Anyone using the open coop method?

[lovelychicken]

So I stumbled across a couple articles about open air coops for healthier birds and found a little info on it but was wondering who does this in wet climates. I could understand in hot climates it would work but our climate is rainy/wet/foggy and sometimes hot (not often.) They would definately get a breeze coming in on them as its windy here but it does make sense that being in a coop even with vents could cause a lot of respitory issues. The heat they produce breathing puts condensation in the coop and thus making it unhealthy. Let me know if you have more info on this, seems interesting.

 

[dixygirl]

I have my peafowl in an open air pen with a roof. But it has to be enclosed regardless or predators will kill them.

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

My chickens are in an open air pen with a roof. They have a little coop/house that they can get in, but it's only enclosed on 3 sides with the 4th side being completely open into their run. They seem to enjoy it. I live in South Alabama, where it's hot most of the year. In this area, they need the open air or they will get overheated.

We had our Australorps in a closed coop attached to a run. They would not get in the coop - period. My husband opened up the side that's attached to the run and they started going in the coop sometimes. I think they like the open air.

 

[KnitswithChickens]

Mom2chicksandpups, do you have a photo you can share - I'm curious about how the set up works - it's stinking hot and humid in NC.

 

[BiggKountry]

I also use an open air coop. I have a coop with three sides and the fourth side opens to their run. I haven't had any problems with the chickens not liking it. It gets real hot here in Central Cal, usually about 106+ in summer. We have had a few days 100+ so far, and no problems with this design.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I have one open coop, but it has two walls. There is a back wall and a leftside wall. In the winter time we close it up from the top to about 2/3 of the way down with some foam board to help keep out any wind, and then we open it back up in the spring. My chickens don't free range because of the unbelievable amount of hawks we have in our area and then there's the occasional stray dog or cat.

We've just recently added another run on the other side and made the little building to the left of the run a split coop and created a pop door inside of the coop in this photo. We're not letting these chickens in yet though because I have 5 baby cuckoo marans on that side of the coop.

I personally think it's important to have something like at least a wall that will make this work in the winter time.

 

[elmo]

I'm building an open coop/run right now. I live in Texas, and we're experiencing 100+ days which unfortunately is pretty typical of our summers.

I've got an 8 x 8 pen, 6 feet high at the roof, covered with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. I'm planning on roofing it with white plastic corrugated panels. The coop is under trees so it's shaded most of the day, and only catches the late afternoon sun from the west. For the summer, I'm not planning on putting up any walls at all, although if I change my mind it won't be difficult to add them.

I'm going to figure out what to do for cooler weather when we get closer to getting some. Right now, it's almost impossible to imagine.

Whew.

 

[lovelychicken]

I read in a couple places (not much info on it) that open air coops give them the fresh air they need twenty-four seven. Maybe by enclosing them so much it eggs on those respiritory issues. Birds have feathers and don't need coverage to the extent we all think they do. The open air coops I saw were even used where the snow fell many feet deep, not just in Arizona where its blizzering hot most of the time. I am wondering if we are just over doing it for these birds with good intention but in turn causing health problems. Nice to hear that others are using this method. Thanks for the pictures.

I'd like to hear from more people who are using or thinking out using this method.

 

[Davaroo]

I use one. It works fine.

 

[Maryallison]

My coop is pretty much all open. The base of my coop is a old rabbit hutch that opened from the back & now that is where we put the nestboxes and where we collect our eggs.

It has worked fine for the summer, but I need something more predator proof.