post your chicken coop pictures here!

[MeepBeep]

Millions of birds live in freezing temps and in other various less than ideal circumstances in the wild.

Not all breeds are created equal, there are many birds that simply can not and will not survive extreme cold or even extreme heat... Chickens is a generic term that covers many different breeds, some far more capable of handing the cold then others while some are far better at handling the heat... And that is just chickens, some of us keep other birds in our coops...

The short of it there is no one size fits all coop design, appropriate for all breeds in all climates...

 

[beautifulpirate]

Not all breeds are created equal, there are many birds that simply can not and will not survive extreme cold or even extreme heat... Chickens is a generic term that covers many different breeds, some far more capable of handing the cold then others while some are far better at handling the heat... And that is just chickens, some of us keep other birds in our coops...

The short of it there is no one size fits all coop design, appropriate for all breeds in all climates...

Completely agreed. I wouldn't, for a moment, pretend to know what every single breed or situation needs. My statement was only meant to attempt to get the point across which you stated much more eleoquently than I. Assuming that respiratory problems would only exist in a coop that isnt cleaned weekly is grouping every situation into a one size fits all.

 

[Latestarter]

It may be"better" for their respiratory system in coops that are not cleaned every week, but I find it hard to believe it is healthier to **** near freeze to death at below freezing and below 0 temps than to have a louvered vet or ridge vent or something and be able to be in a draft free coop they can maintain body heat in. Just like a barn with livestock, you don't want it air tight like a house but you don't want drafts either

to each their own I guess

I have five breeds (in my signature) in an unheated coop with large amounts of ventilation (Gable vents, floor vents, multiple windows, full length front and rear eve vents), but it's designed to keep drafts and direct airflow OFF the birds when they are on the roost. I have weeks where temps never got above single digits and dropped to 15-20 below zero at night and my birds had only one small issue and that was frost bite on the combs of large combed roos. Other than that they fared quite well and no worse for wear.

I clean the deep litter in the coop once a year (OK, so maybe 18 months

) and just keep adding to it. Heat is a far bigger issue as the birds can't take off their down coats... in which case ventilation as again of paramount importance.

 

[cabinchicky]

I am with Latestarter. Deep litter method, clean it out 2xs a year. Vents, windows, and extra 1/2" vent at roof line plus small hole vents near floor. No ruffled feathers or respiratory problems yet. But each breed and owner are different as well.

 

[FarmerPhronc]

I get my hens/pullets from the farm/ranch I worked at for 5 years here in Colorado. I have no clue as to what breed they are as the poultry lady in charge of the flock kept letting them breed in hopes of developing a breed that could with stand the harsh winters we have here in Colorado. I certainly have no complaints. I could list some of the different breeds we had, however the list is somewhat long and I don't want to bore folks with those details.

 

[FarmerPhronc]

I certainly hope this doesn't offend anyone! Personally I found it hilarious. However I've been told that I have a warped sense of humor.

 

[gpeters3]

I caught the chicks roosting and tried to get a pic but the stupid camera takes forever to shoot when you have flash turned on. Some had a particular spot they wanted to sit on and were actually climbing on top of the others and pecking them to get them to move but every time i tried to get a shot the camera took forever and i missed it.

Watching them i got to see how they perch on the flat 2x4 and i can see a problem. Their feet slip on the flat surface and they cant keep their footing when struggling with the others. Im beginning to think a hand rail shape might be better. Still a little flat on top but narrow enough they can grip it firmly. Larger radius on both top edges makes it more comfortable than an edge wise 2x4 i think. I have some peices, might try it one day soon. Im talking about the semi-oval with flat bottom shape.

Found a much better latch for the feed access door. Its a gate latch. Here is a pic:

 

[FarmerPhronc]

I caught the chicks roosting and tried to get a pic but the stupid camera takes forever to shoot when you have flash turned on. Some had a particular spot they wanted to sit on and were actually climbing on top of the others and pecking them to get them to move but every time i tried to get a shot the camera took forever and i missed it.


Watching them i got to see how they perch on the flat 2x4 and i can see a problem. Their feet slip on the flat surface and they cant keep their footing when struggling with the others. Im beginning to think a hand rail shape might be better. Still a little flat on top but narrow enough they can grip it firmly. Larger radius on both top edges makes it more comfortable than an edge wise 2x4 i think. I have some peices, might try it one day soon. Im talking about the semi-oval with flat bottom shape.

Found a much better latch for the feed access door. Its a gate latch. Here is a pic:

I hope this pic is clear enough. These are the roost bars that came with my coop. I believe them to be made from 2 x 2's with the edges rounded off. My ladies don't have an issue with roosting on them.

 

[Sylvester017]

We are historical reenactors living in a little 240 yr. old house that has been a DIY labor of love to restore for over 17 years. We JUST got chickens for the first time---4 English buff orpingtons, and put up a coop.

That is so fabulous that you can do such a labor of love! The only thing I don't understand is that Orpingtons weren't around in the Colonies but the Dominiques (for historical authenticity) were the main landrace breed on New England farms - they were a functional foraging breed, naturally brooded their own young, were a good stay-in-the-barnyard chicken not wandering too terribly far from the homestead, coming home to roost, outgoing unafraid curious human-friendly temperaments, and prized for their very soft feathers for pillows and mattresses. Not that Orps can't fulfill that role today but they weren't created yet in the 1600's. Not exactly certain how historically accurate you're planning to be. Another breed that was around during the Colonial times were the old Guilderlands but never made it to the APA (what have been re-created and called Breda today) - interestingly I've found the Doms and Bredas very similar in personality/temperament - who knows? they may even share some of each other's genes today! So much to learn about chickens it makes a head spin! So glad to see you trying chickens. Once you get them you'll never want to be without 'em!

 

[Sylvester017]

I hope this pic is clear enough. These are the roost bars that came with my coop. I believe them to be made from 2 x 2's with the edges rounded off. My ladies don't have an issue with roosting on them.

I tried a 2x4 for my girls and no one used it. The Silkies never have roosted on perches although they use the perches during the day. But neither our Silkies or LFs used the 2x4. They preferred the 2x2 rounded bars that came with our Barn Coop so we removed the 2x4. I have one LF that likes to lean on the window wall for a "window seat" when she roosts on the 2x2. Hey, whatever makes them happy makes me happy! I have one LF that sometimes roosts on a perch and other times she chooses a nestbox for the night. LUV your rounded nestbox holes. My old little coop had round nestbox entrances and each nestbox was16"x16"x 2 feet tall and on cold nights we sometimes saw 4 hens cuddling in one nestbox! Chickens love privacy and the round holes satisfy them for privacy without missing anything going on outside.