Climate & Environmental Control
Designing a Coop for Real Weather
Chickens don’t just need shelter—they need a stable, dry environment.
There is nothing worse than seeing chickens have to stand around in a wet, stinking, muddy run other than gathering the eggs that come from such conditions.
When my flock grew from 24 to over 150 chickens in one summer—because, you know, chicken math—I needed more coops fast. I turned to the humble but mighty hoop coop design and built 7 of them within a few weeks time.
Living in the middle of the Bitterroot mountains I knew cold winters can be killers so I added a layer of Prodex insulation under the tarp. I'm really glad I did, because the one coop that didn't have any (I ran out) had so much condensation build up inside from the temperature differential that the inside of the coop was nearly as wet as outside! In certain conditions the ventilation simply couldn't keep the coop dry.
When I got the idea to add a Gothic arch cap to the hoop coop, I realized I'd landed on an engineering technique that would solve not only the condensation problem in cold weather but the extreme heat problem coops and runs experience in summer. The air-gap between the tarp over the hoop coop and the Gothic arch cap is an incredibly useful design. With a fan installed on one end and a hole in the middle of the tarp, air can be gently pulled from the interior of the coop, keeping it cool in summer and condensation free in winter.
Another design element I incorporated in the coop is the corrugated HDP aprons on both sides. These form an inner barrier that holds deep litter inside the coop and also ushers rain and snow away from the edges of the coop. We recommend building the coop on an area raised by 6 to 8 inches of earth or wood chips feathered out from the coop base. When the apron is installed and then further buried by the raised garden beds, earth or wood chips, any rain or snowmelt running down the sides of the coop will be shunted well away from the coop, keeping your deep litter dry and chickens happy.
Another way the Queen of Coops helps keep temperatures stable in extreme climates is with the addition of raised beds along each side and compost system in the back. These create excellent thermal mass which helps regulate temperature swings by absorbing heat during the day and releasing it gradually at night.
In summer, the system stays cooler.
In winter, it holds warmth longer.
With this unique set-up, Queen of Coops offers something no other coop kit does: a stabilized environment for year-round comfort, better flock health, and clean eggs all year round!