greenhouse/coop

please forgive the slightly scatteted nature of the post. typing on a cellphone while waiting for the car im sitting in to be warm enough to drive isnt conducive to good grammer or structure.

So, I know the idea has probably been discussed to death but one version I have not seen is a 2 floor chicken coop / greenhouse.

I was thinking dug into a hill deep enough that the bottom floor entrance is level with the bottom of the hill and the entrance to the top floor is level with the top of the hill.

sand floor chicken coop on the bottom.

something thermal mass heavy like concrete for the dividing floor with air vents placed around.

greenhouse with the usual features on the top.

not something very cheap to construct, i don't think, but good for the long term if you make sure to get the size right for your future needs.

the hill will keep the chickens from drowning if its not built at the very bottom of the hill.

It is my understanding that chickens need good ventilation more than warmth. If this is a winter plan to keep the greenhouse warm I think the amount of ventilation you would need for the chickens would work against the warmth you need for you vegetables.

An alternative way to integrate chickens with greenhouses is to have them close together so that it is easy to transfer manure and compost from chicken coop to greenhouse. As it breaks down it releases warmth and CO2 - both of which are great for plants.

Having had neither chickens nor a greenhouse before, I know im no expert. i dont know how much actual airflow the chickens would need compared to the amount of heat they would produce.

perhaps incorporating a secondary vent bipassing the greenhouse for the worst of winter?

Kim Annon. wrote:Having had neither chickens nor a greenhouse before, I know im no expert.

Don't even think about it if you haven't had either one. I put a ton of effort into designing a coop before I had chickens & in hindsight it wasn't worth it - except that it convinced my husband to let me have chickens.

Chickens don't really need warmth if that was the reason for going underground - they need light to lay eggs. See this thread.