Oldguy, I'm not going to bust your chops for not building a traditional coop. In TX, I wouldn't put chickens in an enclosed space either. Lean-to style structures are popular there because it doesn't get cold enough to worry about drafts. However, I can guarantee that's not nearly enough predator protection where I live (where the hawks, eagles, owls, and bobcats would race the raccoons, neighbor dogs, and skunks to that relatively open pen for a feast). Not to mention the feed costs associated with putting the feed out in the open for any bird, opossum, or rodent that happens along to enjoy...
