Sleeping Al Fresco?

[Thancock760]

Is it odd that these two girls decided for the last week that they want to sleep in the run? (Fort Knox)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Coop looks smaller. Are there other chickens in it? How warm out is it where you are at and how old are these?

 

[LateBirdFarms]

It's probably cooler in the run, and if you've got coons in the area, I'd definitely discourage sleeping in the run without hardware cloth covering the entire thing. Little grabby hands like to haul heads and wings through larger holes and chew them clean off.

 

[Thancock760]

Coop looks smaller. Are there other chickens in it? How warm out is it where you are at and how old are these?

Coop is plenty big- sized for 12 birds. One of the roosts is empty. It has been really warm- high 90’s in the day. They are a year old on the 14th.

 

[Thancock760]

It's probably cooler in the run, and if you've got coons in the area, I'd definitely discourage sleeping in the run without hardware cloth covering the entire thing. Little grabby hands like to haul heads and wings through larger holes and chew them clean off.

Ahh yes, that is not ideal at all. I haven’t seen any since we have been here- but it doesn’t mean they aren’t around. I have more cloth so perhaps I will put that up by the roost areas.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Coop is plenty big- sized for 12 birds. One of the roosts is empty. It has been really warm- high 90’s in the day.

How hot is is inside the coop vs outside? Can't see much of the coop so things to consider would be adding more ventilation, or if possible some sort of shade cloth over the coop section to help cool it down a bit.

 

[Thancock760]

Coop looks smaller. Are there other chickens in it? How warm out is it where you are at and how old are these?

Oh sorry- also only six hens total- so four are in coop

 

[Thancock760]

How hot is is inside the coop vs outside? Can't see much of the coop so things to consider would be adding more ventilation, or if possible some sort of shade cloth over the coop section to help cool it down a bit.

Well, coop and run are covered and under a total tree canopy. I assume definitely warmer in the coop naturally. Coop door stays open and then along back too of coop is a horizontal mesh fabric window that is open. (Can close and open with covering as needed) the polish and other brown hen slept in it the other night and then tonight they are out again.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Well, coop and run are covered and under a total tree canopy. I assume definitely warmer in the coop naturally. Coop door stays open and then along back too of coop is a horizontal mesh fabric window that is open. (Can close and open with covering as needed) the polish and other brown hen slept in it the other night and then tonight they are out again.

Shade is good, but your ventilation might be lacking, depending on the size of the window. Is it just the 1 window? In cooler/moderate temperatures 1 sq ft per bird is the recommendation, but if you regularly have hot weather in summer, something like 3 sq ft or more (i.e. an entire side open wire mesh) may be more appropriate.

 

[3KillerBs]

I assume definitely warmer in the coop naturally.

Ideally, you should have enough ventilation that the temperature and humidity inside the coop is the same as outside the coop.

Here's my article on ventilation: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/