Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[wyoDreamer]

I second the windows on the south side. My coop only has a small window in the east side and it gets dark in there about one o-clock. Not, Oh-MY-Gosh-I-Can't-See! darkness, but dark enough that the chickens prefer to stay out in the run until the light comes on. I keep the food and water in the coop so they dash in to eat and drink, then hang out outside until the sun goes down.

The key to ventilation is to let the moist air out, but not create a draft on the birds. Keep the ventilation above the roosts. Expanding on Jim's suggestion, have you builder leave the wall panels short so that the openings are under the eaves to be protected from rain and snow.

During the winter, my chickens will occasionally get a little frostbite on their combs. But my coop is a concrete building with a concrete roof, so not much room for adding more ventilation. As Jim said, just opening the door and going into the coop helps with air exchange.

If I could, I would build the roosts like a ladder and hinge them high on the wall. Then When I need to clean out the coop, I could just lift it up and hook it to the ceiling to get it out of the way.

 

[kokosmom2]

He is going to build the building. I'm supposed to build and put the roosts and nesting boxes inside.
I only have 9 pullets...right now they are on 2 roosts in the Formex coop. 7 are on the top one and the other 2 on the lower one when they go in and roost at night. I thought I'd do 2 roosts in the new coop, but longer than the ones they have now at the same height and I was just going to use 2x4's. Maybe the ladder type roost is a better idea?

 

[jvls1942]

Hi,
my roosts are 16 feet long. they fit into a pocket at each end fastened to the wall. I lift them out and take them outside when I do a thorough cleaning. I have the lower one nearest to the wall and the higher one farther away from the wall. that way I can shovel under them right up to the wall with no obstruction.

8 chickens aren't going to make so much moisture.

my coop is 12 x 16 and I had over 100 birds sleeping in there..

you don't want to have so much ventilation as to let all their heat escape.

hang your nests from the wall.
you want to avoid any obstruction on the floor when it comes to shoveling chit or catching a chicken with a net..

I got a lot of mess cleaned up after the window guys got through.
then I rough graded the area where I am going to pour concrete for my new 7 x 12 foot
shed.
I have 8 windows I can use for it. they are sashes we took out of the old windows.
I am going to trim them all down to the same size. I like a lot of natural light.
IDk what I am going to use this building for,
maybe to store my rototiller, lawn mower and
concrete mixer. plus garden hand tools hanging on the walls..

........jiminwisc......

 

[jvls1942]

Hi noon,

raining here again. no work outside today.spending my time figuring out the roof for the new shed.. I have enough steel to do one side. just have to calculate what pitch I want to have to get the most mileage out of the steel. I will have to buy 4 pieces of new steel for the other side of the roof..
on the upside, I think I might have enough left over vinyl siding tucked away in the storage truck to do the new shed walls.
have a repeat inquiry about the chickens.
he says he will come tonight. we will see..
no bean picking today.
tomorrow I have to drive DD Barby to get her biopsy for the lump on her neck. it just appeared about a week ago. I have not seen it.
whatever you are doing, take a break.

........jiminwisc.......

 

[Daethen]

Went outside to work on the mushrooms logs and it started to sprinkle. Thought well, I will pick the cukes quick so that I can make pickles if it truly rains. Weather gave me just enough time to pick and get inside. Pickles it is!

 

[GranolaGirl72]

Hi noon,
no bean picking today.
tomorrow I have to drive DD Barby to get her biopsy for the lump on her neck. it just appeared about a week ago. I have not seen it.
whatever you are doing, take a break.

........jiminwisc.......

Will be thinking about you all.

 

[Daethen]

So, 13 more pints of dill pickles done. I can hear them sealing as I type. Rain has let up so I may go back out and work on the logs for a while. Or clean house.

Logs it is. Anything to avoid housework.

 

[Daethen]

Got back out. Finished my first set of stacks and started to level the ground for the next set and......down pour. So, now I have to do the stupid house work. Me and my husband need a new wife, lol.

 

[jvls1942]

good evening,
I just sold 3 hens.
wet out there. we must have received 2 inches of rain.
I had the ground all leveled for the cement slab.there is another deep hole next to the garage foundation.. Frankie is really muddy and dirty tonight.
hmmm, put 2 and 2 together.
now we know how she got that way.

the puppies are getting bigger. tonight they pushed their wire puppy fence over. one ended up under the collapsed wire.. he must have thought he was a goner. but he cried and cried and wiggled his way free. LOL

the neighbor was doing something in the hay field at 4:3o AM today. I just happened to be awake to see the lights reflecting off our mirrored closet doors. kind of spooky..

.....jiminwisc........

 

[Edward Charette]

windows are good,
electric is nice, too.
I would put windows on the south side to take advantage of the winter sun.

I reworked my people door.
it swings in. and the threshold is 4 inches higher than the floor.. that way no litter blocks the door when I open it. the door swings over it..

make the people door at least 30 inches wide.
wide enough to get a wheel barrow through.

...jiminwisc......

Ensure your housing is up to snuff to protect your flock. 4x8 foot screened -in-run and a 4x4 foot critter-proof coop for up to 3 hens. The more the room, the better. Though you might get ready-made ones, the joy in building one of your own is special. Few useful tips you will find in this article https://www.thespruce.com/building-a-chicken-coop-3016589.

Keep your coop elevated 2 to 3 feet off ground, seek shade, keep the inside illuminated, feather the nest, utilise predator-proof hardware and use safe outdoor space.

Having vinyl siding has many benefits like eliminating the hassle and expense of repainting paying an outsider to do it.Along with saving money, it saves work too. But not all vinyl is same and you have to be extra careful while picking a quality product. Usually PVC includes a number of additives. Check for vinyl siding standards. Every time you replace windows and doors, check for services in Edmonton who are reliable and competent and get them installed properly.

Treated wood would ensure no rotting but nailing may lead to leak and corroding. Some prefer applying peel & stick before installing windows. Check for wrap f the opening first.

Treating wood would make them weather-proof, insect-proof and resistant to rot.Framing with treated lumber is very good. But ascertain the effectiveness, longevity, and toxicity issues.