post your chicken coop pictures here!

[iwiw60]

Here's my coop! I could use some advice; I live in northern VT, it gets cold here. For sure negative teens, occasionally as low as -35ish. Should I insulate this thing? 6 hens in there, deep litter. The coop is tight but single walled. I could run an extension cord for a lamp but I don't want to. My coop is about 7'x8' and 8' tall. If I did insulate, any reccomendations for cheap insulation?

Thanks!

Nice build! Chickens do well down to around -20. The cold isn't what will get them, it's drafts and high humidity. With that said, I see 2 windows from your picture...are there any ventilation 'holes' up high along the top rim? They need fresh air, but no drafts directly on them...whereabouts is your roost in relation to those windows?

 

[willr]

Thanks! I have been working on this thing all summer and I have alterations I hope to make next summer already....

There is a long opening that you can just see in the pic under the front roof eave that is screened. Plus there is actually a gap along the roofing that is about 1' all the way around.. I have also been considering the ventilation issue. All summer those windows were wide opened but for winter I intend to close them up and therefore I think I will need more ventilation. Especially if I insulate. That will close off those roof vent spots. I was considering adding a few draft proof vents up high on the downwind side of this contraption. Its windy here!

Their roost poles are just below the windows on both sides. Drafty when the windows are open, but the windows are tight when closed.

 

[Amberjem]

wow how nice you guys have some amazing coops man I worked so hard on my coop and was first time I built something thought I did good but I see you guys far surpassed my small efforts

 

[bigmrg74]

Thank you I likey too. Makes my life easier. I also have out up a 2 ft. Fence around the outside perimeter to keep my dogs at a distance so they can't run in. The chickens are bigger than them but they are little heathens! Lol

There's not many dogs out there that are chicken sized. what kind of dogs are they??

I've got a mini Aussie Shepherd who is about 8 pounds and loves to herd my girls around when I have them out free ranging. I kinda wish she was about another 5 pounds more to her just so she could boss the girls around a little better just by being a bigger presence than them.

 

[perchie.girl]

wow how nice you guys have some amazing coops man I worked so hard on my coop and was first time I built something thought I did good but I see you guys far surpassed my small efforts

dont ever belittle your own efforts.... please... We all do with what we have for finances, skills, materials.

My coop's is/are nothing more than dog kennel panels with a tarp fastened over the top for the weather. But my very first coop was a six by eight by six frame with a wooden wall made of a single sheet of plywood cut to six feet. Then covered with welded wire. Then Oops I forgot... I need a door and a place to access feed.

Wire doors no frames Just pieces cut out to cover holes wired on one side and fastened in place with bungees.

All new materials pre cut at the hardware store and nailed together. cost me all of one sheet of quarter inch thick plywood, six two by twos and a roll of welded wire.... some staples and some hog clips (had those already) Oh and some Zip ties. I put a tarp up for winter... on that one as well. our climate is pretty mild

But really all chickens need is a safe place to sleep at night, protection from the elements, Good food good water and a clean house. That can be provided in sooooo many ways ....

deb

 

[rdfields68]

There's not many dogs out there that are chicken sized.  what kind of dogs are they??  

I've got a mini Aussie Shepherd who is about 8 pounds and loves to herd my girls around when I have them out free ranging.  I kinda wish she was about another 5 pounds more to her just so she could boss the girls around a little better just by being a bigger presence than them.  

I have mini dachshunds. I have a light brahma rooster that is huge. One of my doxies likes to bite his tail feathers through the fence. The rooster will just lay there and let him. Lol. I am getting my hens this weekend so they may not be smaller anymore. I would just rather be safe than sorry. Don't want anyone dog or bird hurt.

 

[perchie.girl]

Here's my coop! I could use some advice; I live in northern VT, it gets cold here. For sure negative teens, occasionally as low as -35ish. Should I insulate this thing? 6 hens in there, deep litter. The coop is tight but single walled. I could run an extension cord for a lamp but I don't want to. My coop is about 7'x8' and 8' tall. If I did insulate, any reccomendations for cheap insulation?

Thanks!

Venilation is more important than insulation.... Chickens put off alot of BTUS so the inside of the coop is going to be warmer than the outside even a few degrees can cause condensation..... so the reason for non drafty ventilation.... to let that moisture out.

Nice nice nice coop by the way....

deb

 

[bruceha2000]

I see the inspectors are at your place as as well. I'm sure they are impressed by your fine efforts.

I keep reminding my wife there are much worse things that a 28 year old male could be doing besides sitting in the back yard with his chickens.

You mean like going out drinking with the guys every night, chasing skirt and having set your retirement plan as "win the lottery"?
Yep, she should be thrilled that you are happy with a different kind of chick.

I built my coop in a corner of the garage. I still have a few things to finish. Can'the wait for my chickens to try it out.

Very nice. And since it is in the garage, no drafts by default. Easy to ventilate.

So all you chicken guys
a fast question is it necessary the coop to be in the free range area? the thing is that i could have a ready coop and save tons of money with cement floor roof and really larger than what i need the thing is it cant be connected to the free range area!
will some extra nest boxes in a shady place do the job?

No

My chickens' coop is in the barn, the barn alley is their enclosed run. Everything outside the barn door is their free range area, they seem to stick to ~100 feet of a building. Unless we are gone for HOURS, the door to the barn is open until they go to roost at night. The nest boxes, food and water are in the coop. They know to go to the coop to eat (unless they are happily finding bugs, insects, seeds, grasses outside) and drink (unless they find a puddle somewhere) and lay eggs.

To make it easy to get them back to the coop when YOU want them, become their local "drug dealer". They LOVE scratch. They LOVE Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS), shell on is fine. I learned this here on BYC: EVERY night when they are ready to go to roost (and they will come in on their own as the sun gets low) puts some BOSS or scratch in a plastic or metal bowl. Call "Here chick, chick, chick" (yes, I know, they are already at your feet) while shaking the bowl and then toss the "drugs" around. They learn REALLY FAST that YOU give out the good stuff and will come if you go out to their free range area and do that routine. Then they will almost be tripping over each other going back to the coop with you. I only call if I need them to come to the barn now but they EXPECT their scratch before they go to roost even if they are already in the barn even if they are up on the roosts. If they are not yet in the barn, they will chase after me as I walk down. If they are in the barn but it isn't quite yet roost time when they hear me coming, they will run out making a racket, then chase after me as I go to the barn. Yes, they LOVE their scratch.

Kinda like this. Now keep in mind i bought these chicks for me and my daughter and my wife was avidly against them...today i came home to her and the baby sitting in the chair together watching the chicks play.

OK Cliff, listen up: Do NOT say "I told you so"

Thank you I likey too. Makes my life easier. I also have out up a 2 ft. Fence around the outside perimeter to keep my dogs at a distance so they can't run in. The chickens are bigger than them but they are little heathens! Lol

Must be some REALLY small dogs. I hope the chickens don't harass THEM.

Here's my coop! I could use some advice; I live in northern VT, it gets cold here. For sure negative teens, occasionally as low as -35ish. Should I insulate this thing? 6 hens in there, deep litter. The coop is tight but single walled. I could run an extension cord for a lamp but I don't want to. My coop is about 7'x8' and 8' tall. If I did insulate, any reccomendations for cheap insulation?

Thanks!

Thanks! I have been working on this thing all summer and I have alterations I hope to make next summer already....

There is a long opening that you can just see in the pic under the front roof eave that is screened. Plus there is actually a gap along the roofing that is about 1' all the way around.. I have also been considering the ventilation issue. All summer those windows were wide opened but for winter I intend to close them up and therefore I think I will need more ventilation. Especially if I insulate. That will close off those roof vent spots. I was considering adding a few draft proof vents up high on the downwind side of this contraption. Its windy here!

Their roost poles are just below the windows on both sides. Drafty when the windows are open, but the windows are tight when closed.

Hi Will, I live in NW Vermont. You must be toward the NEK because -35 is REALLY rare here in the Champlain Valley.
For insulation I would have a good 6" to 8" of shavings on the floor. Besides not letting the cold air blowing under the coop make the floor cold, the birds will make "day nests" in it. If you decide to insulate the walls DO NOT cover the ventilation gap at the top. Like any other convection system, air has to come in somewhere or the warm moist air won't go out the top. Cold is not your chickens' enemy, high humidity and ammonia build up are. You might need some air inlets lower down where the incoming air doesn't blow over the birds on the roosts as the warmer air goes out. I don't know how much chicken/sun heat you can keep in the coop, insulated or not, if it is well ventilated. If you do insulate, remember that for some odd reason, chickens think rigid foam board NEEDS to be pecked apart. Whatever you insulate with will need to be covered. Put clear plastic on the sides of the run so they can be outside without being in the wind.

My coop is not insulated nor is the 100+ Y/O barn it is in and the birds are fine all winter, even the Mediterranean breed Anconas and the Cuban Cubalaya, neither "designed" for cold weather.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Just Be aware Dachshunds were bred for hunting Badgers. If they get a chance to chase they will... even if the roo is bigger and armed with wepons... spurs.

deb

 

[rdfields68]

Just Be aware Dachshunds were bred for hunting Badgers.   If they get a chance to chase they will... even if the roo is bigger and armed with wepons...  spurs.

deb

Oh I know. Thats why I have fence buried then that perimeter fence. One really doesn't pay them much attention and the other is the tail biter but he has such an over bite he can't really grab anything. They are always supervised when they are outside anyway.