Siding material, ventilation, and other coop questions.

[black_cat]

Take some pics of the soffit area, inside and out. Hopefully they are not block between rafters. Better to do it now rather than wait until your coop interior is covered in frost.
I see no ventilation except those windows, which will probably need to be closed during winter...unless the top sash opens from the the top.

Hasps are better, with caribineers...more secure and easier to operate in winter.
Will need protection from ice and snow, best to tuck them(2) under the edge of lid in front.

I will probably add some venting up top, but right now is not the time to do it because my parents really do NOt want me complaining about anything with this coop. I will see about picking up a hasp.

 

[aart]

I will probably add some venting up top, but right now is not the time to do it because my parents really do NOt want me complaining about anything with this coop.

I hear ya!

Still, take the pics of soffits

 

[black_cat]

I hear ya!

The latch for the nesting box I will be able to do, it's a pretty reasonable request. The lid is rather heavy but a latch is a good idea. If I were to drill a bunch of small holes that wouldn't need HC, how large could I make them without the need for hc and how many would I need? I don't think those windows don't open from the top, but I may be wrong.

 

[aart]

The latch for the nesting box I will be able to do, it's a pretty reasonable request. The lid is rather heavy but a latch is a good idea.

Two latches, spaced 12" from edges so coon can't lift a corner.
Bolts, nuts, washers so no screws sticking out.

If I were to drill a bunch of small holes that wouldn't need HC, how large could I make them without the need for hc and how many would I need?

1/2"....a lot, but wait to suggest that, get the pics, let's think it thru.

I don't think those windows don't open from the top, but I may be wrong.

Check it out.

 

[black_cat]

Two latches, spaced 12" from edges so coon can't lift a corner.
Bolts, nuts, washers so no screws sticking out.

1/2"....a lot, but wait to suggest that, get the pics, let's think it thru.

Check it out.

I will in the morning. Two latches sounds like a great idea.

 

[black_cat]

Windows do not open from the top and soffits are not open. I'll get pics this afternoon when we're not in a rush this morning. There was some pretty heavy rain with really heavy wind so I closed the windows all but a tiny crack at the bottom of the one not near the roost they were using. This weekend is when all the modifications are happing: cross ventilation, nesting box latches, and, y'know, setting up a real run. We moved them in yesterday with a very temporary tunnel to the prefab run we have. They figured out that they're supposed to the coop at night. I'm so proud of them!

 

[black_cat]

It turns out that it is possible to get locked into my chicken coop! When I was opening the windows this morning, the door closed behind me and latched automatically. I was late for school because my parents had to come fine me lol

 

[NatJ]

It turns out that it is possible to get locked into my chicken coop! When I was opening the windows this morning, the door closed behind me and latched automatically. I was late for school because my parents had to come fine me lol

Now you know another thing to fix!

Depending on the style of latch, you might be able to attach a string, then drill a hole for the string to go through, so you can pull the string to open it from inside.

Or with some styles of latch, you can remove a carabiner to open it, and then put the carabiner back on the latch in a way that prevents it from latching.

In case it happens again:
It is often possible for a person to crawl out the pop door of a coop (unless it's locked too), or perhaps out through the nestboxes since they are external. (Although that won't work once you get latches on the nestboxes.) You can opening the coop windows and yell to help other people hear you. And of course if you carry a cell phone, you can telephone your parents to let you out.

 

[aart]

It turns out that it is possible to get locked into my chicken coop! When I was opening the windows this morning, the door closed behind me and latched automatically. I was late for school because my parents had to come fine me lol

OhMan!!

Same as latch on pop door?
Get rid of it, is my advice.

 

[black_cat]

Now you know another thing to fix!

Depending on the style of latch, you might be able to attach a string, then drill a hole for the string to go through, so you can pull the string to open it from inside.

Or with some styles of latch, you can remove a carabiner to open it, and then put the carabiner back on the latch in a way that prevents it from latching.

In case it happens again:
It is often possible for a person to crawl out the pop door of a coop (unless it's locked too), or perhaps out through the nestboxes since they are external. (Although that won't work once you get latches on the nestboxes.) You can opening the coop windows and yell to help other people hear you. And of course if you carry a cell phone, you can telephone your parents to let you out.

We have these latches:

I will experiment with ways to use the carabiner to keep it open, or add a string. this one would be pretty easy to add a string to. The pop door is too small for me XD A phone would be a great idea, if I was allowed to have one. I think the best bet is fixing the latches.