Stopped go in coop at night

[Ricognyze]

A fan won't do much good if the hot air has nowhere to go. I see a nice large vent on one end of the coop; is there another vent like it on the opposite side? If not..... I wonder if you could contact the manufacturer to order or request another vent cover? Then cut an opening the same size on the other side to fit it into.
You could cut an opening of whatever size, then cover it with hardware cloth - but you'd have to configure an awning or louvers or something to keep out driving rain. Whatever you do, yes, the coop NEEDS more ventilation.

If your run is completely predator-proof, and you're sure, you could leave the pop-door open at night. That will pull some cooler air inside as hot air rises out the top. A summertime draft from below will help a bunch to move warm air up and out, but in winter you do NOT want any cold drafts blowing on or below the birds' roosts.

I don't see how they're too crowded, really, for spring/fall/summertime use. It's 10 sq feet, so that's 2.5 sq ft per bird. As long as they're not confined to the coop day and night, and they have a sizeable run or pen for daytime use, I think it's fine. No more than four birds, though. What do you plan to do in the winter, if there are days it's too cold and blustery to let them out? If they do not have a weather protected pen, they will definitely need a bigger coop to accommodate feeders and waterers inside, and room to move about. Some folks just cover the run with heavy-duty plastic sheeting and it's perfect even on the coldest days. (I forget who, but one of our members here lives in Alaska, and posted photos of his set-up. His plastic-covered run works GREAT, and still has adequate ventilation 24/7.)

They'll be warmer than you realize in winter. That coop looks very tight so it won't be drafty, and the double-layer walls will be quite insulating and warm. As long as the birds roost below the level of vents, they won't be cold. Feathers are incredibly insulating.

At any rate, you may have to re-train the birds to use the coop at night, after you've corrected the issues. Just pick them up from wherever they've chosen to roost, and put them inside, for several days in a row. If all is well with the coop, they'll go in on their own after a few days of this.

There is a matching vent on both sides. Attached are photos of the actual coop and run. The run is a repurposed dog run and is sizable at 9x15 feet. So they do have plenty of space to spread their wings. Also, in the winter (we have had them for one winter so far) the roofed overhang keeps most of the snow out of that area, so they were outside most of the winter and only stayed in on extremely cold days. When it was really cold I kept them in the coop, which was only a day here and there throughout the cold MN winter.

The space is quite predator-proof, I just need to do hardware cloth for the roof. I currently have netting over the top to keep predator birds out during the day, but would not protect them in the evening from raccoons and the like.

 

[Ricognyze]

Oh wow, I hadn't seen this part before I posted previously. That looks like it would be an oven in hot temperatures. It's the equivalent to sitting in a hot car in the sun with the window down an inch or 2. They were probably baking in there, therefore staying outside at night in the cooler air. I'm sure that's molded plastic so it's nearly impossible to add extra ventilation. The only way I can think of is to cut the top off below the existing vents, add framing to make more ventilation using hardware cloth going the opposite of the existing vents and use an exterior grade silicone sealant between the added frame and coop walls, put roof back and silicone it too. You can use metal bands with metal roofing screws to hold the parts secure. It won't look pretty but it would provide ventilation needed.

Or can you build/buy a different coop made of wood with more adequate ventilation? That may be a better solution instead of potentially messing up the plastic one.

Another thought is to get a child's playhouse and screw hardware cloth to the inside over openings and door area. I had wanted to do this for my ducks but couldn't find a used one that wasn't torn up and new ones weren't in my budget. One day I'll find one to modify for them.

I put thermometers in my coops to keep check on temperatures, I have one down low near the door and one at roost height for summer and winter. My 50+ chickens have not pecked at them, some have been there 4 years or more.

I may do as you say and augment the existing coop for now. Having spent nearly $1000 on this coop my wife may kill me if I insist on building a whole new one Time is my biggest enemy right now with everything going on in life right now, so modifying will be preferred over building.

Being a first time chicken owner I knew there would be some hiccups in the setup. Hopefully I can get crafty and improve the current setup.

 

[Ricognyze]

Did you check for snakes? I just went through this Sunday (6/4). I was in the process of collecting eggs and I've got one girl who has always ground nested since her first egg. I always shine a light where she lays because it's in the far corner under the one set of nesting boxes. I am visually impaired so at first I thought she was still there so I waited a few minutes and went about checking the nests on the other side of the coop, there's 15 nesting boxes in this coop. So I go back to her spot, shine the light again and realize OH , there's a BIG SNAKE there instead of her!!! Thankfully my son was coming over with a friend for a cookout, who luckily was capable of dealing with snakes. My boyfriend had the shotgun ready. I know, why didn't my boyfriend just get the snake himself, well he's physically disabled and couldn't get into where the snake was. My son was only a few minutes away but it felt like hours. My biggest fear wasn't the hens, it was the 10 chicks on the other side of the open top wall. The friend armed with the pitch fork tried stabbing it at first but it moved and and "ran" for it, it was heading up the wall, this thing was over 6' long! I was in panic mode now, it was heading for my chicks! Whew! He got it, twined around the pitch fork and took it to my boyfriend who shot it. Then the guy searched the coop, nursery and all 3 of my other coops. Nothing found thank God.

Black snake coiled around an egg.
View attachment 3532277

However we did discover in my ducks coop that 2 of my ducklings had hatched a couple days early. Oddly they hatched exactly 1 year to date after my last ducklings hatched.

Mallard/Runner ducklings just several hours old (6/4/23)
View attachment 3532278

Hopefully you don't have a snake or other predator problem.

Holy cow that's a big snake!

I have not seen any sign of snakes. The coop is about 2-3 feet off the ground, so unless they can climb the posts the coop is supported on (I don't know, maybe the can!) their only other access route would be the ramp to the door. We aren't in much of a snake country, but I could be wrong. Since I've lived here for the last 10 years I haven't seen a single snake in my suburban lot.

 

[3KillerBs]

Black snake coiled around an egg.

I've lost count of how many snakes like that I've pulled out of my coops over the past couple years.

I *like* snakes, just not in my chicken coop, so I move them to the farthest corner of my property. We'd have a terrible mouse problem if we didn't have the blacksnakes though.

Having spent nearly $1000 on this coop my wife may kill me if I insist on building a whole new one

Hoop coops are often the most economical coop build and can stand up to severe winters with the right sort of roofing.

Hoop Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

The coop is about 2-3 feet off the ground, so unless they can climb the posts the coop is supported on (I don't know, maybe the can!)

Yes, snakes are great climbers.

That was my first snake of this year. One time last year I pulled a slightly smaller snake off the top of the nestbox door -- about 5 feet off the ground.

 

[aart]

Hoop coops are often the most economical coop build and can stand up to severe winters with the right sort of roofing.

I would never try to use a hoop coop in severe winter.
Very hard to ventilate and keep the weather out.
Might make a good run tho.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

There is a matching vent on both sides. Attached are photos of the actual coop and run. The run is a repurposed dog run and is sizable at 9x15 feet. So they do have plenty of space to spread their wings.

Lots of room, and partly covered. Good job!

Also, in the winter (we have had them for one winter so far) the roofed overhang keeps most of the snow out of that area, so they were outside most of the winter and only stayed in on extremely cold days. When it was really cold I kept them in the coop, which was only a day here and there throughout the cold MN winter.

Just be sure to provide more ventilation inside. The moisture that chickens produce while breathing, and in their manure, can be, well, a LOT of water vapor and ammonia. Humidity inside the coop + extreme cold = frostbite.
ammonia fumes = respiratory issues.

The space is quite predator-proof, I just need to do hardware cloth for the roof. I currently have netting over the top to keep predator birds out during the day, but would not protect them in the evening from raccoons and the like.

Correct. My resident raccoons scale an 8-ft chain link fence around the run every night to attempt to raid the feeders and coop. Snakes likewise. Haven't seen a fox try it yet, but I hear they can scale a 12-ft fence with no problem. I can't keep them out of my current setup without spending a lot of money I don't have. So I take the risk.

Interestingly, the hawks can't seem to successfully manage an abduction from inside the un-covered run. I suspect it's because of all the obstructions in the run and the general size (40' x 50' with an 8' x 25' coop placed in the center). I believe they just can't get a running start to fly out with the added weight of a chicken.

 

[3KillerBs]

I would never try to use a hoop coop in severe winter.
Very hard to ventilate and keep the weather out.
Might make a good run tho.

IIRC, we have an active member here who has a hoop coop in upstate New York that has worked well for years.

I'm blanking on who it is though.

 

[Ricognyze]

I've lost count of how many snakes like that I've pulled out of my coops over the past couple years.

I *like* snakes, just not in my chicken coop, so I move them to the farthest corner of my property. We'd have a terrible mouse problem if we didn't have the blacksnakes though.



Hoop coops are often the most economical coop build and can stand up to severe winters with the right sort of roofing.

Hoop Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/



Yes, snakes are great climbers.

That was my first snake of this year. One time last year I pulled a slightly smaller snake off the top of the nestbox door -- about 5 feet off the ground.

Wow, you really do have to watch for snakes. Here in suburban minnesota garter snakes are the only ones around and they are small and would be more likely to be eaten

 

[rosemarythyme]

The space is quite predator-proof, I just need to do hardware cloth for the roof. I currently have netting over the top to keep predator birds out during the day, but would not protect them in the evening from raccoons and the like.

The run might be "predator resistant" for your area (mine is similar, just taller) but it's definitely not predator proof enough that I'd feel safe letting them sleep in the run.

 

[Ricognyze]

The run might be "predator resistant" for your area (mine is similar, just taller) but it's definitely not predator proof enough that I'd feel safe letting them sleep in the run.

What issues are you seeing? Are they more specific to a different area of the country? Now you have me concerned