Winter ventilation question in a hoop coop

[aart]

north central Idaho mountains

Might want to change your location in your profile.

 

[Krugerrand]

I like that idea, I do have more cattle panel that I could use! And we have tons of thick clear plastic that I can cut to size and cover it with!

If you have the cattle panel, I would find that to be the simplest approach. You don't even have to build a frame for it, just sandwich it between 4 T-Posts, cover the top half or so of it with a tarp, and leave the front of your coop open. That sheet metal on the bottom is perfect, as it will give some ground level protection against wind, if needed

I used the T-Post method for my run:

I go the idea from Blooie:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/motel-chix.67240/

 

[McChooky]

This spring we made a hoop coop tractor to raise some meat birds in. After we butchered the meat birds I hatched out some chicks and they are currently in the hoop coop. We had intentions of building an actual coop but we hit a few snags this summer that unfortunately consumed most of our time and we don't have time to build the "real coop" prior to winter now.

I did a lot of research and determined that they would be okay to winter in the hoop coop as long as they are free of drafts and kept dry. I do plan on reinforcing the ridge beam with some 4x4's for the snow load. I also plan to get some larger tarps so that the coop is fully covered but I have a few questions about ventilation.

We are in north central Idaho in the mountains so we will be getting snow and cold temps. First question I have is this... I have attached a few pics of the coop and I'm wondering if I leave the circled areas uncovered if this will be enough ventilation. The 2nd question I have is... I've read not to cover the entire coop in clear tarps due to the greenhouse effect. Would it be wise to cover part of the coop in clear plastic/tarps (maybe 1/4 to 1/3) and the rest in a solid colored tarp? I don't want them to be in the dark all winter

We moved here from TX and this will be our first "real winter" so I'm learning about keeping chickens in the cold lol. If the areas I've circled are not enough I have a back up plan. I was thinking about putting a piece of tin across the ridge of the coop and covering each side with tarps to where there is a gap under the tin, along the ridge. If that would be a better choice, how wide should the gap be?

Just for reference the coop is 12.5ft x 6.5ft and 6ft 3in tall. The "vent" opening on the front is 3ft wide and 6in high in the middle. The back "vent" opening is 2ft wide and 2.5in high. I've never really had to worry about ventilation before because it never got cold enough where we used to live to need to fully cover my coops, so I'm a little worried about frostbite. Thank you in advance for your wisdom and input.

View attachment 3950814View attachment 3950815View attachment 3950817View attachment 3950818

Thats a sturdy chicken chicken tractor!

 

[McChooky]

Sorry in advance for being long winded.... I have been practicing keeping it short and sweet because I usually include way too much information but sometimes I just can't help it

I think that picture was misleading because I took it from the inside of the coop, there are no holes or gaps in the wire around the ridge beam. The tarp I have on there now was just temporary while it's still hot out, we will definitely be putting more tarp on it to provide wind break.


I will have to ask our neighbors what breed they are, I figured getting eggs from someone with chickens that survive well up here would be better than trying to order some since I've not dealt with cold weather chicken keeping before. They really are too young to tell at the moment how big their combs are going to be. And I really am not entirely sure that they are RIR. That was just my best guess and I am admittedly not the best at guessing breeds lol. I will have to do further research and if they won't fare well here in our coop, I will give the hens to the neighbors and try again next year lol. I am not keeping any of the RIR-looking roosters. I have some others that have pea combs and will be keeping one of those instead.

Yes unfortunately I am really good at hatching out roosters, I just hatched these out a month and a half ago so all but one rooster will be going to camp kenmore for sure once they get a little bigger.

I honestly don't think we have any racoons up here, I looked when we first moved here and it was less than 1 coon per square mile, thank goodness. We have spotted a stoat once. Between our dogs and my barn cats, not many small critters make it around here... We are on the edge of a national forest about 45 minutes from town, so I think if there were any coons in the area they would rather be down there where its warmer and there is more to eat. I hope lol. We have had several trail cams and blink cameras out for the last 2 years (we did not stay the winter last year, just summer) and no coons so far (fingers, eyes, toes, and legs crossed). But I do have a baby monitor with a camera on it in the coop which I keep on and turned all the way up on my nightstand. The coop is about 30 ft outside my door and I have a large dog that would make quick work of any small critters. I am far more worried about bears and cougars lol. But I also have something for them as well if needed.

I am not sure that we will have 14 birds in there all winter... as soon as the roosters get big enough to make it worth our while to butcher them (or maybe before? The dogs don't care how big they are ya know...), they will be going to freezer camp. I'm really wondering if we should go ahead and get that out of the way prior to it getting super cold, because that does not sound like a fun task in the snow. I wasn't sure if I should keep them through winter or not, if they would need the extra body heat?

Do you think if I screw a piece of metal roofing along the ridge beam and cover the sides with tarps leaving about a 1 foot (or more?) gap under the tin on the top, which would run the whole the length of the coop, that would be enough ventilation? That would be a 1ft x 12ft opening in the top of the coop covered by tin to keep the snow out. Or would it be better to have the ventilation on the ends? I could build some sort of overhang with a cattle panel, we have some half pieces, and leave the door uncovered. That would also provide me with a somewhat snow free area in front of the door.


Again - first winter here so I'm not sure what to expect - but we don't get much wind in general up here. Every once in a while we will get a few gusts. I have been able to leave the canopy on my camper out all summer whereas in Texas I couldn't do that, and I never really thought of where we lived in TX as being windy. It did snow on us several times when we first got here early this year and it was just a gentle snow, no wind. I'm hoping the entire winter is that way!! I will have to ask the neighbors about that. My goal is to have zero snow in the coop, I want to cover it as much as possible to prevent that from happening.


When we build an *actual* coop in the spring, I think I will be back here for some serious ventilation tips. I'm jealous of your winter coop in the barn. If all else fails this winter, I will section off a portion of our greenhouse for them. We will have a wood burning stove in there keeping it above freezing all winter. I hesitate to do so, but if push comes to shove it's always an option. I really appreciate seeing the pictures of your run, it gives me hope that this will be do-able.


I like that idea, I do have more cattle panel that I could use! And we have tons of thick clear plastic that I can cut to size and cover it with!

I appreciate the pic! It helps me visualize what I can do with what I've got. We have a lot of scrap wood from the sawmill and can cut whatever we need so I think we can come up with something. I got so hung up on ventilation I didn't think much about making an "awning".


Thank you everyone for your input. Sorry for being so long winded. I appreciate all the pictures and the wisdom from yall!

I like how you added metal on the front. Blocking the wind and snow on the lower part still allows plenty of ventilation up top.I was wondering if you're adding a temporary apron around the bottom or will you need one with the dog?

 

[avjudge]

When I built a hoop tractor, I extended the tarp about one foot with PVC piping. You could do something more substantial with some 2x3's or whatever you have on hand. If you have more cattle panel, you could layer that to make a 'front porch.' Then you could leave that side almost entirely open.

I was thinking of suggesting something like this, but thought my post was already getting long, so I am glad you contributed this thought!

Be sure you have a plan to keep snow clear of that door, or you won't be able to get in to feed/water them.

A good thing to remind newcomers to northern climates! That is why my run door swings inward.

 

[avjudge]

I honestly don't think we have any racoons up here, I looked when we first moved here and it was less than 1 coon per square mile, thank goodness. We have spotted a stoat once. Between our dogs and my barn cats, not many small critters make it around here...

Yes, a good dog can put the “fear of dog” into those predators. I think that is why we, unlike our neighbors, have not had problems with bears. They just don’t want to deal with the chance of a run-in. Not that we take it for granted – it wasn’t up when I took the pictures of my set-up, but come spring we set up electrified poultry netting around the run/summer coop complex.

Do you think if I screw a piece of metal roofing along the ridge beam and cover the sides with tarps leaving about a 1 foot (or more?) gap under the tin on the top, which would run the whole the length of the coop, that would be enough ventilation? That would be a 1ft x 12ft opening in the top of the coop covered by tin to keep the snow out. Or would it be better to have the ventilation on the ends? I could build some sort of overhang with a cattle panel, we have some half pieces, and leave the door uncovered. That would also provide me with a somewhat snow free area in front of the door.

I am not quite picturing how the roofing and the tarps would fit together, but a strip along the top that allows ventilation while blocking rain and snow is really ideal, because ammonia from droppings and warmer humid air will rise so it would be effectively exhausted.

If you’re able to do that, it would probably be better to cover the lower half or 3/4 of the front and back to cut down on drafts at floor level and at roost height. Maybe something clear fastened on so you are not blocking light and view??

But creating an overhang would still be a good idea especially on the end with the door since it looks like that swings out. And even with only a partial opening at the top, you don’t want snow blowing in there.

Again - first winter here so I'm not sure what to expect - but we don't get much wind in general up here.

We usually - traditionally - do not have a lot of wind during the snowfall here, unlike what I have seen nearer the coast (Boston area). Most of our wind comes after the storm as the high pressure moves in (accompanied by blue sky and cold temperatures). I am not sure if we had windier storms than usual last year, or if it is just the orientation/design of my coop. You will know better after a few winters there what is the norm and probably adjust your facility accordingly!

When we build an *actual* coop in the spring, I think I will be back here for some serious ventilation tips. I'm jealous of your winter coop in the barn. If all else fails this winter, I will section off a portion of our greenhouse for them. We will have a wood burning stove in there keeping it above freezing all winter. I hesitate to do so, but if push comes to shove . . .

We’ll be here to answer questions!

The coop in the barn has been nice in terms of making it easy to tend to them, and providing plentiful ventilation without actual exposure to the outdoors (ventilation is hardware cloth double doors into the barn, total about 5’Wx6’H for max. 8 chickens, exchanging air with the large interior of the barn rather than directly with the outdoors). Though the barn is unheated and not particularly tight, it stays somewhat warmer than the outside, and no wind chill. Downside is lots of dust in the barn. It was way worse the first winter when they spent days inside in one of the horse stalls; now they are only in for the night and kicked out to the run, usually against their will, each day. They really do love that stall!

Your chickens should not need heat. I believe your area is somewhat colder than ours, but it is also drier. Our snow can be quite wet and especially in recent years often turns to rain for the end of the storm. Drier air is easier on the animals and as long as you do not trap humidity around them in a tightly-closed coop, should mean lower risk of frostbite.

 

[Krugerrand]

I was thinking of suggesting something like this, but thought my post was already getting long, so I am glad you contributed this thought!


A good thing to remind newcomers to northern climates! That is why my run door swings inward.

Mine swings out, but I put it near to a foot off the ground.

 

[McChooky]

Mine swings out, but I put it near to a foot off the ground.

Same here lol

 

[Love Donkeys]

When we lived in the "snow-belt" of Upstate NY all our barn doors opened inward. It was nice not to have to shovel for hours to try to get into the barns to care for the livestock. All we had to do was open the doors and slide in....

The last year we were there,1999, Halloween was canceled due to an overnight storm that dumped almost 3 feet of snow.

 

[McChooky]

When we lived in the "snow-belt" of Upstate NY all our barn doors opened inward. It was nice not to have to shovel for hours to try to get into the barns to care for the livestock. All we had to do was open the doors and slide in....

The last year we were there,1999, Halloween was canceled due to an overnight storm that dumped almost 3 feet of snow. View attachment 3957963

Its harder for chickens to escape if the door opens inward .Don't ask me how I know lol