Woods Fresh-Air coop build

[Beej7]

Nice!!

How come the sides of the front section are not open to the floor?
Are there open gap between the rafters in the back?

I think the design called for windows on the sides not hardware cloth like the front.

And no, i blocked off that gap between the roof rafters. Left the ledge exposed in case some little birds want to nest up there.

 

[aart]

I think the design called for windows on the sides not hardware cloth like the front.

Ah, yes, I'd forgotten.

And no, i blocked off that gap between the roof rafters. Left the ledge exposed in case some little birds want to nest up there.

Now that I look at the pics in better lighting, I see they are blocked.

 

[McChooky]

I’m considering charring the skids to help preserve them. I am planning on elevating the coop a couple feet off the ground, so the skids wouldn’t be in ground contact anyway. But the humidity and shade makes me feel like charring the pine skids would be wise (and a fun experiment).

Question is, do you all think the chickens would eat the charred wood? Im sure they will try some, and I’m not worried about that. More concerned with them eating a ridiculous amount for 2 reasons:

1. Who knows what a bunch of charred wood would do inside a chicken
2. The charred wood is what is supposed to be protecting the skids

What are your opinions?

It the wood doesn't have any preservatives in it your chickens can benefit from eating the charred wood. I added a charred stump in my run for my chickens . https://www.hobbyfarms.com/charcoal-for-chickens/

 

[McChooky]

Another option is to keep our current small mobile coop for summer use and use the Woods for winter. This was the original plan but Im always trying to simplify things and having a brand new coop and not using it for half the year seems goofy.

Excellent idea! Your coop isn't damaged by moving it around and the chickens are always in a clean coop or on clean ground!

 

[Beej7]

Excellent idea! Your coop isn't damaged by moving it around and the chickens are always in a clean coop or on clean ground!

I think this is the route I’m going to go. And if we ever want to leave for a few days without asking someone to tend to our flock during the summer we could always put them in the Woods coop with the automatic door. It is really nice seeing the flock on fresh ground as opposed to the shit/dirt that most chickens live on.

 

[McChooky]

I think this is the route I’m going to go. And if we ever want to leave for a few days without asking someone to tend to our flock during the summer we could always put them in the Woods coop with the automatic door. It is really nice seeing the flock on fresh ground as opposed to the shit/dirt that most chickens live on.

I couldn't agree more!

 

[Ted Brown]

... It is really nice seeing the flock on fresh ground as opposed to the shit/dirt that most chickens live on.

i know this will echo one of the great divides on BYC.

I know my flock DOES NOT live on shit/dirt and suspect that many members here could say the same. I use drop boards, deep bedding in coop, deep litter in run and do not free range; coop(160sq ft)+run(350sq ft) built to accommodate 40 chickens. I pickup from the drop boards frequently, empty the coop bedding once in the spring and add as many deciduous leaves to the run as I can each fall. Nothing more, three full years+ and counting.

The coop gets dusty. I believe (and according to @aart) from the dried waste that goes onto the bedding through the year. NOTE: I believe that most of the dust in a coop is chicken shit so am content (hemp is too expensive!) with pine shavings and some straw mixed in.

I would love to free range but was beaten down by predators and pests (mites and lice). And my 2+ acres looks greener, better.

 

[Beej7]

I’m happy to report that our flock took to the new coop flawlessly. They’re using the ramp, the automatic door works great, they’re laying in the nest box (although not much since they’re 3 years old and molting), and all but 1 is roosting at night. Despite having more space and a beautiful coop at that, they still cant wait to get outside in the morning!

We also had a hen go broody right after finishing the coop so we stuck her in a corner with her own nest box, fenced her off and now we have 6 new chicks!

 

[Beej7]

Merry Christmas from our Woods coop! Don’t normally keep the food and water inside but with the subzero temperatures, howling winds and blizzards I do. The chickens have been keeping the coop about 7 degrees warmer than outside temperature even with the front open and no insulation in the coop. There is a little snow blowing in the front and theres a little air movement in the back by the roots but its very minimal even though its ripping outside.

 

[3KillerBs]

There is a little snow blowing in the front and theres a little air movement in the back by the roots but its very minimal even though its ripping outside.

What a beautiful photo!

One of the great advantages of a well-ventilated, open coop is that a little weather getting in the vents isn't an issue.

Likewise a gentle waft of air that doesn't disturb the chickens' feathers.