Omlet coop- Florida below freezing

[FrostRanger]

Also, don't fall into the trap of they only sleep and lay eggs in there, night time is when squabbles are most likely to break out as they work out who's roosting where, and if you need to keep them in their coop for a few days for some reason (severe weather being one such reason) they will need every bit of that space

 

[nuthatched]

The vents are in the back- there are no other vents so the blanket isn’t blocking anything other than the door to reach inside the nesting boxes. Omlet makes a cold weather jacket that sits exactly the same so I don’t know that there’s any danger there. I actually bought the omlet because a chicken friend in a wintery blizzard state said it did better for her chickens than the coop she had before. Do you have one or is this just what you’ve heard? Just curious because the only omlet naysayers I’ve spoken with are ones who haven’t owned one themselves.
I purchased mine second hand off marketplace and though it’s only been a few weeks am absolutely thrilled with how much easier it is than a traditional wooden coop and since it was second hand it cost me about the same as it would’ve to build one from wood and materials that would require more maintenance and would breakdown and leave my hens more susceptible to ailments.

I've worked with owners who have them, so I do have experience with them, but no, I don't/never will have one.
I also have a working knowledge of thermodynamics

They are built for temperate, cloudy England. They aren't made for extreme heat or cold.
Have you ever used a Porta potty on a hot day? Miserable, right?

Pre fabs, especially plastic prefabs don't have the space, ventilation or design to work with chickens instincts.

Unfortunately, the people who design these don't have much hands on experience with living birds, their only reference are the tight, short term dimensions that the egg industry uses.

They're made to visually appeal to a human, not to a chickens needs.
Warmth is not a concern unless it gets below zero, and a 'winter cover' will not help unless the coop is airtight, which would suffocate the birds.

Birds need 4 things:
1. Space to move without getting in the way of another.
2. The ability to roost as high as they can go for safety.
3. Adequate ventilation to release moisture and fumes out so the birds delicate respiratory system isn't damaged.
4. Privacy for laying.

Generally speaking, and I mean no insult, they are marketed to those who are new to keeping chickens or as a 'easy cleaning & low matenience' option to those who have been burned by wooden prefabs.
Keep an eye on the run fencing, they are known to rust once the vinyl breaks down.

 

[nuthatched]

I understand it you’re supposed to have 1sf of ventilation per 10sqft of space.

I believe those are the requirements for egg farms, yes. Unfortunately, birds are not intended to live over 2 years (max) in egg farms, they also have giant fans in egg barns.
In reality, for proper dissipation of ammonia fumes, you need 1sq foot of ventilation per bird.

 

[MybittyFlockof5]

That is indeed incorrect, for your birds you'd want at an absolute bare minimum 3sqft of ventilation, however since Florida is very hot and humid you realistically want 6-9 sqft of ventilation. You also want a bare minimum of 4sqft of coop space per bird not including space for things like nest boxes and areas for feeders and waterers. If the coop is indeed 4sqft, it is way too small, that is only big enough for 1 bird. For 3 you want a bare minimum of 12sqft of coop space. You also want your ventilation to be overhead as heat and humidity rises, not underneath. Overcrowding can cause a variety of health and behavior problems so it is really important that your birds have enough space

I read the dimensions for the wrong coop I have the cube so it says it has 22sf of coop room so that would mean a little more than 2sf of ventilation- I can definitely see how this is lacking some by that math though I’m not entirely positive how to determine the square footage of the vents that are there on the front and back. But that also includes the door- correct? Not sure how to rectify that- my idea to remove the poop tray was just a summertime idea to keep airflow in addition to the vents that came with the coop itself.
Their feeders and waterers are in their run so thankfully those don’t take up room and the omlet has a dedicated nesting area.
I don’t intend to put a bunch of hens in here as Omlet markets it so despite some potential shortcomings, again I think I’d find that with any prefab coop and am still very happy with my purchase and my hens seem to be (so far) as well.
I appreciate everyone’s comments- my main concern was just that they’d be warm enough tonight and sounds as though their feathers and cuddle puddles should do the trick

 

[FrostRanger]

If you want an option for a cheap yet good coop, I'd recommend getting a used shed and converting it into a coop. If you poke around on places like Craigslist you can find used sheds for cheap or even free if you're lucky and they'll have room not only for your current girls but future birds you add in the future (chicken math is real)

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Hello! I have the omlet (as well as a regular wood built coop). I've had it for 2 years now. I live in NE Indiana where it's currently in the 20s, but the feels like is single digits. It drops down to negative temps here as well. I don't use the thermal blanket and my chickens get along just fine.
Since your temps are usually much warmer, it won't hurt to add the blanket that you have provided especially since the hens don't have time acclimate like they normally would.

Now, I know most on byc aren't fans of the coop itself, but it does its job and my chickens choose to roost in it. I often have to rearrange birds if too many decide to stuff into the eglu. It's actually quite funny that they choose the coop that isn't up to "standards". Chickens need space and I give it to them in the run, but I am not handy nor am I strong enough to build a coop myself. My husband wasn't about to expand my coop or build me another. Plus we have spent plenty on the current run set up, so no more $ to pay someone to build for me. As long as your chickens have plenty of run space and it's protected, the coop is just a roosting area and for laying eggs. Mine never spend all day in it - they have plenty of protection from the elements in the run. No chicken is going to spend all day in their coop unless it's forced to and has no choice.

I don't have any issues in the summer either and it gets pretty hot and humid here. I do attach a battery operated fan, but I'm not really sure how much good it does. I have put thermometers in and the readings in summer have been a bit cooler than the outdoor temp. As long as you have it in an area that provides shade, I don't think there are issues in summer either.

There are some things I dislike, but there are things that I don't like about my wood built coop too!

 

[MybittyFlockof5]

If you want an option for a cheap yet good coop, I'd recommend getting a used shed and converting it into a coop. If you poke around on places like Craigslist you can find used sheds for cheap or even free if you're lucky and they'll have room not only for your current girls but future birds you add in the future (chicken math is real)

I’ve already figured it out but somehow it’s worked backwards for me I started with 5 Silkie chicks and lost one but 4 are still living in my master bathroom. I’ve decided a heartier hen is more my style so these are going to my neighbor as soon as her coop is done! I learned I don’t enjoy raising itty bitty chicklets so think I can mark myself safe from baby chick days….now a solid pretty laying hen with a docile temperament and THATS where I find myself in trouble
As for the sheds- we did look but were in a military town so they’re quite the commodity!

 

[MybittyFlockof5]

Hello! I have the omlet (as well as a regular wood built coop). I've had it for 2 years now. I live in NE Indiana where it's currently in the 20s, but the feels like is single digits. It drops down to negative temps here as well. I don't use the thermal blanket and my chickens get along just fine.
Since your temps are usually much warmer, it won't hurt to add the blanket that you have provided especially since the hens don't have time acclimate like they normally would.

Now, I know most on byc aren't fans of the coop itself, but it does its job and my chickens choose to roost in it. I often have to rearrange birds if too many decide to stuff into the eglu. It's actually quite funny that they choose the coop that isn't up to "standards". Chickens need space and I give it to them in the run, but I am not handy nor am I strong enough to build a coop myself. My husband wasn't about to expand my coop or build me another. Plus we have spent plenty on the current run set up, so no more $ to pay someone to build for me. As long as your chickens have plenty of run space and it's protected, the coop is just a roosting area and for laying eggs. Mine never spend all day in it - they have plenty of protection from the elements in the run. No chicken is going to spend all day in their coop unless it's forced to and has no choice.

I don't have any issues in the summer either and it gets pretty hot and humid here. I do attach a battery operated fan, but I'm not really sure how much good it does. I have put thermometers in and the readings in summer have been a bit cooler than the outdoor temp. As long as you have it in an area that provides shade, I don't think there are issues in summer either.

There are some things I dislike, but there are things that I don't like about my wood built coop too!

Thank you!! I know some things aren’t for everyone and clearly Omlet is one of those things. I would tweak a few things but I don’t think if given the chance to redo it, that I’d choose differently. Every coop has pros and cons and unfortunately I don’t have a ton of money to throw at it…I was grateful to have found it second hand in excellent shape. Living in FL we’ve got all the bugs and that was a HUGE selling point for me, along with ease of cleaning and being able to let my young children help and learn where food comes from. Ironically like someone stated up there I don’t find this thing visually appealing. Like, at all. Quite the opposite in fact, I think it’s hideous but I didn’t purchase it for aesthetics.My girls are like yours, they don’t spend any considerable amount of time in there. Even in crummy weather they venture out and enjoy their run space.
I also saw the farm my hens came from so I know for certain their living conditions vastly improved! My husband built them a chick-nic table where they get fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs daily. They were not “people” chickens or considered friendly when I purchased them but now they come and ask for pets and eat out of my hands. All things considered I’m pretty confident I’ve got happy hens and truly that’s all I’m concerned with. I’m also very glad to hear another Omlet owners perspective and I truly appreciate it!!

 

[Bawkbok]

Hello, we have an Omlet cube - been a year and our birds have done just fine. This winter did get exceptionally cold - in the low 20s and we did cover it (vents open) as the sleeping bag cover will increase the inside temp by about 10 degrees. The advantage of using their cold weather cover is that the outside of it can get wet and the underside stays dry. Unlike an actual sleeping bag, which if you've ever slept in one in the rain, becomes a wet cold soggy mess. Chickens can take the cold better than we think they can.

I would suggest removing the plastic barrier that creates the private space for nesting. It's not needed. We removed it for better air flow and more space for them to move about as they all huddled and crowded in there to sleep next to each other anyway.

Is the Omlet ideal space? No it is not. Is it great for the FL climate - yes it is much better than a hot shed or wooden insect laden standard coop since it is very humid down here year round. There are many Floridians who use the Omlet. It's all about the climate conditions and managing to those. In summer (most of the year), we leave the auto door open so they can come and go freely and have more air. Omlet doesn't recommend this however. Your girls will be fine.