Hi there,
So I need to build myself a tractor and i've been messing around with different designs and I've got some serious questions that I'd love your help with before I get started (just in case I need to make any modifications.
I've got 3 chicks, they're just under 2 weeks old, so I've got a few weeks to work out all the kinks and get this thing built. 2 Speckled Sussex and 1 Welsummer.
Anyways, I've been looking at the Garden Ark and reverse-engineered most of the design just based on the photos on their website. I really like this design, but I'm hung up on a couple of details.
First, ventilation. I know it's important, even in the winter. I've read Patandchickens' Big Ol' VENTILATION Page, but I'm still not clear on some of this. I'm considering using clear corrugated PVC for the roof. I'm hoping this will solve both the ventilation and the lighting concerns. So my first question is this: will that be enough ventilation, or do I need more? My 'plan b' for additional ventilation is in the door, or by drilling some holes in the walls near the floorboards which can be plugged up if necessary. Also, what effect will this ventilation have in the winter? I suspect I'll need to plug up some, but not all, of the curves in the roofing to keep the heat in.
Secondly, I want to ask about the sizes of things inside the henhouse. Let me briefly describe my tractor dimensions. It's virtually identical to the garden ark, here's a pic of my design so far (without the roof):
It is 3' x 7'. The henhouse is 3'x3'. The nesting box is in the back corner, straight ahead from the door. The nesting box measures 12" wide, 12" deep and 14" tall, based on the recommendations in 'Chickens' book by Sue Weaver. Is this a good size? I ask because I feel like I'm cramming too much inside the henhouse, and there won't be enough room inside for the hens to move around comfortably. The roost is 6" off the floor, 10" away from the wall behind it, and has 18" of clearance above it. The roost is 11" away from the nesting box. Here's a pic:
So, there isn't any room left over to put in a heater (I was thinking a 60 watt lightbulb under a terracotta pot), or water. I live in Salt Lake City, UT, and I think a heater might be required in the winters around here (It normally varies, gets to anywhere around 25-30F in mild winters and 15F-20F in bad winters) What do you suggest? Do I need to put water in the henhouse? (I could always put the heater-pot on top of the nesting box, there's no need to make it permanent, either). My plan B is to move the nesting box outside the henhouse, having it hang off the back wall like is the tradition with many chicken coops. I'm just not sure I have the skill to pull that off, but if I do this, that will virtually solve all of my space concerns.
Thirdly, I've heard a ramp to the door is not required. Indeed, on the Garden Ark, they don't even have one, they have a perch outside the henhouse, but close enough that a hen can jump over. I am considering making the doorswing open downwards to rest on the edge of the perch, so the birds can jump up on the perch and make it in without having to navigate a tiny entrance with no exterior floor. What are your thoughts on ramps or steps? I could easily throw in some steps.
Finally, I have a question concerning feeding. How do you all who have tractors handle feed/water/oystershell/grit? I figured I'd have 4 things hanging from the bottom of my henhouse, but that seems kind of ridiculous for 3 hens! Thoughts?
Thanks for your help! I've been reading these forums and doing a lot of searching and reading posts trying to wrap my head around some of these concepts. It's kind of overwhelming trying to keep everything straight and still make a simple tractor design.
So I need to build myself a tractor and i've been messing around with different designs and I've got some serious questions that I'd love your help with before I get started (just in case I need to make any modifications.
I've got 3 chicks, they're just under 2 weeks old, so I've got a few weeks to work out all the kinks and get this thing built. 2 Speckled Sussex and 1 Welsummer.
Anyways, I've been looking at the Garden Ark and reverse-engineered most of the design just based on the photos on their website. I really like this design, but I'm hung up on a couple of details.
First, ventilation. I know it's important, even in the winter. I've read Patandchickens' Big Ol' VENTILATION Page, but I'm still not clear on some of this. I'm considering using clear corrugated PVC for the roof. I'm hoping this will solve both the ventilation and the lighting concerns. So my first question is this: will that be enough ventilation, or do I need more? My 'plan b' for additional ventilation is in the door, or by drilling some holes in the walls near the floorboards which can be plugged up if necessary. Also, what effect will this ventilation have in the winter? I suspect I'll need to plug up some, but not all, of the curves in the roofing to keep the heat in.
Secondly, I want to ask about the sizes of things inside the henhouse. Let me briefly describe my tractor dimensions. It's virtually identical to the garden ark, here's a pic of my design so far (without the roof):
It is 3' x 7'. The henhouse is 3'x3'. The nesting box is in the back corner, straight ahead from the door. The nesting box measures 12" wide, 12" deep and 14" tall, based on the recommendations in 'Chickens' book by Sue Weaver. Is this a good size? I ask because I feel like I'm cramming too much inside the henhouse, and there won't be enough room inside for the hens to move around comfortably. The roost is 6" off the floor, 10" away from the wall behind it, and has 18" of clearance above it. The roost is 11" away from the nesting box. Here's a pic:
So, there isn't any room left over to put in a heater (I was thinking a 60 watt lightbulb under a terracotta pot), or water. I live in Salt Lake City, UT, and I think a heater might be required in the winters around here (It normally varies, gets to anywhere around 25-30F in mild winters and 15F-20F in bad winters) What do you suggest? Do I need to put water in the henhouse? (I could always put the heater-pot on top of the nesting box, there's no need to make it permanent, either). My plan B is to move the nesting box outside the henhouse, having it hang off the back wall like is the tradition with many chicken coops. I'm just not sure I have the skill to pull that off, but if I do this, that will virtually solve all of my space concerns.
Thirdly, I've heard a ramp to the door is not required. Indeed, on the Garden Ark, they don't even have one, they have a perch outside the henhouse, but close enough that a hen can jump over. I am considering making the doorswing open downwards to rest on the edge of the perch, so the birds can jump up on the perch and make it in without having to navigate a tiny entrance with no exterior floor. What are your thoughts on ramps or steps? I could easily throw in some steps.
Finally, I have a question concerning feeding. How do you all who have tractors handle feed/water/oystershell/grit? I figured I'd have 4 things hanging from the bottom of my henhouse, but that seems kind of ridiculous for 3 hens! Thoughts?
Thanks for your help! I've been reading these forums and doing a lot of searching and reading posts trying to wrap my head around some of these concepts. It's kind of overwhelming trying to keep everything straight and still make a simple tractor design.
