Woods-style house in the winter

[Arielle]

Well, sorta made the wall fit to the door! Took out the side studs to back wall to move the stud and make it wide enough for the door as it would not fit at first either.

Using what I have but following the style from the book diagram.

The screen is tacked onto the front right now as I did not have the energy to pull it tight. Will have to redo that eventually. It won't affect the air flow but it isn't as secure this way.

The weather will be getting real cold here soon so I need to get the sides and monitor completed. Also the pop door that I framed the location on the outside but isn't cut out all the way or secured yet. I do not own a sawsall so my little tree saw is having to do the job using the outside framing as a straight edge guide. The little screen is leaning against the spot it is going.

Thank you for your support on the building process. I would not be doing all this if I didn't believe it would be the best style coop to keep them healthy and safe. They already love it but do still go into the little coop to roost at night.

We did the same thing-- fit the door then place the studs. We usually tack screen and chicken wire before the final attachment.

Good work!!

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Ok so I don't detract from the original intent of the thread, I posted a another thread "My coop progress so far" for those who want to see a Woods style open air coop as built by a female that has no construction experience.

Now for this subject of winter in Woods coop I will add to later and let you know how it works for me here in upper lower Michigan. I am NOT heating or lighting it. 1. Too many power failures here for one thing and that drastic quick change could make them sick. 2. Finances. 3. I'd have to run a line across the driveway, past the shed to the coop. Not a safe thing to do here. Can't dig it either as the area between here and there holds water making the area off the drive mucky/slimey clay when wet and the drive is rock/limestone!

 

[Leahs Mom]

BBN - a link to your coop thread, please!

 

[bluebirdnanny]

BBN - a link to your coop thread, please!

tp://www.backyardchickens.com/t/832098/my-coop-so-far-photos

Here it is. The most recent photos. Tried to get them on another forum where I did beginning but it requires photobucket direct link and I couldn't get it to upload last time to photo bucket site.

tp://www.backyardchickens.com/t/832098/my-coop-so-far-photos

 

[GWG2013]

End of November. -12C at night and the chickens seem very content. Lots of happy clucking, eating lots, and producing lots of eggs. They don't seem the least bit bothered by the cold. They even do there best to venture out every day, but don't like the deep snow.

 

[Arielle]

End of November. -12C at night and the chickens seem very content. Lots of happy clucking, eating lots, and producing lots of eggs. They don't seem the least bit bothered by the cold. They even do there best to venture out every day, but don't like the deep snow.

How wonderful to get an updat-- so glad this add on- woods coop is working well for you. WHat is the inside temp?? Are the waters freezing??

 

[GWG2013]

On a sunny day it's a few degrees warmer inside, otherwise it's the same as outside without the windchill. It actually got down to -18C last night. No frost-bitten combs and waddles yet. Without an electric heating base for the water can it was freezing up at 0C, as would be expected. I tried wrapping the water can with electric pipe heating cable, but that didn't work well at all, so I bought the base.


Some of the girls prefer to stay inside, while others like to go out in the daytime.

 

[ChocoClover]

That's a really nice coop!

 

[bluebirdnanny]

So far so good with my coop and it isn't even completed yet. Yes the waterer does freeze since it is very close to the front part (open screen). But now it has an electric cord stretched across the driveway. Will be too dangerous to do that all winter.... drive will need to be plowed or shoveled. I know where it is but if a good samaritan does like last year I don't want it hit.

I would think if too much wind was coming in they'd be huddled together in the back but they are always up front by the open front. At night they don't huddle on the roost either. Only two sleep close and that is the rooster and what I guess has become his favorite hen.

Just finished skinning and taking some fat off the skin and hide of my deer. The birds are enjoying the fat and a dish of warm wet feed. Since they took to the fat so well I will be freezing bags for putting in a hanger for them during the next few months.

The only two laying age are giving me an egg each every day despite how cold it is out. (20 F today).

 

[Arielle]

GW-- nice that you can add a heated base. No such luck with my set up, some 500 feet from any outlet.

Blue-- did you finish your coop then?? I would take up those cords too as I have been known to forget thema nd run the snowblower over them and on occassion cut the the cord--oops.