New Coop build for Newbie

[mattschap]

Hello all! So we recently received 4 chickens and a free pre fab coop from various family members. I Know this pre fab isn't designed for 4 hens, so I am building a new coop. I set to the interwebs google images to see if I could find a simple but yet sturdy design and low and behold it brought me to this great forum with mountains of info.


Link to the Coop I found
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-menagerie.64394/

Some Pics of my progress ( Ideas and or advise would be appreciated.thanks in advance.

Edit: my location is southern Ontario, Canada. Hence cold windy winters

 

[ValarieF]

Hello all! So we recently received 4 chickens and a free pre fab coop from various family members. I Know this pre fab isn't designed for 4 hens, so I am building a new coop. I set to the interwebs google images to see if I could find a simple but yet sturdy design and low and behold it brought me to this great forum with mountains of info.
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Link to the Coop I found
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-menagerie.64394/

Some Pics of my progress ( Ideas and or advise would be appreciated.thanks in advance.



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I love it just dont forget the ventilation depending on your climate and add 4 square feet for 4 chickens

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC and the wonderful world of chickens.

Where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing.

Here's my article on coop ventilation: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

 

[mattschap]

I love it just dont forget the ventilation depending on your climate and add 4 square feet for 4 chickens

Thank-you! Yes I’ve been reading lots about this here and was hoping the 1inch by 1.5 inch x 12 spacing in ribs between the tin roof and rafters would be enough if I leave the roof as is? Gets cold up here in southern Canada and is quite windy here too.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank-you! Yes I’ve been reading lots about this here and was hoping the 1inch by 1.5 inch x 12 spacing in ribs between the tin roof and rafters would be enough if I leave the roof as is? Gets cold up here in southern Canada and is quite windy here too.
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I'm afraid not.

Ventilation is requires to remove moisture, which is the key to preventing frostbite in cold weather.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

Additionally, airflow under an uninsulated metal roof is CRITICAL to prevent condensation from forming and dripping onto your birds.

Also, unrelated to ventilation, since you're in Canada I presume that you get snow. What is your plan for removing snow from that flat roof? If at all possible, I would suggest that you switch to a sloped roof -- which would then give you the ability to add ventilation above the birds' heads.

 

[mattschap]

I'm afraid not.

Ventilation is requires to remove moisture, which is the key to preventing frostbite in cold weather.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

Additionally, airflow under an uninsulated metal roof is CRITICAL to prevent condensation from forming and dripping onto your birds.

Also, unrelated to ventilation, since you're in Canada I presume that you get snow. What is your plan for removing snow from that flat roof? If at all possible, I would suggest that you switch to a sloped roof -- which would then give you the ability to add ventilation above the birds' heads.

Hi 3KillerBs, yes the roof is sloped 6” inches over a 12’ ft span. Yes we do get lots of snow most winters. So I would have to insulate the roof and add some vapour barrier plastic? I am using 1/4 mahogany sub flooring plywood to liner the inside of there coop box. I will hole saw some separate vents as per requirements for 4 hens. Thanks for your input!
Also just want to add that I will be positioning the coop up along side my shop which is the less windy side and the sunny side.

 

[3KillerBs]

So I would have to insulate the roof and add some vapour barrier plastic?

I don't know about vapor barrier.

Here in my area all that is needed is adequate airflow under the roof. But colder areas can be different. Especially when it's cold and wet.

@DobieLover probably knows better about this than I do.

Also just want to add that I will be positioning the coop up along side my shop which is the less windy side and the sunny side.

Shelter from the storm winds is a good thing. My big coop is sited for protection from tropical storms.

 

[mattschap]

I don't know about vapor barrier.

Here in my area all that is needed is adequate airflow under the roof. But colder areas can be different. Especially when it's cold and wet.

@DobieLover probably knows better about this than I do.



Shelter from the storm winds is a good thing. My big coop is sited for protection from tropical storms.

not sure about plastic, but I did salvage a small piece of breathable house wrap from the dumpster at work today. Not sure if this is better and I Don't really see the purpose of insulating the roof if I am going to be adding vents up there anyways? Im thinking of hole sawing 8 4" holes at top for air flow. That is aprox 12 sq inches per hole, 1 for each chicken. Any thoughts on this?

 

[3KillerBs]

I Don't really see the purpose of insulating the roof if I am going to be adding vents up there anyways?

The purpose is not insulation to keep heat in. You *want* the inside of the coop to be the same temperature and humidity as the outside. The purpose is to provide a thermal break so that the moisture in the warm air that rises off the chickens (they generate moisture from their breath and their poop even if there is no water in the coop), doesn't condensate on the underside of the metal roof and drip down into the coop.

Im thinking of hole sawing 8 4" holes at top for air flow. That is aprox 12 sq inches per hole, 1 for each chicken.

A 4" hole is nothing.

1 square foot is 144 square inches so you would need 12 of those holes to provide a single square foot. Rectangular vents are much more efficient in providing airflow than circles.

Cut the piece out, cover the opening with hardware cloth, then hinge the cutout piece back to the wall at the top so that it forms it's own awning. That gives you an adjustable vent.

 

[mattschap]

The purpose is not insulation to keep heat in. You *want* the inside of the coop to be the same temperature and humidity as the outside. The purpose is to provide a thermal break so that the moisture in the warm air that rises off the chickens (they generate moisture from their breath and their poop even if there is no water in the coop), doesn't condensate on the underside of the metal roof and drip down into the coop.



A 4" hole is nothing.

1 square foot is 144 square inches so you would need 12 of those holes to provide a single square foot. Rectangular vents are much more efficient in providing airflow than circles.

Cut the piece out, cover the opening with hardware cloth, then hinge the cutout piece back to the wall at the top so that it forms it's own awning. That gives you an adjustable vent.

Lol I think I need to go back to school for math . Yes I will cut air vents like you suggested And make sure nothing is dripping on the chickens. Again thank-you for your input. This project was kind of an unexpected Rush job as winter is creeping up fast, plus Im feeling sorry the the Hens in that little prefab. I Wish I would’ve had more time to research.