New Design and Alternative techniques

[patandchickens]

I should add, the most sensible way to get winter solar gain but good summer ventilation is to have removeable panels. Frame with 2x4 or such, cover with Suntuf or similar greenhouse-type plastic product. Bolt on (using wingnuts) for winter; remove when nice weather arrives. Have permanently-installed 1" welded wire mesh underneath.

Have a cleverly-calculated amount of roof overhang can also help a bit, but only in deeper sunporches, not for a very shallow or lean-to one.

I think you will need to have it clear in your mind whether you are trying to get actual solar heating -- in which case you want a SHALLOW sunporch, backed with a dark-colored wall with minimal mass -- or just a sheltered sunny protected area for chickens to hang out in January, in which case deeper is better because it gives them more room, and maximal thermal mass (possibly as a half-height wall partway back, near the limits of where sunlight goes in Jan/Feb) will help mediate temperatures night and day.

Just some thoughts,

Pat

 

[Klorinth]

Pat,

I was planning on having containers of liquid for storage of heat, ie thermal mass storage. Being that I am in Manitoba, this would have to be freeze protected liquid, ie something similar to the coolant in your car. Of course that means making sure that it is completely sealed and not available to the chickens. Even using food grade types, it is not good for drinking.

Nice to see that others here have spent time learning about solar design technology.

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[Omran]

Klorinth,

thank you for sharing your design, it is very beautiful and inspiring.


I can't wait to see the finished coop.

Omran

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Interesting design. I have seen photos of alternative, commercial hen houses in Europe that have sun rooms added to them. The hen house itself is a tiered aviary with feed, water, and nest boxes, but then an adjacent room that runs the length of the hen house has natural lighting and litter / dust bathing areas. Makes for a more natural place to hang out in the winter when pasture is not available.

 

[ji]

Great information thanks. It is inspiring. I wonder about having the sun room as a grow room during the summer when they can free range and then at some point into the winter letting them have at it, of course after harvesting some veggies.

 

[al6517]

I just have to say I think you have this matter well in hand, I am a building contractor and you have a good working knowledge of the concepts. good luck great job so far.

AL

 

[ji]

Just one more comment. I would lean toward the upright solar wall.
When I built my house I put a window up high over my bed on the south side of the house. My plan was that in the winter when the sun was low I would get sun and in the summer I wouldn't get any direct sun. The plan worked great. It is really fun to have the sun streaming in occassionaly in the winter and have it stay nice and cool in the summer. You already mentioned this idea but I thought I would confirm that it is a good one. Lucky chickens you have!

 

[Klorinth]

Thanks AL. I appreciate the vote of confidence. I like to hear from others though. No matter how much thought I put into something, you never know when someone else might have a great addition.

I need to flesh out my design with a few more details. I will post some more pics once I have some additions done.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Klorinth]

How about we try a whole other design??

Here is a story and a half Gambrel roof. This includes a half story "Dove Cote", pigeon aviary. In the first two pics I have given you the exterior only. This is to show structure only. The front area would be enclosed with chicken wire and wire mesh. It would also have clear polycarbonate panels over most. The only hard part is creating doors that can be installed into the mesh and panels. The upper half of the open area would be kept open to allow the pigeons free flight access. They would be able to fly in and out as they wish.

Oops. Missed the supports for the stairs. Vents near the ground on the back would be used in the summer for intakes because it is a shaded area.

The third pic is just a rough idea of how big I can go with fenced free range. The whole area is 100'x100'. Four areas that can be rotated, or cut into even smaller areas as in the fourth pic. The fence used here is just a representation, not the actual one.

Finally is a pic of the shadows at 10:00 AM in January.

 

[patandchickens]

So, can I ask what your exact intention is with the solar/sunroom component of this? Are you trying to give the chickens a protected, pleasant 'sort of run' space for ugly weather use; or are you trying to warm the coop during the day; or are you trying to ameliorate nighttime temperature dips; or are you trying to construct a space to warm incoming ventilation air; or what?

Those are all really pretty DIFFERENT things, from a design point of view. Some of these goals can kind of be combined, but some can't very well. So it would help to know exactly what you are after

Pat