Wire mesh coop bottom

[Ejmaggz]

Hello!

So I adopted 3 chickens from a co worker (my first chickens) and they came with their own coop (sweet!) We are building a bigger coop in the spring to house all the incoming chicks I have planned, but I’m wondering, especially going into winter, how good is their coop now?

The coop is elevated off the ground (as seen in the pic) but it has a (sturdy) wire mesh bottom, so most the poop can fall down through the wire.

With it getting colder out (in the teens with snow) will this be warm enough for them? Should I add straw to it for insulation?
I worry about a draft. They have 2 little wire windows a little above their roosting bars, for ventilation, is this enough? Will it also cause a draft?

I’m planning on keeping this coop for meat chickens down the road, so I want to make sure I am doing right by my chickens now and in the future. I’d like to had a first story to it and make it a 2 story, to house more chickens. Any reasons not to?

Thank you everyone!

 

[aart]

They have 2 little wire windows a little above their roosting bars, for ventilation, is this enough?

Maybe.
Measure the humidity inside and outside the coop, they should be very close to the same(~10%).

Will it also cause a draft?

Again... maybe, depends on where the prevailing winds come from.
The wire bottom might be a problem, but you could cut most wind issues with some plastic on the run walls on the windward sides.

Pics of inside of coop?

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Ejmaggz
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since the chickens have already been living in the coop as-is in an area nearby (so I assume the climate is somewhat similar to what your coworker has) they're probably ok for the winter as-is, though more photos of the interior of the coop would help.

More ventilation up high would be recommended from what I can see right now. As the run is roofed that should make it easier to protect any vents from the elements.

I’m planning on keeping this coop for meat chickens down the road, so I want to make sure I am doing right by my chickens now and in the future. I’d like to had a first story to it and make it a 2 story, to house more chickens. Any reasons not to?

I would not advise that, as 1) chickens don't stack 2) meat birds are even more likely than layers to be ground bound, and may struggle to fly or climb up a ramp to get to a higher floor 3) the coop isn't that tall, so it'd be doubly difficult to double up on ventilation needed to keep the birds healthy (1 sq ft of ventilation per chicken is recommended).

 

[Acre4Me]

A nice sturdy ground pen for meat chickens…they are less likely to be able to manage a roost or steps as they get larger. That coop could be put to use as an isolation setup for injured bird , as an integration coop for young birds, or as a breeding set up for a trio with a rooster.

 

[raingarden]

I would worry about the bird's feet on bare wire all the time. Straw will create a cushion, but has to be replaced or cleaned regularly.