Ventilation question

[Mamatomany123]

We are adding onto our coop. The original coop was an old playhouse that we secured. We planned on only having 4 chicken but got 7 in case of any deaths or if any turned out to be cockerels. Well all survived and all are pullets so 7 is kind of pushing it in the playhouse. So, here we are, extending it and giving them a mansion. But heres my question. We angles the roof to allow any water to fall off but it left us with a bigger gap than we had thought. Is this too big for ventilation? The other side will have the same size gap and I will cover it with hardware cloth but I'm wondering if we should close it a bit more. We live in west texas where days are hot and nights are nice and cool. The rood isnt overhanging as much as we want so we are going to fix that.

That metal pole used to be an old clothes line that is in the cement so we are using as support since we can get up to 60mph winds.

 

[aart]

Is this too big for ventilation?

No way, not in TX.
But cover it with predator safe mesh, not chicken wire.

We angles the roof to allow any water to fall off but it left us with a bigger gap than we had thought.

Um, the rain is going to hit that roof on the pink building and run back towards the new coop wall.

 

[Mamatomany123]

No way, not in TX.
But cover it with predator safe mesh, not chicken wire.
Ok good. I am going to cover it with hardware cloth.
Um, the rain is going to hit that roof on the pink building and run back towards the new coop wall.

Here we have the new roof overlapping to first. It's a pitched roof. We could take off the old back roof but left it for now. The only problem I think we are going to have is instead of it running back outside of the run it will run down into the run where the from door is. We really wanted to use that metal post as support though. I'm not sure what to do to make it run the opposite direction.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Here you can see what I mean a bit better.

 

[nao57]

Actually you brought up some great questions.

I think you are good for the heat.

But the question is, how bad do you get windchill in the winter, and with wind?

To answer that, I'll tell you the guys doing rabbit hutches would leave it like what you have now, but then when the winter comes they'd wrap the entire top and partway down from the top also with a big tarp and then secure it around the thing.

I think you could do something like this also, like the rabbit people do. Because honestly with you going to spring summer heat soon you might want that air flow.

Now with tarps you are better off with something canvas that will last awhile.

We've been putting tarps on sheds and garages for years now. And the plastic ones quite literally melt in the sun. They will last anywhere from 8 to 11 months usually and then all collapse into shredded pieces all in a day. But you can get some canvas ones that won't cost too much, though they will cost a bit more than the plastic ones. But given that the plastic ones will melt and you'll be replacing it once a year anyway...

At any rate, the one remaining issue is that the gaps are big enough for a predator to get into it seems (seeing a picture can be deceiving on sizes sometimes.) You could do the hardware cloth, but honestly I think you might like the air flow and do temporary gaps? Or even like shutters around the gaps to take advantage of that air flow you've already seized upon with your ideas.

You could also do corner angle bracing because you get some terrible wind storms in Texas to strengthen the structure holding together. (Tornado bracing). Also I don't much like fake plywood because without some kind of sealant it starts to weak with water. But you could apply a paint primer or something to cover that. That isn't your fault though, I've literally been in lumber stores and asked for plywood and not the fake stuff, and had them still send me the fake stuff.)

But its up to you.

I applaud your trying to be self sufficient with honest work.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Actually you brought up some great questions.

I think you are good for the heat.

But the question is, how bad do you get windchill in the winter, and with wind?

To answer that, I'll tell you the guys doing rabbit hutches would leave it like what you have now, but then when the winter comes they'd wrap the entire top and partway down from the top also with a big tarp and then secure it around the thing.

I think you could do something like this also, like the rabbit people do. Because honestly with you going to spring summer heat soon you might want that air flow.

Now with tarps you are better off with something canvas that will last awhile.

We've been putting tarps on sheds and garages for years now. And the plastic ones quite literally melt in the sun. They will last anywhere from 8 to 11 months usually and then all collapse into shredded pieces all in a day. But you can get some canvas ones that won't cost too much, though they will cost a bit more than the plastic ones. But given that the plastic ones will melt and you'll be replacing it once a year anyway...

At any rate, the one remaining issue is that the gaps are big enough for a predator to get into it seems (seeing a picture can be deceiving on sizes sometimes.) You could do the hardware cloth, but honestly I think you might like the air flow and do temporary gaps?

But its up to you.

Oh, its plenty big for anything to get into if I left it like that. Ut I am going to ut hardware cloth on it I can put through there with plenty of room. Our windchill is different every year. Some years we get to about 15° some years we dont go below 50 so I may have to see how it goes this winter. Our summers are always miserable though, 120+.

 

[Mamatomany123]

So we got the coop finished. Is it 10ft x 5ft. The height ranges from 4ft to 8ft. I'm still debating on how I want to do the roosting bars but for now I put them like this. Still needs another coat of paint and I still need to finish repainting the pink house but we got a lot done in 2 days. Also need to put the hardware cloth along the bottome so they have access to underneath the coop but for today, I'm beat.

 

[RoosterML]

My concern would be driving rain soaking the inside. Would be really helpful if you could extend the roof overhangs.

 

[Mamatomany123]

My concern would be driving rain soaking the inside. Would be really helpful if you could extend the roof overhangs.

We are going to fix it. we ordered some more wood for pickup and it's still not ready 4 days later. Once we get it we'll be making it overhang more