Woods-style house in the winter

[Storybook Farm]

One of mine is wider, and works well.

How wide?

 

[Arielle2]

about 14 feet.

 

[NNYchick]

So I don’t have a woods design but looking for advice from those that have experience with fresh air coops. My coop is 28’long and 8’wide, 8’ tall in the front and 5’ in the back. The large open area faces west each open area is about 6’x6’ covered in 1/4” hardware cloth. I’m going to close everything up and add plastic to the open area on the rear wall to prevent any cross breezes. My question is do you think it is ok to leave plastic off the front I know at 8’ it’s not deep enough to create an air cushion but to the left is a roosting room with 3 closed off walls. It has been dry in there all summer and fall after rain storms. Last year I had plastic up but wondering if it’s needed. I have included pictures also a google earth screen shot of the property (red area is where the coop now is) as you can see it is pretty protected by trees and the house from strong gust of wind.

 

[bruceha2000]

I don't have personal experience but I would think if that side window is closed and there aren't other openings in that space, it would create a pretty good air cushion.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Are your prevailing winds from the west?

 

[Molpet]

So I don’t have a woods design but looking for advice from those that have experience with fresh air coops. My coop is 28’long and 8’wide, 8’ tall in the front and 5’ in the back. The large open area faces west each open area is about 6’x6’ covered in 1/4” hardware cloth. I’m going to close everything up and add plastic to the open area on the rear wall to prevent any cross breezes. My question is do you think it is ok to leave plastic off the front I know at 8’ it’s not deep enough to create an air cushion but to the left is a roosting room with 3 closed off walls. It has been dry in there all summer and fall after rain storms. Last year I had plastic up but wondering if it’s needed. I have included pictures also a google earth screen shot of the property (red area is where the coop now is) as you can see it is pretty protected by trees and the house from strong gust of wind.
View attachment 1572826 View attachment 1572827 View attachment 1572828

I have a hoop coop 8x24', open on short side to the south. snow has blown in about a ft .

Wind rose of winds, or at least close , but farther west NY.

https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/sites/windrose.phtml?station=GTB&network=NY_ASOS

 

[bruceha2000]

Thanks for the link @Molpet, this is ours:

Seems accurate. Never comes from the east northeast. Of course that doesn't stop the snow from coming around the north end of the house and piling up on steps to the enclosed porch 25' to the south on the east side in a west wind.

 

[Arielle2]

You can close it up some. Just be aware of getting enough air flow but NOT wind blowing in.

I faced mine east as no storms blow from the east here. From the NOrtheast, from the south, from the west..... just know the weather in your area.

Or add a cover if a bad storm is due in.

I do have a small coop that is open to the north in the summer, and the birds roost right in front of it. THe can roost higher if need be out of direct winds, but the tree line generally knocks down any hard winds, and in te winter it is closed up.

You might just need to try it and do your best.

 

[NNYchick]

I will have to watch it closely to see how much snow and wind actually blow in. I know we had rain and snow the last 2 days and the window sills aren’t even damp. My husband says our storms usually do come from the west but with the house being in front of the coop it should block most of the wind gusting through. If I do find it to be too open they have the enclosed roosting room that is plenty big enough for them for a few hours while I get plastic up, snow cleaned out and fresh bedding down. I would like to avoid plastic, even though it’s “clear” it does filter light out and they can’t see out it and they like to jump up on the stumps and look out not to mention the fresh air is good for them. We have been down into the teens at night already and nobody has shown any signs of stress but I know that’s nothing compared to our double digits below zero we get at the end of the year. They did well last year but I had humidity issues I believe because I had plastic up.

 

[bruceha2000]

You can get some really clear plastic. I do understand that plastic isn't ideal.