Woods-style house in the winter

[Howard E]

This is the only written reference to this he left in his book:



Excerpt was taken from here:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003138272;view=1up;seq=33

I don't think he ever elaborated beyond this. He did put a compass on some of his drawings that showed to orient the thing a few degrees east of south so this was clearly his intent. I too have wondered, but again, he didn't elaborate on this. It could be to get the most light into the building as early as possible during the winter, so as to get the birds active and moving as early as possible, but that is only speculation on my part.

Others of his time just had them facing south. Always south (in northern hemisphere to the winter sun). And elevated on a high, well drained spot and if at all possible, a south or south east facing slope. High, dry and the open side facing south to the winter sun and sheltered from cold winter winds from the north and west. Doors in these old houses were almost always on the east side, away from the cold westerly winds of winter.

 

[enggass]

Thanks - your speculation makes sense. Let's go with that...

 

[bruceha2000]

That is my guess as well @Howard E

 

[Old Philosopher]

I've followed this thread with some interest. I realize the Woods-style coop has had the blessing of the NE for a number of years. Bright and airy. But up here in the northern Rockies, 8 miles from Canada, my coop has storm windows and double walls with 3 1/2" of insulation. My birds seem happy, and the water dishes don't freeze even when it's 24 F deg outside.
The only bird I ever lost to the cold was a Turken when it hit -35F. She was 9 years old, and in molt, so it might just have been old age.

 

[Howard E]

That is my guess as well @Howard E

Have given this a bit of thought and there may be a better answer. It could be due to the earth's tilt on it' axis, the sun hits an object at a bit of an angle so set slightly east of south brings the sun's rays straight in vs. at a slight angle during the winter months in the northern hemisphere. I'm sure there is some astronomy freak among us that will gladly clarify this for us.

 

[Howard E]

I've followed this thread with some interest. I realize the Woods-style coop has had the blessing of the NE for a number of years. Bright and airy. But up here in the northern Rockies, 8 miles from Canada, my coop has storm windows and double walls with 3 1/2" of insulation. My birds seem happy, and the water dishes don't freeze even when it's 24 F deg outside.
The only bird I ever lost to the cold was a Turken when it hit -35F. She was 9 years old, and in molt, so it might just have been old age.

Actually, Woods book (of which almost half the space was filled with testimonials), included references from the northern US and Canada from BC and Alberta and all across Ontario, with references to -30 temps. So in places just like yours. He also referenced a whole bunch of naysayers who said it wouldn't work for them, then followed that up with stories from the same places where it did. One of them was to relate how birds in closed up houses in Alberta suffered from frostbite in winter, whereas birds in his open air house didn't.

But as far as I"m concerned, if somebody has a house they are happy with and the birds are happy and healthy and it works well for them, that is all that should matter.

 

[aart]

Quote: Wonders if it's the difference between magnetic N/S and true N/S?
I don't know the details but I know there's a difference and seem to remember that it is taken into account when orienting solar panels.

 

[bruceha2000]

Likely not magnetic. The variation from true north varies depending on the location and changes over time. It is one of the things you need to deal with when navigating with charts. Have to look at the compass rose closest to your current location, note the date on the rose and the annual increase or decrease then calculate the magnetic course you will follow on your compass.

 

[Intheswamp]

I thought the divergence from due south to southeast(erly) was for weather-related purposes. At least in my area the predominant weather systems come from the southwest on to the northwest. Turning the open-end of the coop towards the southeast would situate it so that the back and the western wall of the coop would catch the brunt of the winds. We get storms from the southeast, too, but most storms seem to come from the westerly direction.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[Howard E]

Again, I think it is going to take some astronomy freak to straighten us out, but I'm still of the opinion it has to do with the tilt of the earth. We normally assume the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, but due to the tilt of the planet in relation to the sun, it may be more of a different angle. Assuming east would be 90 degrees, if the sun rose at 85 degrees, that would be slightly north of east. Then instead of setting at due west, or 270 degrees, it set at 265 or slightly south of west. To be perpendicular to the sun at midday, the building would have to be set slightly east of south.

If a person has a TRUE north/south or east/west line (not magnetic north), it would pretty easy to test. Set up a post, pole or marker (basically a sun dial) and at exactly midday (not noon, but solar noon*), check to see where the shadow falls in relation to north and south.

* solar noon.......assuming you have exactly 10 hours of daylight from dawn to dusk, solar noon is 5 hours in. That may or may not be 12 PM noon. In our location, it isn't. The further a person is from the center of their time zone, the further that will be away from 12 PM noon.