What Do You Wish You Had Known Before You Bought/Built Your First Coop?

[chfriedmam]

I think we're all wishing that now.

I discarded my original run, hardware cloth and all, and some moderately ratty garden trellises that I wish I had back now.

Ya, i never thought I'd be stressing about 1-2 extra 2x4x8s

 

[Iluveggers]

How close to the top of the roof can the roost bar be if the ceiling has ventilation along the edge right below the roofline so the air doesn’t blow on the chickens heads?
Asking because I wish I knew that. Lol

 

[gimmie birdies]

I would like to be able to collect eggs from the outside, but not have the snow dump on where I collect. I would also like to have places to hide if a neighbor drives by and I am in the garden (sometimes in PJ's.) I would also like areas that I can raise chicks.

 

[Iluveggers]

I would like to be able to collect eggs from the outside, but not have the snow dump on where I collect. I would also like to have places to hide if a neighbor drives by and I am in the garden (sometimes in PJ's.) I would also like areas that I can raise chicks.

Laughing emoji for the PJ comment!

 

[rosemarythyme]

How close to the top of the roof can the roost bar be if the ceiling has ventilation along the edge right below the roofline so the air doesn’t blow on the chickens heads?
Asking because I wish I knew that. Lol

General rule is roost should be 12" below ventilation, however that isn't always the case. Really depends on things like wind direction, amount of buffering over the vent, etc. Like I have windows right at roost level but no draft issue most of the time as the primary wind direction is at the back of the coop, where I have no windows and minimal vents.

 

[3KillerBs]

How close to the top of the roof can the roost bar be if the ceiling has ventilation along the edge right below the roofline so the air doesn’t blow on the chickens heads?
Asking because I wish I knew that. Lol

The roost needs to be far enough below the vent that the air moves above the hens' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

(This coop was build to meet all the minimums for a flock of 4: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/ )

 

[Iluveggers]

The roost needs to be far enough below the vent that the air moves above the hens' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

(This coop was build to meet all the minimums for a flock of 4: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/ )

Thank you will check out your thread!

 

[NixSiren]

That chickens could fly.

Wait what? you mean like jump and flutter right?...... right?!! hmmm.

 

[h2oratt]

Wait what? you mean like jump and flutter right?...... right?!! hmmm.

No they fly. Way high up in the trees