Small Coop Ventilation

[GiaGallina]

As a new chicken mom, I did the typically newbie and purchased a store bought coop. I have made several changes and hopefully will be sufficient until I can build my own (which could be a few year ). I was very concerned about the cold weather and think I need more ventilation. I do plan on enclosing 2 or 3 sides of the lower “pen” for feeding area when my 9x12 omlet walk-in run comes in.
If anyone can help with concerns I would be sooo thankful.
1. adding ventilation and or solar fan
2. Enough space for 2 Orpington and 2 Brahma (yes another newbie mistake I picked out big birds for cold hardiness ) with changes Interior coop is 3x5 with a 48” roost perch plus 3 nesting boxes.
3. Should coop be inside enclosure? I do have it mounted on 3” landscaping bricks and have the hardware cloth wrapped around them and extending 15” around whole base.
Those are my coop concerns and if I am missing something please let me know!!
The eazyup is for shade and I wanted an approximate size reference for Run area.

 

[aart]

I would change the whole coop/run combo into all coop and put it inside the run.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

So the top that you've blocked off is part of the coop/roosting area? I'm just trying to clarify. I started with a prefab 1BO, 1 light brahma, and 1 WTB and I'll tell ya they were crammed in there. But if you've made that whole top the "coop" area that's a bit better. Realistically it's entirely too small, and keeping it clean will be a must because the poo is gonna build up quick. I commend you for making the changes you have. The run size is good and will give them some room to stretch their legs. You could start looking around, craigslist, Facebook, neighbors, for things you could scavenge for free until you have a good charge of stuff and build your own coop. That's what I did and it saved me a ton of money.

 

[3KillerBs]

Here's a good prefab-conversion job to use as inspiration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

 

[GiaGallina]

Forgot to add pics of inside

 

[GiaGallina]

I would change the whole coop/run combo into all coop and put it inside the run.

That was initial plan, however the omlet walk-in was ordered in March and will not be showing up until July now The current floor can be moved and whole thing can be enclosed. My girls were getting too big for brooder and I needed to move them outside.

 

[GiaGallina]

So the top that you've blocked off is part of the coop/roosting area? I'm just trying to clarify. I started with a prefab 1BO, 1 light brahma, and 1 WTB and I'll tell ya they were crammed in there. But if you've made that whole top the "coop" area that's a bit better. Realistically it's entirely too small, and keeping it clean will be a must because the poo is gonna build up quick. I commend you for making the changes you have. The run size is good and will give them some room to stretch their legs. You could start looking around, craigslist, Facebook, neighbors, for things you could scavenge for free until you have a good charge of stuff and build your own coop. That's what I did and it saved me a ton of money.

Everything I have used to “upgrade” has been items we already had or gotten from family. I choose to spend the money on the pen vs coop, hoping to make a coop that will suit my needs in a few years and this will become a brooder or .....

 

[aart]

That was initial plan, however the omlet walk-in was ordered in March and will not be showing up until July now The current floor can be moved and whole thing can be enclosed. My girls were getting too big for brooder and I needed to move them outside.

Well, it might be fine until then.....they look pretty tiny in the pics.
How old are your birds now?

I'd remove that planter over the nest and add a vent there.
The remove most the wall between coop and run for ventilation.
Cover both with HC.

 

[GiaGallina]

Well, it might be fine until then.....they look pretty tiny in the pics.
How old are your birds now?

I'd remove that planter over the nest and add a vent there.
The remove most the wall between coop and run for ventilation.
Cover both with HC.

Thank you!!! They are only 6 and 7 weeks old. Thank you so much for input... I just lifted roof and added some wine corks there for now, that dropped humidity level a lot! Sorry... remove what wall?

 

[aart]

I just lifted roof and added some wine corks there for now, that dropped humidity level a lot!

Huh?

Sorry... remove what wall?

This one, or at least a large hole under cover of the roof.