The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[BlueMouse]

We had the same ridiculous december snows in our part of NY. My hoop coop stood up to it just fine. I knocked some of the worst of it off, but mostly figured it was extra insulation for the quack waddles. Ours is built of old oak flooring and 2x4's for the bottom with half of a cattle pannel making the "hoop" at the top. Meant I only had to buy ONE cattle pannel instead of two. And we had the wood flooring sitting around. I had it covered with clear heavy duty vapor barrier (also leftover from rebuilding house).


the roosts across the back end keep the whole structure pretty rigid. but, we move it. If it was stationary it would be perfectly stable without the roosts.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I had to go out and shovel the snow off after every storm. Then, it would pile up so high at the sides, I had to shovel it away from the sides, or there'd be no place to put the next load of snow. Hopefully my new coop will alleviate that problem.

Am I reading this correctly... you have the hoop coop now but are not going to be using it any more?

What will your new coop be?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks for all the input on the hoops from everyone. Very helpful and informative. I never really thought to ask that question before.

 

[Turk Raphael]

I had to go out and shovel the snow off after every storm. Then, it would pile up so high at the sides, I had to shovel it away from the sides, or there'd be no place to put the next load of snow. Hopefully my new coop will alleviate that problem.

That sounds like a 'benefit to me. If the snow mounts up on the outside, could there be any better insulation?

 

[armorfirelady]

 
I had to go out and shovel the snow off after every storm.  Then, it would pile up so high at the sides, I had to shovel it away from the sides, or there'd be no place to put the next load of snow.  Hopefully my new coop will alleviate that problem.  

That sounds like a 'benefit to me.  If the snow mounts up on the outside, could there be any better insulation?

I've found here snow is a good insulator on the sides of the coop. Especially when the winds drop the wind chills to below -30. Tho I do sometimes have to shovel some away from the sides to ensure they still have enough ventilation. I only remove snow from the roof when there's more than a foot of snow but the hoop coop held 3 ft of wet snow fine. But it was a little flat on top. I do have to shovel the snow on the roof away from the roof vents tho, again to ensure proper ventilation.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Turk Raphael
I was thinking the insulation factor was good too...@armorfirelady but last year there was a point at which it became a liability and some of it needed to be moved.

Moderation is good...but last winter made it hard to get into gates, etc.


I am seriously thinking about looking for lots of dog kennel panels on CL and cleaning out a section of the pole barn and doing indoor winter housing. It will take hours of work to clear a place for it but I"m seriously thinking about it. My main concern in doing that is that there is not a lot of natural light in the barn and they wouldn't have a good way to go outside if they even wanted to. Floors are cement and it seems like it would be extremely cold even with litter on it......

I guess I need to think this all through better.

 

[CherMoz]

Can anyone accurately identify this raptor. It had a chicken dinner yesterday and is back for more...

 

[Turk Raphael]

Can anyone accurately identify this raptor. It had a chicken dinner yesterday and is back for more...

I don't know but if you can get a picture, you can get a bead on it! Bombs away!!!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Can anyone accurately identify this raptor. It had a chicken dinner yesterday and is back for more...

See if it looks like anything here: http://www.whatbird.com/birdexpert/StateColorSize/4/6517/137/2070/birdexpert.aspx

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes, LM. I have a hoop coop now. It's actually a very nice one (8 x 12). A bit of pride here... I put a loft in the back half (4 x 8), with styrofoam insulation covered with corrugated plastic roofing on the outside, and fiberglass panel on the inside... the stuff they use in milking rooms (I think). 1/2" hdw. cloth skirt and over all except for the loft. End panels of the loft are also plywood styrofoam sandwich. Outside nest boxes, 2 roosts. But my flock of 17 will definitely not do well there this winter.

So, the plans are in the works for an 10 x 12 stick built. I scavenged some beautiful Anderson and Pella thermopane windows and door from the dump. It will have metal roof, T-1-11 siding, 2'h x 4'w clean out door at one end, outside access nest boxes, small outside access storage closet for feed and supplies. hoping to figure out the automatic pop door on a timer using a car radio antenna and motor. Also planning to have a broody cage/jail above the nest boxes. Very basic electric access.

Yes, I agree that snow is an excellent insulator. But, with so much of it, by the time I got it moved off the top, it was 4' deep at the sides, (and when the next storm came around, I wouldn't be able to get close enough to get the snow off it!) All that snow against the sides didn't allow any light into the interior of the sun room... so if I wanted them to get that solar gain, it meant shoveling... Yet an other reason for wanting to build a bigger and sturdier coop. BTW: I didn't have a single frozen egg last winter! In spite of temps to -20 for days on end.