The 10 x 14 slab of my coop was poured today. 10 x 10 of it will be the coop, 4 x 10 will be the service area. Framing starts on Mon.
I was able to get some nice windows off of CL: 2 are 37 x 44 and one is 36 x 37. I plan on putting the two larger windows in front on the South side. The other window will face the west. That wall will have a nice overhang so the window will be for ventilation, not so much for light. I was planning on putting vents all along the front South facing side, a couple of vents along the west side, and a few vents along the north side. There will be no vents or windows on the east side because of the horrendous winds we get from October through May.
I'm also going to have the building insulated and put a whirly vent on the roof. I was also planning on having the upper wall between the coop and the service area hardware cloth so that more air is circulating. If I can find a couple of used inexpensive windows I'd like to put a small window in the service door as well as one in the back of the service area. Is this overkill?
I live in the low mountains, elevation 4,100 ft. Our winters are get usually down to 27, 25 maybe. Our summers can get up to 95. We almost always have a breeze coming from the west. I'm putting in a 10 x 14 completely covered run with the sides covered north and south sides about 8 ft. out from the coop. The main reason I'm doing that is again because of the wind. I want the birds to be able to go outside when the winds are raging...even if they aren't able to have the entire run, they can get out and scratch a little where it's protected.
I wasn't planning on putting in electricity...at least not for now. I don't think it will get that cold inside, especially with all the birds in there. I'm planning on starting out with about 15 birds, although I originally was going to do 4, then 8, now it's 15...
I keep going over the plans and I really want to get this right the first time out. I'd love any encouragement or any suggestions on how to improve the ventilation. Thank you!
I was able to get some nice windows off of CL: 2 are 37 x 44 and one is 36 x 37. I plan on putting the two larger windows in front on the South side. The other window will face the west. That wall will have a nice overhang so the window will be for ventilation, not so much for light. I was planning on putting vents all along the front South facing side, a couple of vents along the west side, and a few vents along the north side. There will be no vents or windows on the east side because of the horrendous winds we get from October through May.
I'm also going to have the building insulated and put a whirly vent on the roof. I was also planning on having the upper wall between the coop and the service area hardware cloth so that more air is circulating. If I can find a couple of used inexpensive windows I'd like to put a small window in the service door as well as one in the back of the service area. Is this overkill?
I live in the low mountains, elevation 4,100 ft. Our winters are get usually down to 27, 25 maybe. Our summers can get up to 95. We almost always have a breeze coming from the west. I'm putting in a 10 x 14 completely covered run with the sides covered north and south sides about 8 ft. out from the coop. The main reason I'm doing that is again because of the wind. I want the birds to be able to go outside when the winds are raging...even if they aren't able to have the entire run, they can get out and scratch a little where it's protected.
I wasn't planning on putting in electricity...at least not for now. I don't think it will get that cold inside, especially with all the birds in there. I'm planning on starting out with about 15 birds, although I originally was going to do 4, then 8, now it's 15...
I keep going over the plans and I really want to get this right the first time out. I'd love any encouragement or any suggestions on how to improve the ventilation. Thank you!
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