4x4 Coop HELP!!

[MelissaTXRn]

We acquired a chick from my sons school and built an emergency coop for it. We also bought it a friend. (2 golden sex links)
We are building the purina mills coop with some revisions. 4x4x5. It will be enclosed in a 10x10 run, as we have all kinds of predators.
We live near Ft Worth, Texas and the summer averages in the high 90's, but it does go over 100 some. Also, we usually get one freeze/snow a year that may last a week or two.
So,
1. Should we put large vents at the tops of the eaves on every side? We are just using hardware cloth, nor actual vents.
Maybe we could cover one up on the North side for winter.

2. Should we put windows on the sides fso we can open them in the summer? My concern is the draft or wind. But with that being said, it sometimes is still 90 at night.

My husband said " they are chickens for goodness sake" lol

We are making the front a big "clean out" door and it can be left open on hot nights since it is inside a closed run.
Any thoughts??
Thx, Melissa

 

[MelissaTXRn]

Kind of like this. This is NOT our coop, just an example. we were going to make our openings at the tops and cover with HC. it would provide tons of ventilation. Now, what to do about the heat/ cold. i would think they would survive a closed coop in cold weather much easier than a hot one. i have already had to hook up their fan.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I would definitely have it a lot more open in hot weather. I think the coop that's pictured would be a hot box during the day. Go for more of a screened in porch feeling in the summer. You don't need to worry about drafts on the roost at night until it's really cold. Like, freezing cold. Being able to have the roost area a little more sheltered in the middle of winter is nice. You can cover a little of the ventilation right around the roost, while leaving the rest open for fresh air. The rest of the year, have it wide open, to release heat. That's what I do.

 

[MelissaTXRn]

Thanks, I agree. I just wasn't sure about the drafts. So it's okay for there to be a draft and wind blowing in, if it is hot? Right?!

 

[aart]

Heat is more likely to kill a chicken than cold is, I'd make it mostly open..and 1/2" hardware cloth is good!

Take a look at these:
advanced search>title only> open air coops

 

[MelissaTXRn]

Will do! Thanks y'all