Need help evaluating coop design please

[CTChickenMom]

If you put in a pop door you will need to be able to secure it well. You won't want anything that can be easily lifted or slid open. A multipart latch would probably work. I've drawn out a latch I'd like to use, I'll see if I can duplicate it online.

 

[Jay13]

Oh, the other reason I was thinking of just using the people door if its not an issue is to help with air flow in the summer. We can get up in the 100s due to living in lovely NC and it gets HUMID. Trying to run a dehumidifier isn't really an option for them. I have been considering how I might change the coop into an "open air" design, but I don't want to run into predator problems...

 

[#1California Chick]

Is your electricty pretty dependable??? If you get frequent power failures, then your fence is NO fence!!

 

[azelgin]

#1California Chick :

Is your electricty pretty dependable??? If you get frequent power failures, then your fence is NO fence!!

Yes, when the power goes out, we have no ELECTRIC fence. If it happens at night, no big deal. Everybody is locked up. We also have no water, or telephone, internet, TV, garage door opener, freezer, refridgerator, ect.. It's not the perfect answer, but it beats everything else available to us. Life is not perfect.​

 

[CTChickenMom]

I'm going to recycle some French doors and use them as windows on my coop. I'll keep them open in good weather but I will be putting hardware cloth over the opening so that hens stay in and predators out. You could create a door with a large opening in it and put hardware cloth in the opening. It will let in summer breezes and keep the humidity lower in the hen house. An open pop door and a ceiling vent should create an updraft which would keep humidity down. My run will be covered. We have many coyotes, hawks, and a pesky neighbor dog who likes to shake what she catches. I see opossums and coons dead along the road too, not taking chances.

 

[Jay13]

#1California Chick :

Is your electricty pretty dependable??? If you get frequent power failures, then your fence is NO fence!!

Unfortunately, no its not what I would call dependable but when it is out, it is seldom for more than an hour. I know my dogs stay away from the fence even when it is unplugged for maintanence, they have been popped enough times to know better.

CTChickenMom :

Oh how I wish I knew how to put windows in my coop... but its a metal shed and the structural integrity thing with the wind we get is important. We actually interconected 3 sheds to build one looooong one, the neighboring shed will contain goats the one on the far end houses the pumphouse, electrics and tools. they are separated by a lower half wall and for right now chicken wire on top to keep the chickens in as the other doors stay shut all the time.

When we do get our goats, we plan on leaving one goat door open to allow some fresh air to circulate at night... on the other hand, do you think a racoon would be able to climb the slick metal sides of a steel building if there isn't anything next to it to assist? And how far could they jump? I don't put much of anything past coons...​

 

[CTChickenMom]

Coons are very sly. I think if there was anything within 5-7 feet of your hen house they could climb on, they would be a high risk. If they have nothing to get a grip on, than no. I think I'll be putting some low voltage wire around the perimeter of my run to help deter the masked marauders from climbing or digging. I will also be installing a motion light on the front of the hen house to discourage night time critters. Have you ever seen those owls at places like Agway or Tractor Supply that actually hoot when something crosses into their line of vision, like motion detector lights? That may actually help you out in the orchard.

 

[Jay13]

I've never seen those but I found this link that looks interesting, looks like more of something for night time use.... http://www.niteguard.com/aboutus.html
And its solar powered to boot! Wonder if it really works?