VIDEO Please Critique (but be gentle)

[micstrachan]

Hello. I’ve been wondering about the ventilation in my coop and was hoping for feedback. Please be gentle. This is a refurbished play structure and we rent our place, so building a new coop from scratch is not an option. Opening myself up for criticism for the benefit of my beloved birds.

Dimensions: 5’x5’ and about 6’ tall.
Windows: three 20” (ish) square windows. Pop door below. Several drilled holes above.

Second level: 3.5’x5 and about 4-5.5’ tall (sloped ceiling.) There is one more window I failed to show in video on the second level. It’s about 3 inches tall and 3 feet wide along the top of the last wall.
Windows: one 12-16(?) inch circle above. One 3x36 inch window above. One open 2x3-foot (ish) door (hardware cloth) that is always open except in the windiest of storms (on the side that gets less wind.)

I also included a video showing the run.
Dimensions: 16’x10’
Addition: 8’x12.5’
There is a gate between the two sides that is always open, but can be closed for separation/integration. Only the original side has access to the coop. I should have moved the red mini coop to the second side before I built it. Oh well. Hindsight rocks. Also wanted to clarify: Entire ru is enclosed in hardware cloth. Only the side between the two halves is chicken wire.

There is a hardware cloth skirt all the way around that is only about six inches deep, but sticks is out a couple feet. Have never seen any evidence of digging predator, but we do have gophers, who occasionally make it into the run. I do realize this is a gateway for rats or weasels, but don’t see any way around that. I am not aware of any weasels here and put all the feed away into bins almost every night.

They also have an acre or so for supervised free ranging.

Dust bathing is a challenge right now. I do rake away litter to reveal the dirt floor, which amazingly is still dry in the center of the run. But they love to dig through the litter and cover any earth I’ve uncovered.

Also, I did ALL the hardware cloth completely on my own, so please be nice. There are also some hoaky wooden blocks here and there to block any rat holes. Ugly, yet effective.

Coop is cobwebby and dirty right now, but will get a good spring cleaning. They got fresh litter in the coop pretty recently. I clean out turds once or twice a week from the coop and throw them in the run. It makes pretty glorious fertilizer for the pasture.

Overall, I feel pretty good about their set up, but don’t want to miss anything. If you see anything glaring, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[aart]

Looks like plenty...wished vid had shown more of outside of coop from farther back.

Best way to test ventilation is to measure temp and humidity inside coop and outside coop, should be about the same with some lags at beginning and end of day.

 

[mowin]

Is there a elevator too. Lol.
Sorry, couldn't help myself. Haven't seen a two story chicken condo before.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello. I’ve been wondering about the ventilation in my coop and was hoping for feedback. Please be gentle. This is a refurbished play structure and we rent our place, so building a new coop from scratch is not an option. Opening myself up for criticism for the benefit of my beloved birds.

Dimensions: 5’x5’ and about 6’ tall.
Windows: three 20” (ish) square windows. Pop door below. Several drilled holes above.

Second level: 3.5’x5 and about 4-5.5’ tall (sloped ceiling.) There is one more window I failed to show in video on the second level. It’s about 3 inches tall and 3 feet wide along the top of the last wall.
Windows: one 12-16(?) inch circle above. One 3x36 inch window above. One open 2x3-foot (ish) door (hardware cloth) that is always open except in the windiest of storms (on the side that gets lsss so d).

I also included a video showing the run.
Dimensions: 16’x10’
Addition: 8’x12.5’
There is a gate between the two sides that is always open, but can be closed for separation/integration. Only the original side has access to the coop. I should have moved the red mini coop to the second side before I built it. Oh well. Hindsight rocks. Also wanted to clarify: Entire ru is enclosed in hardware cloth. Only the side between the two halves is chicken wire.

There is a hardware cloth skirt all the way around that is only about six inches deep, but sticks is out a couple feet. Have never seen any evidence of digging predator, but we do have gophers, who occasionally make it into the run. I do realize this is a gateway for rats or weasels, but don’t see any way around that. I am not aware of any weasels here and put all the feed away into bins almost every night.

They also have an acre or so for supervised free ranging.

Dust bathing is a challenge right now. I do rake away litter to reveal the dirt floor, which amazingly is still dry in the center of the run. But they love to dig through the litter and cover any earth I’ve uncovered.

Also, I did ALL the hardware cloth completely on my own, so please be nice. There are also some hoaky wooden blocks here and there to block any rat holes. Ugly, yet effective.

Coop is cobwebby and dirty right now, but will get a good spring cleaning. They got fresh litter in the coop pretty recently. I clean out turds once or twice a week from the coop and throw them in the run. It makes pretty glorious fertilizer for the pasture.

Overall, I feel pretty good about their set up, but don’t want to miss anything. If you see anything glaring, please let me know. Thanks.

I like it. Looks like you have lots of ventilation. Nice sized run too. Overall a great job for a rental situation.

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks. How’s this? The top most level (without windows) is used as a storage shed (accessible by the metal ladder). It’s directly above the main coop.

 

[aart]

The top most level (without windows) is used as a storage shed (accessible by the metal ladder). It’s directly above the main coop.

So top level has a solid floor?
...cause I was thinking to add vents up high in gable peaks and eaves...
...IF you feel you need more ventilation.
Do you feel you need more ventilation, if so, why?

That's a pretty cool little structure, love the roof overhangs, you've done well with it.

 

[micstrachan]

So top level has a solid floor?
...cause I was thinking to add vents up high in gable peaks and eaves...
...IF you feel you need more ventilation.
Do you feel you need more ventilation, if so, why?

That's a pretty cool little structure, love the roof overhangs, you've done well with it.

Thanks. The wooden siding and roof were done for-hire by a carpenter. The first outside wall I show (with the green window) leaks in a heavy storm, getting the bedding damp (which is why it was swapped out recently), so that’s an issue I’ll need to address. I’m even considering brown caulking or something. It’s already two layers with the original outside walls and plywood interior. Just leaks enough to drip down to the bottom. And it’s warm here, so mold can always be a problem.
And, yes. Solid floor. No, I don’t necessarily think I need more ventilation. Adding that 2x3 hanging door took care of it, I think. Just wanted to double check in case I’m missing something. Thanks for your help.

 

[micstrachan]

Wanna know something funny? Three years ago, my husband came home with 4 chicks and that little red coop thinking we were all done. LOL! When I explained they would need MUCH more space and I suggested converting the play structure, he was on board with it.

 

[aart]

The first outside wall I show (with the green window) leaks in a heavy storm, getting the bedding damp

Can you tell where it is leaking?
Caulk might be appropriate.
Getting inside there while raining might help find it, but can you get in there?

 

[micstrachan]

Can you tell where it is leaking?
Caulk might be appropriate.
Getting inside there while raining might help find it, but can you get in there?

No. It leaks through the outside (original play structure) boards, into the space between those boards and the plywood, oozing out onto the bedding at the floor level. I assume the rain gets driven between the boards when it’s rainy and windy. So I can either seal it from the outside or remove the plywood to seal it from the inside and then put the plywood back. Not super practical since roosts, poop deck, and linoleum floor were added AFTER the plywood.