Trailer Coop Build (Pic heavy)

[ColoradoPip]

Wind will drive snow into any open hole, work with your prevailing wind directions.

I have seen pictures of lots of coops with snow inside, I have had it myself. Once in a while does not hurt, it evaporates or melts and is gone.

Considering we had 6-8 inches and only a layer came in isn't the end of the world for sure but I hate think of the girls in there with any snow blowing in on them. I'll address the soffits before the next storm, hopefully, and see what happens. Also, since I didn't see the snow coming in, I am surmising the open soffits are to blame. It's possible the open seams contributed as well.

Putting up facia(in the plan?) might help significantly.

No facia. I do plan to put trim everyhwere there's a seam to plug any major holes.

 

[aart]

No facia.

Why not?
It will protect your open soffits, which is probably where most that snow in.
Drop em down just below the rafter ends and it's goo place to attach HC:

 

[ColoradoPip]

Hmm, I will consider that as a solution! Thanks!

When I looked closely I can see snow likely was pushed through seams which I'll cover, however the open soffits likely contributed the most

 

[Ted Brown]

@ColoradoPip I would do both the soffits and the fascia while you are at it.

The fascia is easy to install, long board of the right width. You will spend much more time on the soffits and it may not do much. @aart for example does not have closed in soffits, predator protection only. She may have very different wind conditions than you do but Michigan is no picnic in the winter.

 

[ColoradoPip]

I think you two and the evidence have convinced me to do two things.

1) Remove the lip, or at least a huge percentage of it.
2) Install fascia.

Thank you!

I'm currently adding some 5 gallon buckets onto the lip by cutting out the correct shape then pushing the bucket down until it stops. I figure 4-6 buckets around the trailer will suffice and the rest of the lip I will remove. I'll also add some holes in the lip where the buckets are so that water can escape.

So how I will remove it is another story. I would like to cut the lip off flush against the wall so my bottom trim board can extend below the floor, therefore covering any gap or seam. There are a limited number of tools to accomplish this while cutting from above (that I am aware of) when you are butted up against a wall. All of my normal tools like a sabre saw, circular saw, and even the sawzall all have a plate, or the tool body, wide enough to cause ~>1" lip to remain.

So I've narrowed it down to a good 'ol hacksaw, or what I believe will end up working very nicely and allow me to use the current lip to support those 5 gallon buckets, will be a rotozip tool.

 

[aart]

I'm currently adding some 5 gallon buckets onto the lip by cutting out the correct shape then pushing the bucket down until it stops. I figure 4-6 buckets around the trailer will suffice and the rest of the lip I will remove. I'll also add some holes in the lip where the buckets are so that water can escape.

What is the purpose of these buckets?

All of my normal tools like a sabre saw, circular saw, and even the sawzall all have a plate, or the tool body, wide enough to cause ~>1" lip to remain.

You can do it with the sawzall by holding it above and at angle(might even attach a long piece of trim temporarily to rest the saw plate on) but it might be hard and probably wont be pretty(but the trim board will cover the ugly).
I can see how in my head, but might not have explained it well.

 

[Ted Brown]

I was going to ask the same things but decided not but...

I agree with both of the points that @aart is making above.

• Your notion of sculpting semi circles to hold those buckets will be tedious, will not work and will remain a place that water and snow will accumulate and seep inside; if you want to use buckets for feed/water put them on the ground.
• A blade on a sawzall is very flexible and can be bent sideways enough to cut directly along the vertical walls you have; as arrt says not pretty but who cares.

 

[ColoradoPip]

It was pretty easy to cut out a section using the sabre saw (I call it a jigsaw) to drop the bucket into. The buckets would hold food or water. I want the buckets attached so I don't need to move them when I move the trailer.

But in the end cut the lip off because I think it was the best way to build it to prevent leaks!

Realized I had very long sawzall blades and you were right Ted they bent easily.

I found some large L brackets, I think made for hanging bikes or similar, plus have a few V-Shape hang alls I can attach to the outside of the coop to hang the buckets on. It's getting close. I can finish the nest box and trim these weeknights and If I get some warm days finish the stain.

 

[Ted Brown]

Good man, looks much better! I would get some caulking and run a bead along those cracks as water will run down the walls, no biggie but...

You have put the bug in my mind. I was thinking seriously about a 2nd coop, have now started looking for a $100 trailer to make it mobile.

I saw a picture of your chicks, they will be happy in their new home.

 

[ColoradoPip]

You can do it with the sawzall by holding it above and at angle(might even attach a long piece of trim temporarily to rest the saw plate on) but it might be hard and probably wont be pretty(but the trim board will cover the ugly).
I can see how in my head, but might not have explained it well.

I understood and it worked

I cant have ugly though!!