Pictures of roost "huddle boxes" please......

[DawnSuiter]

What a great thread! I don't know if there is a lot of experience on here with this, most folks build a solid coop that is good enough for winter.
I myself have a lot of OPEN coops, no walls or few walls.. and so was going to build "Perch Boxes" I was calling them, but I like your "huddle box" name too!

Conceptually, a box surrounding their roost so that they may stay warmer in the winter when sleeping, and for me to avoid as much frostbite as is possible.

I haven't figured it out yet, with few walls I have little to attach anything to, but am trying to figure it out. I was even thinking a nice large cardboard box would work as well, centered on the perch with an entry hole along the perch. You clearly have room to just throw up some plastic or even paneling/plywood to enclose your area for them.

Nice coop by the way!
I hope to see more responses along these lines.

I actually think for my roosters, I might give them a nest box of sorts... they won't perch, but they will stay warm in a bed of hay. I use plastic storage totes for nest boxes, I suspect they will work well for a rooster bed too.

 

[AHappychick]

maybe an old cabenette or 2 with the doors removed and on their side would work atatched to the roost with a 2x4 along the bottom to roost in it????

 

[Reinbeau]

Do any of you have outdoor birds flying around outside? They weigh a fraction of what our birds weigh. Really, a nice roost in a draft free but well-ventilated coop is all they need. Don't worry about them getting too cold, worry about drafts and moisture, that will cause far more problems for them keeping themselves warm.

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
After last winter, I think a warmer box is necessary. We are expecting much more cold this year. While they do fine generally in the freezing cold, I have large combed birds, and I do NOT want to see another repeat of last years frostbite, which wasn't actually too bad compared to what I've seen on here, but bad enough for me. I do not want to see them slinging blood everywhere because of a bad spot on their combs. So for me... a box that keeps in some of their heat and lets out the moisture is just what the chicken doctor ordered. Draft free is not enough for me.

I am actually taking a lesson from those small wild birds, who find small mostly enclosed spaces to nest in during the winter. I think they have it just right, a space that is just larger than the bird(s) themselves.

 

[fasbendera]

I partitioned off my coop with 6mil plastic. That worked to keep the heat in I did use a heat lamp as a supplement but Huddle boxes would be a great idea for the winter since it is colder at night when they are roosting. I hope someone has an idea. Removable ones would be the best so in the warmer temps it could be taken down.

 

[tdgill]

large cardboard box upside down over the roost with a walk up ramp. maybe even cut a couple small windows so they dont feel boxed in - could cover those with plastic. maybe not enough air flow if you have a drop board right under them.

so far i have been fighting the urge to close my coop up at nite, mainly because it feels colder and damp in there when its closed. so i have mega ventilation/circulation going on with two screen doors thus the need for some draft free spot. using big sheets of cardboard now for draft breaks

 

[tenderkat]

I'm bumping this up again!!

I like the ideas previously given, but after doing a search and finding this post, I'm still a bit confused on the whole Huddle Box/Hover concept. I get that it's purpose is to create a smaller area within the coop for our flock to roost in to stay warmer. But how can I get my girls to just automatically go in there at night without getting confused because their roost area all of a sudden looks different? We are expecting temps to go below 0 degrees farhenheit over the next few nights, and I want to provide some extra shielding along their roost against these temps.

This is my roost area. The window faces south.

I'm wondering if I just temporarily box in the area with some OSB sheathing around the window and wall sides, and put a 'roof' over the top, and leave the bottom open towards the droppings board? I just don't want the huddle box to hinder my chickens from going up to roost. Although, I suppose if they don't go up, they'll just huddle down into the litter on the floor, which will be warm enough.

Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks!!

Also, I have Rhode Island's and Barred Rock. I have no heat out in the coop, because I'm scared to death of a coop fire, and I'd rather have them adapt to cold snaps naturally. But, do cold temps like we are expecting justify the temporary use of a heat lamp? It's going to stay really cold for the next week!!

 

[DawnSuiter]

That's an easy one...
Just put up a piece of plywood at the end of your 2X4 supports.. and give them a ladder to get up in there... that should box them in nicely. Would there be a draft from that window? I would put clear-ish plastic over the frame on the inside to create an air barrier too.. if your worried about the cold.

 

[tdgill]

Are we all talkin smaller flocks? Thats why I have been thinking of a hover. I have 7 - two flocks of 3 and 4. I have been focusing on insulating the part of my 12x20 shed that I have split into a coop/shed at the moment. I put some padded cardboard in the window where they roost because the window gets cold. eta: but plastic would work too? the window isnt drafty at all just alot of glass. I like to keep my coop well ventilated - literally doors open (for my health as much as my chickens these days) but still needing a feeling that they can be comfy in the worst weather.

I'm wondering about the differences in roost set ups, mainly in larger flocks. the different designs could make a difference in radiant heat, yes? say a roost that goes up like a ladder as opposed to one long roost. or four short roosts where the chickens are all on the same level and grouped more than in a line..

i ponder chickens too much. is that not part of the addiction? or wouldnt i rather be done with my coop and setup?

repeating this old saying..
"The healthiest chickens come from the sorriest coops."

btw, I like your idea gabby. you have 8 chickens right?

 

[tdgill]

dawn, whose set up are you referring to? I saw two pictures of ppls roosts...trying to follow your suggestion