Windows and ventilation

[NNYchick]

I am going to add an 8 foot to the length of this end of my "coop" essentially tuning this into the covered run and then the new addition will be the coop for nest boxes and roosting area. I will leave the hardware cloth (8ft x 5ft tapering to around 3ft) in place and add a pop door to the bottom for the chickens to go in and out off and a human size access door to the new area. Will this give them enough light and ventilation? Also this end is facing West and I live in northern NY.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Looks fine to me as a run (though I'd love it as a coop!) I assume that's all hardware cloth in the "windows"?

 

[NNYchick]

Yes it is all hardware cloth. I have been using it as my coop but this winter I realize I need more of an enclosed space for winter nights. I had to put plastic up to keep the snow out, then in the morning they all had frosty moisture on thier head on those nights it got -30 degrees for a couple weeks straight. I’m hoping with the addition I can leave this all open. So during the day they have an airy sunny area and a dry area at night.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Makes sense. I assume it was set up in mind with wind and storm direction in your area since some of the sides are more covered than the others?

 

[NNYchick]

Ya that’s what thought too but it seems every storm the wind blows from a different direction.

 

[jthornton]

Yes it is all hardware cloth. I have been using it as my coop but this winter I realize I need more of an enclosed space for winter nights. I had to put plastic up to keep the snow out, then in the morning they all had frosty moisture on their head on those nights it got -30 degrees for a couple weeks straight. I’m hoping with the addition I can leave this all open. So during the day they have an airy sunny area and a dry area at night.

When you put plastic up you need to leave a foot or so of the top open for ventilation so the moisture can escape.

JT

 

[NNYchick]

When you put plastic up you need to leave a foot or so of the top open for ventilation so the moisture can escape.

JT

Yes at first I left the 2 triangles on each end, area above the door and the small strip on the back wall open. They still had a layer of frost on top of their feathers in the morning. I did not get any frostbite though so I glad for that. It may also be because they are silkies and do not roost they all snuggle together on the floor into each other.

 

[aart]

That's nice!
Did you build or buy it?
Good plan to add a 'real' coop.

 

[NNYchick]

My husband built it. I love it and when I sat and planned it with him I didn’t really have a grasp on what a woods coop aka fresh air coop was but knew that is what I wanted lots of fresh air and sunshine. Now that I have seen modern pictures of them and not grainy black and white I see I really had it all wrong.
Now my husband is giving me a hard time about the size and windows. He thinks a 4x8 addition is plenty of room for 15 Silkies to sleep and lay in, he also thinks ventilation is fine and they don’t need windows to sleep.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You'll want windows for sure, one of the top reasons I think people have issues getting chickens in the coop at night is lack of windows and ventilation. The other is lack of space. I think 4x8 is big enough if your silkies are always willing and able to use the run during the day despite the cold or rain, but if they prefer staying in, then extra space in the coop would be better.