Advice on transitioning greenhouse to cook

[Debra Bame]

I hope this is not a duplicate post as I posted the question before I joined the forum, but I am new to chick raising and they are all still in the brooder under a heat lamp. I have 2 chicks that are 3 weeks old, 5 chicks that are 2 weeks old and 4 chicks that are 1 week old. I live in zone 7b in North Carolina. My initial thought was to utilize a 6’x8’ aluminum framed greenhouse with polycarbonate panels and transition it to the chicken coop. Will this be doable in summer months or will I need to replace the polycarbonate panels with wood or perhaps cover with shade cloth..I need advice PLEASE!!

 

[BeefQuesoritto]

Hi! Welcome to BYC!

I'm also in a hot area, but way drier. I think the polycarbonate panels may trap too much heat in the coop.

There's the coop and run section of the forums that might help a lot with your design.

There's also this article by @3KillerBs about their coop in North Carolina. And another article about ventilation. Both were super helpful for me!

Replacing the polycarb with wood or hardware cloth might work out great for you.

Edit: Oh yeah, and check out the search function in the top right. I've found it so valuable to search for stuff and see how other people have solved the same problems I'm facing. Not just the forum posts, but the articles as well.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Definitely too hot during a NC summer. I would cover the panels.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Welcome to BYC @Debra Bame

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC!

from Moore County.

Our hot, steamy state is much too warm to have greenhouse panels on a chicken coop. In fact, I find that I need either DEEP shade or 2-3 times the recommended minimum ventilation (1 square foot per adult, standard-sized hen), to keep a coop under 100F on a 90F day.

Heat is our worst enemy here.

@BeefQuesoritto already linked my articles on hot climate care and ventilation.

I've become a great fan of metal roofing installed on purlins. It's so easy to install and has been quite trouble-free.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome! I'm sure those would be too hot. I'd also worry about security. That may not be a valid concern. I've only seen very cheap, thin polycarb panels that cracked easily.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I would open up the south facing wall if there is one and cover it with hardware cloth. You're going to need an awful lot of ventilation where you live.

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens. And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska!

 

[Grammy60]

Hi and welcome to BYC

 

[Blue Raptor]

I hope this is not a duplicate post as I posted the question before I joined the forum, but I am new to chick raising and they are all still in the brooder under a heat lamp. I have 2 chicks that are 3 weeks old, 5 chicks that are 2 weeks old and 4 chicks that are 1 week old. I live in zone 7b in North Carolina. My initial thought was to utilize a 6’x8’ aluminum framed greenhouse with polycarbonate panels and transition it to the chicken coop. Will this be doable in summer months or will I need to replace the polycarbonate panels with wood or perhaps cover with shade cloth..I need advice PLEASE!!

Welcome to BYC!!