Building a chicken coop for all seasons start to finish- Ontario, Canada

[@fredrickpeters1628]

Not "just a chicken coop," but a very fine house. Well done. I built two coops for my daughter's rescued girls. We are vegan. I wish I had seen your video first. One thing we added was hardware cloth every inch around. We had raccoons, weasels, and others that can chew through plywood. Nice job. Thanks

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you. We add hardware cloth to the windows, vents and the floor. Those are our only really vulnerable spots as the cats and dogs patrol the rest. Good for you guys though protecting your flock!

[@marcuslarson5313]

This was spectacular! Here's why: This is a real Winter coop (we live in MN USA). A coop shouldn't cost ten thousand dollars, and you used what you could find for free, cheap, or re-purposed. You have a brooder space for future chicks and convalescence. But, the icing on the cake was the band t-shirts! 😆🐔🐣

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I am so glad you liked it! Finding a "real" winter coop design is a trial that is for sure! After building about 7 plus coops at previous homes/farms (military family) we felt fairly confident in what we wanted, how to make it safe, how we needed and wanted to build it but this time I felt we needed to share it. We built it the demesions that we did because hubby didnt want to cut plywood for the floors, so built the way it is you can see it is three pieces of uncut plywood, course we had to cut lots of other pieces but thats besides the point...lol I do not believe any coop or farm build should cost a huge amount of money and I strongly believe in using what you have or getting second hand when you can. Thanks for watching!

[@lts30000]

Round St cloud mn here. Building a chicken tractor. Lots of learning. More learning Nicely said..... Mind if I ask your general location in Minnesota ?

[@zinnia3684]

Yeh family. Good job.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

We live in Ontario, Canada. ☺️

[@tastyfishsauce4410]

The wire on the floor is an experienced move and I appreciate somebody mentioning that. Also rodents like to get on the corners between floor and wall just above the 2x4 studs, nailing some roofing scraps cut to strips and angles prevents that. Raising the coop 18-24" off the ground also works, at least for my pigeon coop- lol. Good job and informative.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks so much. We've made many coops over the 40+ years and each coop and move has made us learn more. The elevation of the coop is a must (my cats can get in under it) but the wire is a game changer. I agree with the corners being eaten at though, we have had that in the past as well. We increased our cat poplulation and havent needed to do that here though.

[@georgeingridirwin6180]

WOW Yes it's brilliant. We are making a new coop sometime in the next 2 weeks. So this is a fantastic tip to see before we build. Thank you!!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

You are very welcome! Best of luck building.

[@bradleybunt6556]

That is a bad ass chicken coop, and like you said, who cares if it doesn't match! Best part is being able to make use of left over supplies! To get one that nice from a store would cost thousands!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! I love my coops! I also love reusing things that would be trashed otherwise! And even doing all the things we could to cut corners and save money it still cost us a couple thousand to build it. Building supplies during CVid were insane! (Not that they are much better now either)

[@tamaracross9]

I have to build a coop that can fit 100 birds I am going to upscale this model...you guys made building this coop look like even a novice like me can make a decent looking coop.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

This design will easily upscale! We went with the size we did because we didn't have to cut so much plywood that way. If you make is a size that easily fits full pieces it will go together super fast. Good luck and let me know how it goes I would love to see it.

[@tamaracross9]

@@connerty_meadows_farm that's great idea using full sheets to cut down your wood cutting! I will keep you posted have a great day.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

@@tamaracross9 always trying to find ways to keep it easy :-)

[@user-xj5mq5ln2g]

The "doors" in while wearing a Jim Morrison "doors" shirt love it it was really Door day . Awesome coop!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Lol thanks! Great eye!

[@belieftransformation]

Thanks for sharing! I’m in Alberta & we get the cold, long winters, too!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Yes you do! I lived there for 5 years in Cold Lake. Thanks for watching

[@samblack4616]

Thank you! This is the best coop video that I’ve seen yet!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

thank you! I hope it helps you build your coop. Feel free to ask any questions I will do my best to answer them for you.

[@timstevens5769]

All... I reached out to Connerty and not only did they answer my questions, but were friendly and prompt in their response. THANK YOU CONNERTY FARM!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

You are very welcome! Glad to be of help. :-) Can't wait to hear how your build goes.

[@patshipp9195]

Really nice coop. Those are Chicken Palaces. Great job. God Bless

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you

[@cekfraun]

This is the best, well-thought-out chicken coop design I've ever seen! Great video. I enjoyed watching you two build it. Lots of work, but I'm sure the chickens appreciate it. 🙂

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks so much! There’s lots of years and lots of building coops behind this design.

[@Blue-Dog]

Roofing tin is designed with hills and valleys for a reason. The water runs down the valleys and the screws with grommets should be screwed into to hills. Those grommets perish in time, so I'd check every 6mths since you seem to have used the valleys. Beautiful job, lots of thought and wonderful family participation. ❤ from this aussie chick.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Each place we have lived screws them in in different locations. Some places have used the ridges so in that area we followed the rules for there. Here they use the valleys so we do that here. It’s very strange that each place seems to have its own ideas but in our mind so long as the roof stays on it doesn’t matter to much. We are going on 3 years here with no issues. Over 7 years at our old farm with no issues. At the end of the day, it’s still just a chicken coop. Funny how things are so different from area to area.

[@donweeks5290]

What an education. And right when i was preparing to build one!THANKS FOR SHARING. Tickeled to see that its a familyb affair.Can hardly wait till next show!!!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you. We try to do everything together. Having the kids involved and having them have a say helps to be sure they enjoy the farm work they have to do.

[@strictlyconservative8777]

Just a coop? I think it is gorgouse! Masterful job. So nice, I am copying this video to have someone build it for me.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! I like my girls to be comfy as happy girls mean eggs. If you have any questions feel free to ask

[@polarvortex3294]

Loved seeing the dogs help supervise, and especially the black and white one that kept zipping around.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Lol Skye (the black and white one) is a border collie and always wants to be where we are but she goes crazy over the sound of the drill so we ended up having to move her out of the pen while we were working so we didn’t trip over her. Dogs are such a great animal to have on the homestead

[@polarvortex3294]

@@connerty_meadows_farm Wow. Neat. I'll bet if dogs could vote they'd choose farm life every time!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Our dog loves her animals and her walks in the woods. She would never be happy in the city!

[@Rocco25.6]

Great job on your new house for the chickens!!!! Cost savings is the name of the farm game that is going to be the best project ever no waist is great!!!!!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I agree. We always try to find deals where we can and plan ahead too.

[@lydiawhite322]

Great video! I love the voiceover the sped up video, very satisfying to watch come together.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

thank you! Didnt figure anyone wanted to watch three plus days of working..lol Its always nice to see a completed project

[@RubyTuesday2029]

My new years goal was to learn how to raise chickens. This video is absolutely perfect, thank you.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I’m glad it’s helpful. You will love having chickens

[@theromanst.clair.]

Thomas put the team on his back

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Yup! He’s a good man!

[@brendanelson1027]

Really cool design! We would have to use screws for framing everything & more rafters & roof structure, as we deal with hurricanes, but really like your plans. Love the brooder boxes, that's something we don't have for our small coop & flock. Saving this for our next coop! Thank you! Blessings from NW Florida!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

In the past we screwed all our coops together but as you know it is very time consuming to do it that way and we really needed to be more efficient with our time so chose to use the gun for these one (and we don't generally get hurricanes here) but a lot of the build still used screws (the corners, the hurricane clips, all the plywood)

[@bknight7698]

You guys can build a coop for me anytime ! What great work and saving money works!👍

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! We will build a coop for you if you put up fences for us ;-) lol

[@guysolis5843]

I think the 1/2 mesh as your first layer is a great idea. We had rodent problems and that made us give up our chickens. They stopped laying and it felt we were being raided by rats and didn't want them in the house. Gotta love that nail gun! Your daughter brings back fond memories. I had 3 boys and 1 daughter I raised on my own. My daughter was born 3rd. I raised he like a Tomboy and she'd put worms on the hooks and wrestle with the boys. She'd help me in my projects the BAM!! One day, she was a a girl. She wanted dresses and hairspray and my grubby boys were stunned! Ha..Nice work to you and your family!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

The hardware cloth is something we learned years ago after having rodents chew through our flooring! We learn each place we move to! Hubby loves the nail gun. Before these coops we always screwed them together and while it worked it was so time consuming. This is so much faster! I have two girls. Both prefer hanging out outside on the farm, much like me when I was younger. My youngest says she wants to be “a bug scientist” when she grows up. So be it!! We got her bee hives to expand her passions

[@guysolis5843]

@@connerty_meadows_farm Haha! You're so sweet to respond. I was so happy to see you, your husband and children work on that project. You made me sentimental..my one child, like me, wanted to be a marine biologist but I'm afraid my serious paranoias drove her away also..so weird when a living person is just like you. What a blessing and I see that in your family...I wish you peace and happiness and I'm sure your husband knows he's blessed because he is.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you for your kind words

[@marciwatterson8033]

I am so impressed, you thought everything through. Fabulous job!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! We’ve made a “few” coops over the years during our various moves. If you saw the first one we made 🙈🙈🙈🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️. Let’s just say we’ve learned a lot over the years and these coops are the result of that learning.

[@phyllisstein1837]

wow, that's a nice coop.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you

[@kathrynpredojevic3716]

So great! Thank you, and r building a coop over the next few weeks, with this as a guide.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Good luck and enjoy the chickens!

[@cuisinemaison7600]

Hi guys, Great video!! Love the coop! We are your neighbours from Quebec:) We are gonna be first time chicken owners in the summer if all goes well. Thanks so much for the detailed build…we are gonna do our best to replicate it as best we can. Thank again! Brent

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Hello Neighbour!! Good luck with the build if you have any questions be sure to ask

[@ravincathomestead-cecilia2894]

Very nice and love your t-shirt, take care and stay safe and warm

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! I love it too!

[@gaylegoeschel9850]

I think your coop is great especially working with what you have or reusing materials.♡♡♡

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! 😊

[@williamhernandez6899]

You're hired

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

thanks :-). lol

[@art.journal.madness]

Love this!!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you

[@laurenadams3562]

Wow, Loved 🥰 your Chicken Coop Build, I Learned A lot ❤❤❤❤

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks! We love helping people learn new things

[@Chipper6032]

I just happened upon your video and was pleased to see you were from Ontario and then realized it was Ottawa valley area. I grew up in Ottawa moved with Dads work as a teenager but have lived all over Ontario and beyond. I have subscribed and look forward to move videos.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Aww thanks for following along. Appreciate it!

[@pammohler3253]

Great job

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@lorenmeyer5290]

Very very nice job guy's!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks! The chickens enjoy it

[@richardmiller8407]

Thank you for sharing. Very nice chicken coop.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Our pleasure!

[@victorm7274]

I know it’s just a chicken coop and It looks pretty good but you guys forgot to install “jack studs” to support the weight above the window. I also have a brooder inside of my coop but I didn’t think to elevate it . That’s a good idea. 👍🏼

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks for looking out for our safety. Not to worry though It’s all supported properly double 2x4’s above and below each of the windows and doors but it might be hard to tell in the video. Our construction friends check in the be sure we are doing things right. Elevated brooders are a life saver! Don’t have to bend down to clean them! But that said we do brood in the bottom to (but I have the kids clean those ones 🤭)

[@victorm7274]

@@connerty_meadows_farm yeah I think my kid would have an issue with cleaning my coop. Since she’s 26 years old and married with their own house. 😂

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

lol guess your stuck on your own! 🤭

[@jackandlenora1983]

thanks for sharing, I plan on building a small one myself.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Good luck and enjoy!!

[@haroldmoores2873]

Outstanding video…thank you!! Look forward to more!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks for watching!

[@thezenable]

It's really nice chicken coop

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you ☺️. Our chickens quite enjoy it to.

[@lpmoron6258]

Love the chicken house! Been tempted to build a walk in like that. Love the brooder area. That would be so handy! My broodiest go in small pet carriers that fit in larger cages or large pet carriers. I pick those up at yard sales and flea markets. These unfortunately do not fit in my 4x7 coop. I have 5 hens that are born to be mothers! The carriers and cages keep each hen on the they're nest and keeps others from contributing to her cause! I only occasionally have a hen refuse to set on eggs after being moved. I fasten them in the carriers and make it dark. Unusually in two hours they have settled in. Two days after hatching they are let in with the others during the day. Which means I must be home before dark to allow them back into the box. That sometimes does not happen and I have to do a round up after dark. Fun. Do your hens not get under that chicken house to make nests? Do you ever have critters den up under there? Are you home to close windows if a storm blows up? My husband and I work daylight till dark 6 days a week. Can't be home for all that.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I had many a coop that we used cat carriers for which is why in the planning and building of these coops I made sure to include the brooders into them. I have silkies and silkie crosses, those girls would hatch air or an elephant if they could! The brooders are a necessity. I usually leave mine in the brooder for at least a week to adjust to each other and to get the chicks strong enough to run away. I make sure we are home and working outside on the first day I let them out just so I can keep an eye on them. Some times the chickens go under the coops, a big stick helps to chase them out....lol I will be adding hardware cloth and rocks to prevent them from doing that this comming summer, everything is built in stages and according to finances. The windows dont get closed until we see below zero deg C. And the side window by the door does get opened on nice sunny days even in the winter time We made sure the over hang was long enough that we dont need to close them all spring, summer and fall. Its not until the cooler weather hits that they get closed. I like to promote good air circulation. The over hang prevents the water from going in and what little that may go in (havent seen any yet) would get soaked up with their bedding which is a mix of peat moss, wood pellets and shavings.

[@lpmoron6258]

@@connerty_meadows_farm thank you for your response. I do understand the finances! Most everything I do is done with recycled pieces. My coop is made from discarded pallets and sheet metal. Only purchase was the plywood floor screws and hinges.

[@suzannemartin1202]

Such good info from a pro! Thanks for sharing this video ❤

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks for watching I hope it was helpful

[@judiwood8721]

Watched the lovely coop build. You and rhomss

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you

[@DoubleQz]

thanks for sharing the build.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks for watching, hope you got some ideas

[@judiwood8721]

You and Thomas do good work.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you. Farming requires team work from all family members.

[@haynowbeewv6898]

Good job. God bless you and your family

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! Blessings to you and yours

[@jeanlewis4697]

You all used the efficient way to build this coop…no cheaters here… first time on your site

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks! I personally agree, fast and efficient is best, but the actually construction folks might not agree with us 😉🫣

[@camicri4263]

Thank you, this is well thought out!🤗🤗

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks for watching!

[@erniescabin4256]

nice coop some great ideas thanks😊🐓

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! Hope some of the ideas help you in your coop design

[@maryhawken817]

Great job! I am going to have my husband do something similar!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

The chickens will love it!

[@JackiBigger]

I don’t think you cheated on the plywood install and cutouts! I will try it myself when I build in a few weeks.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

It’s kinda cheating but it was the fastest and easiest way to get it done and it worked so it’s a win in my books 😁

[@anitablair6396]

Can’t wait to see!!!! I’m trying to convert an old play tower into a coop! Anyone!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! “ I need beginner advice “!!!

[@3bah4y]

Wow, it's beautiful. Great work guys, these chickens are lucky lol!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks! Happy chickens means eggs 😊

[@naegwut]

Great work

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you 😊

[@HedgehogsHomestead]

Hi there Laura here love the coop build need to build one like it . I was born in Ontario Canada in the Burlington .God bless and see you around

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks for watching! Good luck on your build

[@sharonmilton4854]

Nice job!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks!

[@Sandra-kv4mi]

It's lovely..🐥👍

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you :-) I have almost finished painting it! The birds are enjoying it so thats all that matters.

[@ulluvelez2802]

Very informative 😊

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Hope it helps you get started making your own coop ☺️

[@grammydayao7581]

Nice coop 👍

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you :-)

[@pseudopetrus]

Good effort!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks!

[@Steve-hc7ix]

Awesome job

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks!

[@selfretired3025]

Really like your design! :)

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks! ☺️

[@edwardmahony8160]

Great video

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you

[@clf262]

You guys put in some work!! I love it❤

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you so much!!

[@keithrayeski6417]

New subscriber. Love the coop!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks for being here! Hope you enjoy

[@BARBSCOUNTRYHOME999]

How exciting I love your new coop.. Y'all did a really nice job! 🏠 We built a coop with a run last year and I love it!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! We have built a number of coops in different homes to prefect this one. Its wonderful having a great place for the chickens to live.

[@KikaWaiAlae]

While using the nailer place your hand on the stud away from the top plate. youre holding it too close. I witness a nail going through the top plate nailing 3 fingers together through the bone once while a guy was holding the stud likw youre holding it. Since then my hand are nowhere near the top plate. Same thing with a brad nailer. The brad will bend outwards if you hold the nailer a certain way so either hold the nailer correctly or keep your fingers clear. Great job on yor coop and building skills!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you, I will pass that along we always want to be safe!

[@Dee.C]

Very nice . I love it .

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you. Our poultry thinks its pretty nice too ;-)

[@cynthiadianecarey9902]

Good job! I love it! I especially want the overhang and big windows. Great buy on the metal panels, too!; Thanks for an awesome video❣️

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you. The over hang is amazing! I am hoping next summer to be able to close some of it in so it will double their "indoor" space for our crazy cold and snowy winters. But all things take time (and money...lol)

[@cynthiadianecarey9902]

@@connerty_meadows_farm Yes, but you're doing a great job❣️

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

@@cynthiadianecarey9902 Thank you 🙂

[@hectormaldonado4369]

Great job. Congrats!!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you!

[@megs2436]

This is so awesome! I've been dreaming about building a new coop and this looks easy for a newbie to build! do you have any plans made up for this? how big is it? sorry if i didn't catch that in the video!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

The "plans" are the video...lol We didnt have any written plans just a whole bunch of years of making different coops :-) The dimentions are 8x12 so we could use three sheets of plywood for the floor and not cut them :-)

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

I live in Northeast Oklahoma it gets below Zero temperatures in the winter time..I have Rhode Island Reds they will be warm during the winter ❄️☃️

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

They will be fine. I live in Canada. We get negative 40 deg C and my chickens are always fine. Chickens need a draft free place to live with good ventilation

[@laruedouglas7972]

Love it 💖.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you! 😊

[@lalemato]

awesome job! i have same project coming up for next season, im planning something special since i am living off-grid

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thats awesome! I am sure your chickens will be happy in your build. Thanks for watching

[@hawnjoe925]

Liked and subscribed enjoy the channel very much Aloha 🌺🤙🌺

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks for coming along!

[@suecook3714]

Nice coups

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you 😀

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

I guess I missed y an identical build? Liked the old 1 & needed more room? Or an area to separate breeds) I haven't seen broader boxes like that. Good idea especially for recovering animals. I'd have electric added for heat (water & those extreme days that occur). I do like being able to get in coop with my ladies.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I wanted one coop for only small breeds. Silkies, Millie Fleurs, bantam Cochins and then the second coop and run for the layers. That way my big roosters don’t hurt my tiny birds in their exuberance. And I can separate by breeds as well. I don’t want electric because there is to much chance if fire and we loose electricity a lot out in the country. I don’t want them getting use to heat and then loose it and get sick it die. Also the coops are a long ways away from the house (our electrical supplier)

[@anitablair6396]

I like what you’re doing with your coop. My question is, is it safe to put your root in front of a vent like that?

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

The coop is built safe yes, the over hang prevents any water from getting into the vent but allows the air to flow through.

[@nicholasnapier2684]

Neopreme screws got that little rubber grommet that’s underneath it as you drill it down it cinches in perfect to keep it from leaking. I know this is an old video, but it’s interesting because I have to do the same thing you’re fixing to do here in a few weeks from now, I am in East Tennessee…

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Yes the screws that are used are roofing screws and they do have the rubber grommets. They are standard to get and use for the tin/steel roofing. Good luck with your build

[@dianeking7620]

This is exactly what we need. Sure wish we had directions and supply list.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Step by step directions would be very difficult and time consuming thus the reason for the video. You can stop it and review as needed. We also just wanted to give folks an idea what would work and they can adapt as needed. As for a supply list my apologies I have been asking hubby for it to add it to the description but as the coop was built in stages it would be a little more difficult. I do know the coop bottom was made with three whole pieces of plywood so we didnt have to cut much. And that dictated the over all size of the coop. I am more then happy to answer any questions you have about the build though.

[@tzoplin]

​@@connerty_meadows_farm do you know the angle you had to cut for the walls at the back and front ?

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

If you have a peek in the comments I have listed what the height of the back and front walls are, that might help you out

[@mauricebrown9094]

Just to let you know, Not all countries in the world celebrate Thanksgiving either.. I think only Canada & America.. Good job well done. Just found your channel, most likely go through it later in the coming week. Plywood does not last forever, are you going to at least stain it.?? I wonder about people in areas where it snows why they don't insulate their chicken coops, what is your reasoning??? You said that you had new windows to put in, are they in or did i miss that part.? I like the design of the coop. Thank you for sharing.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you for watching. We have since painted all the coops in a nice green with white trim. (maybe I should do an update video ;-) ) There are windows in it now, I purchased them from a garage sale (I think I mention it in the video but didnt show them) they were out of an old barn. I do know of folks who do insulate but we don't insulate for a number of resason. One, mice/rats and other creepy crawlies like insulation and they will chew through pretty near everything to get to it. Two, insulating will mean regardless of how well vented the coop is there will be condensation build up which results in many health issues, chickens actually can raise the temperature in a coop about 5 degrees or more just with their own body heat (I use to have a thermoemter in our old coops at our old farm just for the fun of learning and mid winter while it was minus 25 deg C outside it was always a least 5 deg warmer in the coop, more at night when the little chicken door was closed.) Three, if by some horrible chance I got mites in our coop they are imposible to eradicate from insulation. It is much easier to clean down a coop that I can reach every nook and crany of.

[@psicologiaefe3214]

Beautiful. Great job. I also live in Ontario and would like to know what breed of chickens do you have or recommend?

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I have many different kind of chickens. So long as you have a good coop there’s no specific variety that is needed. I have Rhode Island reds, Americanas, Easter Eggers, azure blues, silkies, Millie fleurs, Cochins, and I’m sure I’m missing a few varieties in there 😂

[@jeannetteellis2034]

Awesome coop!!! Do you have building plans available??

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you. No physical plans, we made the video so folks can stop and count and rewind as needed.

[@kathysoltys3104]

Nice. I can't help but wonder why you aren't staining them?

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

They are all painted up in a nice green with white trim. I just wanted to get the video up. It took me a number of days to paint all three coops.

[@revk8611]

Thank you. Great video. I am also from Ontario and want to start with chickens in my retirement . Wondering about heating, predators etc. you answered my questions. Love the repurposed materials and using every scrap. For water, do you use anything in particular to stop it from freezing?

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video. In the winter time I use a rubber bucket and take warm water out twice a day. The beauty with the rubber buckets it you can just flip them upside down and stomp the ice out.

[@jimbasham70]

good vide4o, thank you. I noticed you havent painted your coops, just wondering if you have plans to do so ? not sure if chickens can see in color ? lol

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

The coops were painted/stained the next weekend. Green with white trim. I just wanted to get the video up 😊

[@Thelucky23]

Love this!! Thanks for the insight and the whole experience. Ps men have more upper arm strength naturally when you put any male of same weight to woman of same weight. The marines womens test they don’t have to do a pull up vs the men have to do 3…. That’s just the training to get accepted but you get what I’m saying.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thanks! Yeah I can do a lot on the farm, and I do but it is much nicer when there’s more muscle around and I can do some of the easier tasks.

[@Christinme03]

Wow fantastic video! Very thorough. We are in the process of building our first coup and this has been soo helpful! Thank you. Question: what are your thoughts on nesting boxes with an access door from the outside for grabbing the eggs instead of having to go into the coup? Also, what was the reasoning for building so many coups instead of having one large coup? How many chickens do you have and any suggestions for us as we are looking to be able to house 40 chickens? Thanks again!!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I am so glad the video was helpful. We dont do outside egg collection for a number of reasons, but it all comes down to personal preferance. one is that it is cold in Canada and the eggs stay a tad bit warmer in the winter time on the inside so we dont get as many eggcycles. Also more nooks and cranies to clean out is not my idea of a good time. It also would make the build a bit more complicated and take more money and materials we had the milk crates from our old farm and old coops and the other nest boxes from our old farm and coops as well so some of it was just time, money and connivence. Animals can also get into the egg area easier and it is hard to get a perfect seal in there and we didnt want to be messing around with it. So short answer, it was easier not to...lol I have many birds, that is why we have so many coops...lol One coop and run is for my bantams (silkies, millie flours, bantam americanas, bantam cochins and mixes of all of them) they would get injured by a big rooster trying to breed them. I also get a lot of broodies in that coop that raise their young there almost all bantams are great moms so it is like a "nursery coop" as well. The smaller coop is for the ducks and the guineas. ducks are messy and gross and guineas are a bit crazy so they go well together. The small coop was brought with us from our old farm as well. The other coop, the one in the build, is mostly for our laying hens but sometimes the ducks and guines go into there as well. sometimes I get broodies in that coop as well so it all works to have extra broody pens. As for suggestions build bigger and more then you think you need. Chicken math is a real thing...lol

[@thoroughbredBreeding]

Hi! I loved how it turned out, we live in the northwest corner of Connecticut and it does it as cold here. But Im thinking about making one. How much did all of the materials cost you?

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I dont have a set cost for it as some of it was built precovid prices, some of it was purchased second hand (windows and some of the tin roofing), some was cut down on our property (cedar poles for the lean to) and some was from left over projects. If I had to guess a couple thousand dollars with all the flooring etc as well.

[@GottaLoveGoats]

Excellent job! This coop seems so breezy, it’s really ok for negative temps?? We get lows in the positive teens and our roosters get frost bitten combs in a fully enclosed coop! Meaning not any large openings. What am I doing wrong??

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Its breezy in the summer time with the windows open but in the winter colder weather the windows are all closed up. Chickens need good ventilation but no draft so that means there has to still be air exchanged (thus the vents) but not drafty. And yes it works just fine for negative temps. Here in Canada it gets very cold! We can easily get negative 30 deg C and colder

[@ClaireOSullivanAuthor]

love this. spendy these days. We have interim coop my husband built to get the chicks out of doors (don't ask my why we couldn't have an adjustable brooder inside the coop, why he built it like it is, or how much it cost) which will get the now one+ month old barred rock chicks acclimated and into their coop. Hired some other folks to do the actual coop and run (insert rolling eyes emoji because the slots per chicken have to come out, the double sided roof has to be cut in half because of weight, and an actual chicken door that we can shut and lock, and add the run). Anyway, we could have purchased 4 online well-built coops for what we spent I believe we could have put the run up to the chicken door and be done with it. pfft. .

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

coop building is always a learning experience. By the time we built this coop we had 6 other coop builds under our belts, we knew what worked, what we liked, and how to keep them safe and were able to incorporate all of it into one coop :-) Just treat each new coop as a learning experience...lol

[@ClaireOSullivanAuthor]

@@connerty_meadows_farm yes! keep it simple and safe! my first coop 25 yrs ago was an aluminum shed with a wee door cut out so they could come and go, two shelves with straw, and a fenceline for their run. Never lost a chicken,] and gained two. They got their feed, their water and boom. Simple. Easy. The shed was small but big enough for 12 Rhode Island Reds. Now we have meat chickens, heavy feeders ... once again emoji eye roll since my husband is naming them. He says, sure let's breed them. "okay city boy, now we need more coops, ya gonna build another nuclear bomb-proof coop?" oy. I guess I'm just a redneck and ya work with what ya got.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

@@ClaireOSullivanAuthor sometimes simple is best and fastest to get the job done and move on to the next thing on the list...and the list never seems to end either..lol I remember our first coop we built...it makes be laugh looking back at it now but it got the job done. I am sure the next home owners apprecated it none the less.

[@ryanw6920]

Thank you for the video! Best and most straightforward chicken coop video I've found on youtube. I have some questions and I apologize in advance because there are a lot because I am very enthusiastic about this. I am wondering, are those cinder blocks that the coop is sitting on? they look like concrete blocks. Also, do I need brooder boxes if I am not breeding the chickens? In a cold winter climate should I have glass windows, or is screen okay? also, how many heights of nest boxes can I have? you have two rows, would 3 rows work so that I can have 3 on top of each other? also, do I need a roost if I won't have roosters or breeding? and how necessary is a dust bath? Thank you! Can't wait to raise these hens!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

The blocks under the coops are like cinder blocks but are intended specifically for building. They have notches in the specifically for wood to sit into. They are a building block. If you are not breeding chickens a brooder box is not necessary but they are handy if you ever have a sick chicken that needs a little TLC or what not. In a cold climate a screen is not enough. Chickens need a draft free place to live in a cold climate but it has to have good ventilation. You will definately need glass windows that can be closed for the colder months. You dont want your nest boxes two high as the higher they are the more likely they are to roost in them. That and three rows is a lot of nest boxes, how many chickens do you plan to have? you dont need one box a chicken, most of mine lay in only one or two boxes despite having multiple boxes to choose from. Chickens are funny like that, they have their favourites and their friends favourites are the same one...lol you do need a roost. Chickens naturally roost as it makes them feel safe to be elevated off of the floor it has nothing to do with a rooster or with breeding it is a safety thing for them. Dust baths are 100% necessary. It is how they keep external parisites to a minimum. Lice and mites get mostly smothered by the dust bath. It is also how they keep their feathers clean and healthy. (how would you feel if you never got to shower or bath?) same concept for a chicken. Hope that helps

[@ryanw6920]

@@connerty_meadows_farm thank you for the answers! I will be having 20 hens.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

@@ryanw6920 you will only need like 5 nest boxes then

[@ryanw6920]

@@connerty_meadows_farm thank you.

[@nicolevalstar3223]

This is wonderful! Great job!! I am surprised you didn't insulate the coop! It had me wondering if your end of Canada doesn't get as cold as our end (we're in Alberta), but then you said you do get -40°!! I'm wondering if you could tell me how to tell if there's enough ventilation? I worry about too much, and then it getting drafty inside. No one has really explained it to me, and maybe I'm overthinking it. Is it really as simple as just making sure there's no breeze felt? Cause I would think there would be a lot of heat lost with so much ventilation. I'd appreciate any wisdom you can pass along! Thank you 😊

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I lived in Northern Alberta for 7 years. Still no insulation needed. Just no drafts. We still get some cold spells here just not like when we lived there. Our windows get closed in the winter time so while they can go out during the day if they want through until little chicken door they do get locked up at night. You just need ventilation near the top to allow the hot air to escape so it doesn’t build up and forum condensation. Condensation is what causes frost bite on their combs. So no breeze but ventilation. Chickens are pretty hardy animals. Think about it this way. Even in the winter time in northern Alberta there are birds outside somehow they survive. It’s because their body temperature runs hotter than ours. Also build your coop to the number of birds you have. That way they can maintain their heat better and deep litter method in the winter time. We use a litter mix of peat moss, wood shavings and wood pellets. We also gather up leaves in the fall and occasionally throw some leaves on their coop for them to pick through. Oh and insulation just means somewhere for mice, rats, squirrels and chipmunks to hide as well as impossible to treat the coop if you get mites. You would litterly have to burn the coop down to get rid of mites as they would hide in the insulation. Hope that helps

[@MeSing2U]

Hi! I'm in the process of building my coop by myself. Lol! Mine is very similar to yours. However, I'm building just an 8x8. I'm getting ready to add my third side. I love the big window idea and I am incorporating that into mine. My coop is actually going to be taller on the left side than the right, the opposite of yours. Would this be a problem to put the large window on the tall side instead of the short side?

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I have the window faced in the direction that I do because of the overhang side and the sun. You can put the window where ever you would like. ☺️. I eventually plan to fill in the overhang side to give an outdoor closed in space and putting a window looking into a building part doesn’t make any sense. I wanted them to have sun and a breeze, that’s the only reason we have it set up as we do. Good luck on your build!

[@KathleenEdge]

Oh... strapping are 1x4! This is a fantastic video! What are your dimensions, and how many chickens do you have? 🤔 I plan to build something like this!

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Thank you. The dimensions are in the description :-). Floor space is 8x12

[@polarvortex3294]

I'm kinda surprised you didn't add a fine mess screen to the windows, in addition to your strong wire screens, to help keep the bugs out.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

There wouldn’t be much point adding screen to the mesh as the man door stays open in the day time during the summer and so does the little chicken door.

[@sherrysimpson4966]

Greetings Northern Neighbors! My question is, Did the price of lumber triple last year in Canada like it has in the USA?

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

oh yeah building this coop was 3-5 times more expensive then the other identical coop, and that is even with me thrifting things! Its crazy

[@katita1757]

That’s a nice coop! Do you mind sharing the cost? Thanks

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

I don't have an actual cost over all for it. The flooring was done (treated wood, cement footers, wire, plywood, vinyl) pre covid prices. The rest of the lumber was purchased mid covid and some of the roofing. Some of the roofing was off of marketplace, the windows were from a garage sale, the outside poles were cut down from our property, the milk crates we brought with us from our old farm. So there are a lot of price variables in there. If I had to guess a couple thousand Canadian.

[@JJ-nc9kl]

Hi there. Just wondering if you used any kind of adhesive between your floor boards and vinyl or linoleum? My linoleum has a wave to it from being in a roll and I’m wondering if there’s anything (animal friendly) that I can aid in helping achieve a nice flat surface.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Use the regular floor adhesive that is sold for that type of flooring. Its underneath dvd doesn’t affect the chickens at all. ☺️

[@MartyHuie]

More curious than anything else what about added heat or insulation?

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

No heat or insulation needed. Heat makes your chickens dependant on it. Which means when the power goes out they will suffer, get sick or could die. We live out in the country. We lose power regularly. Chickens adapt to the cold just fine. Mine go outside all winter long traipsing through the snow with no issues. Heating also opens things up for fires to happen. Insulation means a build up of condensation and gives mice and rats a place to hide. I don’t want mice or rats moving into my coops. In the 40+ years I have been raising chickens I have never had an insulated or heated coop and I have lived in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Alberta (all in Canada)

[@MartyHuie]

@@connerty_meadows_farm thank you so much, about to build a home and want chickens in the mountains of North Carolina, which has similar weather pattern is upstate New York your video is very helpful, thank you so much. Your response, was very thorough and detailed make me understand about rodents and moisture that I never thought about keep it up I’ll keep following :-) thank you.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

You are very welcome! Enjoy your chickens

[@sredon86]

I'm doing the roof on my coop this weekend and have seen some folks comment that there should be plywood beneath a tin or PVC roof so A: it's not so hot in summer and B: it's not so loud during rain, hail, etc Thoughts on this? I don't want to use more material than is necessary

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

You could if you wanted more insulation or noise reduction but in all the years we have been building coops we have never done it. We make sure there are lots of windows so its not hot and we have never had an issue. I personally dont think you need to spend more money on it, but we are pretty frugal as well.

[@krissy3172]

Great video! How many days did it take to build?? My husband & I are preparing to build up the base & run, then will begin building the coop.

[@connerty_meadows_farm]

Due to needing to milk, barn chores and other farm things it took us around 4 days with stop and go. Could have done it in less if there were not so many other things that needed to get done to 😉. And then also painting took a couple days (not shown on the video)