly under those vents, heads under a solid part of roof, not too high up. Make sense?

 

[Crazy Mitch]

Yes. . . it is GREAT information . . . I will be working on it again in the next day or two! Right now I was going to leave that area in the ceiling open for venting. . . But I was also thinking of putting the roost there?

My thought process is . . . a place where the heat would rise from the nesting boxes below. . . into that area and carried to the peak of the coop! and out? But I don't know if I can have the roost under that? It is a five foot high area on that side. I will look at it again. . . and maybe back to the drawing board. But better now than redoing something. . ..

The roof is plywood and under a tree. So there is some good shade. But it does get sun for a while.

Thanks again everyone for all the great information!

Gotta go to work to pay for all this.

GB
Crazy Mitch

 

[Crazy Mitch]

Working on the coop today. So I hope to make some good progress. We will see.

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions. . .I will have to rethink the roosting area.

Can it be in front of the window?

I will be insulating the nesting box walls. and leaving the rest. And then boarding up the holes in the ceiling over the roosting area.

Well off into the Chicago heat wave.

GB
Crazy Mitch.

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

The roost can be in front of the window as long as it is a real window and isn't just wire. In the winter it would be too cold if the window is wired, though. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Roosts in front of the window is fine, mine is rat wire with shutters that open and close. I've contemplated putting Plexiglas panels over it for winter so sun shine can come in. Roosts under the vent are OK, just not with their heads in that space, so several feet lower is OK. One tip, use screws, not nails, so if you change your mind it's a lot easier to zip out the screws and move it. An excellent book is fresh air poultry by norton press. It goes on about the half moniter house, but te basic principle relys on lots of air, I have a full moniter coop, which vents well, summer and winter. I never block it off. Chickens are basically big down pillows and the only problem is damp air frosting their combs, condensation principle. I've never had frostbite in my chickens and we've had some cold winters. You are off to an excellent start, I'm sure your chikens will be healthier ones.

 

[Crazy Mitch]

Thank you all for the input it is really helpful . . . I'm already thinking of another coop like you suggested. . . it would be really cool! . . . but we will see how this one works first! hehehe

I don't know if I have a foot of space. . .but I think the way it is laid out. . . it might be ok. . . the air would be going right up the rafters to the peak. We will see. I might reduce the space (about 6 inches right now) of the opening inside the coop. I've got two windows. But you get the idea. Will this be ok? or do I have to reduce or enclose that space next to the wall (inside the coop)? ?? ? ? I will screen up the vent on the outside.









One step at a time.

I hope to get the rest structure of the coop done today -except the door! So we will see. Then it is moving to building the inside!

Thanks again!
Crazy Mitch!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I think it looks really good, the roosts can be fine just at the window height (tails lower prevents poop splatter) and they are in a good spot. It will be really good coop for them. Chickens do look out windows you know...they are aware of what they can see. Are you thinking off easy to remove roosts? The kind that just set down into a bracket and lift out for easy cleaning? Just one of those things I have on my wish list.

 

[7L Farm]

Chickens like too roost in a window. As mentioned you can put plexiglass over the window in the winter. I'm like you I don't want to loose my chickens to a predator. I would put something over the chicken wire. I've heard nothing but bad news with people that use it. I only use half inch hardware cloth on my coops. You never know. Sounds like you already need another coop. You do trust me. I started as you & now have 7 pens & most of my coops are over 300 sq ft heck one of them is 500 sq ft. Good luck your smart for asking questions. One thing I've learned is a coop is never finished.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

True...I only use hardware cloth or rat wire, and u nails that I hammer in. I buy it by the rolls. There are always modifications as time goes on...I am planning an addition to the coop I have, just for roosting...I also plan to add a door so i can fill a waterer from the outside in the winter and not even go inside, feeder too. If I use the slope to my advantage I won't have to bend over to slide the water and feeder inside. (Slopping and tipping the water as I go) thank goodness for power tools!

 

[Crazy Mitch]

I like the removable with bracket idea!

And 7 coops. . . I don't have room . . .unless i move? And who knows the way IL is. . . I might be the last one in the state. . . everyone is leaving in droves. . . taxes and politics.
Do you have pictures of them? Can you sent a link.

I did double up on the wire. . but it is a larger wire we had it will keep out the big stuff.

And I will have to rethink the run.

I got alot done . . .but lost all my help. . . back to a one man job.

Thanks again for all the advise. I'm storing it in my little bean. . .. I will get pictures and post later.

Crazy Mitch