Coop Ventilation

[U_Stormcrow]

I am feeling like the roof trusses need addressed.

There isn't great or even good support to keep the roof from being ripped off by the wind.

Since the birds aren't in there yet now is the best time to address those.

Just one short video of how to build trusses.

Given that its already built, I'm not sure they have the option at this point to frame properly. Screwing in some metal reinforcing brackets and building better next time (seems there is ALWAYS a next time...) may be all they can do in the here and now w/o complete disassembly.

I'm afraid I really don't have a good sense of Irish weather - a couple weeks on the isle of Jersey in summer is as close as I ever got. Would an open air coop design be more optimal in the future?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am thinking that depending on how the walls are framed it's possible. It would mean pulling the entire roof off to do it but still better to address before disaster strikes.

 

[aart]

I am thinking that depending on how the walls are framed it's possible.

The walls are barely, if at all, 'framed'.
Guessing there's not any frame work under the roof panels.

 

[catcliche]

I am thinking that depending on how the walls are framed it's possible. It would mean pulling the entire roof off to do it but still better to address before disaster strikes.

I'm not the construction expert on this project, my partner's dad is doing 99% of the building. You can't see it in the pic but there's multiple rows of screws with washers keeping the plastic roof in place. The coop also survived storm Éowyn (one of the strongest wind storms in Ireland to date). Its location in our yard probably helped as there's a greenhouse and shed nearby to block the wind. We'll definitely consider trusses in a possible coop update later down the line, but at this point, I already convinced him to build a whole new run, I was already pushing my luck with that one

In addition to opening up the gable ends I would rip the top 3" or so of siding off under the roof overhangs.
I would put a solid pitched roof over the run, not a tarp. If you make the run predator proof with an apron around the setup and a solid roof on the run you can also leave the pop door open for a low cold air entrance to help promote circulation in the coop. Other benefits of this is the food and water can be kept out in the run and not get wet and the birds can go out to the run as soon as they come off the roost in the morning.

That's a great idea, I didn't think about their food getting wet. We were debating on whether or not to cover the run yesterday, we decided to just put mesh on top for now, since we underestimated how much mesh we needed for the sides, a whole new roll will cover the roof too. We are planning on doing an apron pinned into the ground as well. A pitched roof would look nice as well as the other benefits you mentioned, we might revisit it next year.

 

[Sally PB]

Coops are never "done." They're just "done, for right now, anyway."

We've made two additions to the coop, and one to the run. Done, for right now, anyway.

 

[MommyGirl]

Coops are never "done." They're just "done, for right now, anyway."

We've made two additions to the coop, and one to the run. Done, for right now, anyway.

Glad I’m not the only one to do this always changing something and always stealing some more space for new additions to coop and run. It really never stops. My wheels are already turning in my head again about my next add on

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Glad I’m not the only one to do this always changing something and always stealing some more space for new additions to coop and run. It really never stops. My wheels are already turning in my head again about my next add on

Hah. I'm thinking about #4 (to replace #1)... #2 is a goat barn/shed. #3 is a mobile hoop coop 8x12 [so only mobile with a tractor or flat ground, no wheels] NEVER done...

 

[ChaosMom]

Glad I’m not the only one to do this always changing something and always stealing some more space for new additions to coop and run. It really never stops. My wheels are already turning in my head again about my next add on

I’m already obsessing about a “dayroom” addition to a quite small original coop that is not yet fully assembled. Glad to know that I’m in good company!

PS - pls don’t tell anyone in my family
k thx bye

 

[MommyGirl]

I’m already obsessing about a “dayroom” addition to a quite small original coop that is not yet fully assembled. Glad to know that I’m good company!

PS - pls don’t tell anyone in my family
k thx bye

I understand the dont tell anyone My husband is going to kill me when he finds out about the next addition I’m planning