Started coop building today

[Minniechickmama]

Quote:
I think you will eventually come to regret the use of sheetrock. Even painted it will absorb more moisture than OSB or Plywood, and once that gypsum starts to break down, I have a fear that your birds will start to pick at the walls etc.


VF

Isn't a swamper a sort of mister fan?
I think you are going to have a few regrets with your house. You are making the ideal conditions for your birds to get sick and overheat. In the desert the only use you have for a heat lamp is for new chicks and only for a couple of weeks max and only if temps are below 90 or so. Did your DH do any research before starting this project?

 

[hcppam]

I read and read here, looked at all the coops. I knew I only had so much space and materials. Plus I had to build it by my lonesome

 

[VelvettFog]

Quote:
I think you will eventually come to regret the use of sheetrock. Even painted it will absorb more moisture than OSB or Plywood, and once that gypsum starts to break down, I have a fear that your birds will start to pick at the walls etc.


VF

Isn't a swamper a sort of mister fan?
I think you are going to have a few regrets with your house. You are making the ideal conditions for your birds to get sick and overheat. In the desert the only use you have for a heat lamp is for new chicks and only for a couple of weeks max and only if temps are below 90 or so. Did your DH do any research before starting this project?

I believe that the term swamper here refers to a swamp-cooler. Hopefully the added humidity won't contribute too much to the break down of the sheet-rock, but I am curious how much the moisture will mess with the bedding. Any risk of ammonia build up?

 

[Minniechickmama]

That is what I am thinking too. It just sounds like a design they are going to end up regretting.

 

[tiny529]

It looks as though we are going to have more ventilation by the roof than we originally thought. The roof is sloped so there will actually be a sizeable gap between the level top of the plywood sides and the bottom of the roof. More than just the corrugated roof.

So that's good. We'll just make sure to securely tack some hardware cloth over the gaps to keep out the critters.

Another question I had... I see that many, if not most, people have a door on their coops that can close. We will have a fully enclosed run with hardware cloth on all sides and flaring out about a foot along the ground on the bottom. If the coop is secure enough, do we need to bother with a door? That would certainly help with ventilation...

I was considering a window or two for ventilation too, but if we leave the door open, would that be necessary?

I'm debating on whether or not (and how to go about it) to add some sort of supplemental heat during the winter. I plan on letting the girls rest during the winter so that they can moult properly. Adding a light bulb for some added warmth wouldn't work for that, or it would be pointless as it would only be on during the day when they didn't spend much time in the coop. Does anyone here use any sort of heat source for them or does that interfere with their normal temperature regulation?

I'm hoping that we'll get this coop done this weekend. I love my girls, but I really want them out of the house!

Thanks again!

 

[Sinfonian]

First off, I've read here and elsewhere that 1 SF per bird of ventilation is necessary. I did 6"x6' at the top plus a 1 SF vent near the bottom for circulation. I've got 4 girls. That said, I did tons of research and still found the distinction between ventilation and drafts confusing.

As for a door, I too have a secure run, but I have a chicken door. There's no such thing as too much protection. I have no idea if something may circumvent my run. Nothing's getting in the coop. Period. Make sense?

 

[tiny529]

Quote:
As do I... Which is why I'm confused about leaving windows open and the such.

I do know someone who has a coop with a door but after the 1st year, they stopped closing it (they have a secure run too). Their chickens seem to be unaffected by that level of draftiness, but these are my own so I tend to worry.

I've also worried about the security of leaving the door open, even with a secure run, but I'll admit... I don't relish the idea of being up at 5 am in the snow and ice to open the door. Especially if life takes the turn we are hoping for and I end up with a new bun in the oven this winter. Does anyone use the automatic door openers? Got any advice on them?