What do I need to do to improve this coop?

[picklestheduck]

Hey y’all I’m moving, and I currently have 15 hens I would like to move into the existing coop at our new place. I also would like a rooster soon and I’m going to be getting 10 hatching eggs but can always make/get another coop for them. I know this coop needs some work. I will be trying to add more ventilation, possibly replace the floor, add roosts, etc. Any ideas on some easy ventilation that will work for this coop? What else do you think I should improve? The human sized door is only that door with the windows, should I figure something else out for a door? Also the previous owners left an automatic chicken door! How do I use it? Thank you! Side note, I will be completely redoing the run and making it much bigger and safer. They had random electric cords running straight through the run etc

 

[nuthatched]

How big is it? Looks great, could use some ventilation and larger run but a really good spring off point. You can do under the eaves ventilation or under the peak, the door looks ok. It's an old storm door right?

 

[picklestheduck]

How big is it? Looks great, could use some ventilation and larger run but a really good spring off point. You can do under the eaves ventilation or under the peak, the door looks ok. It's an old storm door right?

Ok awesome! Yes it is a storm door.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I would want to do a new floor and to know if critters can get under there so I'd do an apron. Hopefully you'll get the Ventilation expert 3killerbees to show you some fun graphics on airflow. I could be wrong but it looks like birds were up in those rafters. I'd want to make sure my hens dont get any big ideas about roosting up there and make them a nice L shape roosting with poop boards and a nice set of nest boxes low on the wall. Agree it's such a great starting point even including the kennel panels. Have fun!

 

[3KillerBs]

You can probably add venting in the soffits and the gable peaks -- but you might need to add awnings to keep the weather out.

You want air to flow in lower down then out higher up.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

 

[picklestheduck]

Hey everyone! So we are moving this week, we don’t have a date yet, but by the end of next weekend the birds will be there. We were going to use a box from a box truck for our duck coop, but we changed our minds and just built another coop on the side of existing coop. This coop is looking amazing especially since all the wood is repurposed. My dad built most of it with help, and I wasn’t there for really any of the building of it, but I made it very clear we needed lots of ventilation. Well, I went to go see it yesterday, and although it’s not 100% done it’s looking great. My main concern is how low the ventilation come on the top, and I’m afraid it might get chilled and snow could come in during the winter, but I could always put a tarp up. And again it will be for ducks so they won’t be on roosts or anything. I also am slightly concerned about the mesh over the ventilation, do you think any critters could go through it? It’s chicken wire with plastic mesh over it. I didn’t build it, my dad wanted to on his own. Should I put hardware cloth over it? We live in southern Michigan. Thanks for any advice. Oh and we haven’t made any improvements on the existing coop, that will be happening this week. Thanks for any ideas and thoughts

 

[3KillerBs]

Hey everyone! So we are moving this week, we don’t have a date yet, but by the end of next weekend the birds will be there. We were going to use a box from a box truck for our duck coop, but we changed our minds and just built another coop on the side of existing coop. This coop is looking amazing especially since all the wood is repurposed. My dad built most of it with help, and I wasn’t there for really any of the building of it, but I made it very clear we needed lots of ventilation. Well, I went to go see it yesterday, and although it’s not 100% done it’s looking great. My main concern is how low the ventilation come on the top, and I’m afraid it might get chilled and snow could come in during the winter, but I could always put a tarp up. And again it will be for ducks so they won’t be on roosts or anything. I also am slightly concerned about the mesh over the ventilation, do you think any critters could go through it? It’s chicken wire with plastic mesh over it. I didn’t build it, my dad wanted to on his own. Should I put hardware cloth over it? We live in southern Michigan. Thanks for any advice. Oh and we haven’t made any improvements on the existing coop, that will be happening this week. Thanks for any ideas and thoughts

You could make awnings to protect the vents from blowing rain/snow.

Well-secured hardware cloth is proof against *most* predators other than bears. However, are those fence staples or ordinary staples from a hand staplegun? The latter are not secure and can be ripped loose by raccoons.

You can secure the edges better by screwing a board on top of all the edges or by using screws with fender washers.