Breezeway Coop + Run Build

[CreveChris]

Building a coop next to my forest acreage and would love someone to argue with my setup.

Saint Augustine, Florida on a bluff above the salt marsh on the intercostal: building a 5' x 10' run with a coop incorporated (think breezeway) with rafters, concrete footer with buried hardware cloth and sand bedding/floor. Two doors to the bifurcated coop/run combo, and using chicken tractors for separate daytime run.

Basically a structure with hardware cloth walls instead of plywood and tin roof over the rafters. No gaps, predator proof (we have lots of predators because Florida).

Also if you want to move here and build it for me... It's been so humid here!

 

[aart]

Sounds pretty good for a hot climate enclosure.
Solid roof for shade and rain protection?
5x10 isn't too big, so just a few birds?
Will never live in FL again, sorry

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @CreveChris
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[CreveChris]

Sounds pretty good for a hot climate enclosure.
Solid roof for shade and rain protection?
5x10 isn't too big, so just a few birds?
Will never live in FL again, sorry

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @CreveChris
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2211518

Thanks, added my location.

Roof over the whole run and a small box in the upper corner as nighttime and rain coop. It will look like a very tall Innovation Pets coop/run combo. In fact, it's occurred to me to just build a footer and drop on of those prefab setups on it.

The main idea is concrete footer at soil level with hardware cloth across the bottom, then fill the footer with 6 inches or so of river sand. The run is mounted to the footer. Chickens can scratch and dust bathe (as they like to do after being in the tractor on pasture) without being inhibited by a wire floor.

As for Florida, this is as far south as I want to go (South Florida is just a swampy jungle full of pythons and gaters), but I wish most of these folks would move back home and take their whining about heat with them. Just love it hot

 

[Acre4Me]

Just love it hot

my oldest lives in FL on gulf coast, about 1-2 hours from AL line. Will move away from FL next year....way too hot there as they like to be in the COLD and have a winter season with some snow! Lol - bc everyone has their definite preference! At least you like it hot!

Regarding the coop, will it be open on 1 or 2 sides (the sleep - rain box)?

any water retention issues in the run area or does the water flow around it? Even if covered with a roof, rain can still cause flooding issues in the run.

HWC across bottom - 6” is pretty shallow bc they will dig and dig for that dustbath! Basically, a chicken will dig down enough so that when they are in their hole, their back is even with the groundwhile they are sitting. Some may go deeper. The HWC can be rough on their feet. Maybe put up boards along the sides of the fence tokeep in more of the run material so it can be higher/deeper without you having to dig deeper to put in the HWC.

good luck!

 

[CreveChris]

my oldest lives in FL on gulf coast, about 1-2 hours from AL line. Will move away from FL next year....way too hot there as they like to be in the COLD and have a winter season with some snow! Lol - bc everyone has their definite preference! At least you like it hot!

Regarding the coop, will it be open on 1 or 2 sides (the sleep - rain box)?

any water retention issues in the run area or does the water flow around it? Even if covered with a roof, rain can still cause flooding issues in the run.

HWC across bottom - 6” is pretty shallow bc they will dig and dig for that dustbath! Basically, a chicken will dig down enough so that when they are in their hole, their back is even with the groundwhile they are sitting. Some may go deeper. The HWC can be rough on their feet. Maybe put up boards along the sides of the fence tokeep in more of the run material so it can be higher/deeper without you having to dig deeper to put in the HWC.

good luck!

Yeah, grew up with a dusting of snow being a major thing. There are seasons here in North Florida. The Gulf is pretty but I enjoy the cooler breezes on the East Coast.

Rain can be rough. My husband is voting solid cinder blocks with mortar to allow a deeper footing, so that will permit a much thicker sand floor.

It may be too close to our irrigation well, but my location choice is right on the bluff. The runoff rainwater will not breech the wall of cinderblocks which creates the sandbox floor.

So far, they haven't gotten wet in their tractor (I reserve the right to wheel them into the garage in a storm). Rain can be pretty refreshing on humid days, but they stay dry and the sandy soil drains immediately.

The Crèvecœurs get their crests and beards wet drinking from their HNWs. Talented babies. But they are 9 weeks, so I'm cautious about them staying dry and they still come inside the garage brooder at night.

As for the coop, it will be on top of the run with scratching space beneath and enclosed on three sides with a wire wall facing into the run. Not sure about a floor-free box. May use a tray/drawer floor like some modern coops use.

 

[aart]

There are seasons here in North Florida.

Pfffft!
Barely.
Spring and Fall last like 3 days.

 

[Acre4Me]

Yeah, grew up with a dusting of snow being a major thing. There are seasons here in North Florida. The Gulf is pretty but I enjoy the cooler breezes on the East Coast.

Rain can be rough. My husband is voting solid cinder blocks with mortar to allow a deeper footing, so that will permit a much thicker sand floor.

It may be too close to our irrigation well, but my location choice is right on the bluff. The runoff rainwater will not breech the wall of cinderblocks which creates the sandbox floor.

So far, they haven't gotten wet in their tractor (I reserve the right to wheel them into the garage in a storm). Rain can be pretty refreshing on humid days, but they stay dry and the sandy soil drains immediately.

The Crèvecœurs get their crests and beards wet drinking from their HNWs. Talented babies. But they are 9 weeks, so I'm cautious about them staying dry and they still come inside the garage brooder at night.

As for the coop, it will be on top of the run with scratching space beneath and enclosed on three sides with a wire wall facing into the run. Not sure about a floor-free box. May use a tray/drawer floor like some modern coops use.

Sounds good! And its great that the soil drains very well. If he's willing to put in the cinderblocks and mortar, then that might be a great thing - also great for predator deterrent.

 

[CreveChris]

Pfffft!
Barely.
Spring and Fall last like 3 days.

Where did you live? I guess I don't know. Michigan is listed as your location--that's where my Siberian Huskies were born. Several people I know in South Florida are from Michigan because of the winters. That was my Midwest deal breaker. I love working outdoors but not into snow (especially driving on it) except skiing. Heat can be hard on people, too, of course. But my Huskies and I have a pool.

 

[CreveChris]

Sounds good! And its great that the soil drains very well. If he's willing to put in the cinderblocks and mortar, then that might be a great thing - also great for predator deterrent.

The predator deterrent is a huge motivator. I'm hiring a guy to block off a hollow in one of my oaks 12 feet up where two generations of raccoons have been born. Ugh. I love my wildlife, but they need to stay in the forest acreage, not the fenced yard.

 

[Acre4Me]

The predator deterrent is a huge motivator. I'm hiring a guy to block off a hollow in one of my oaks 12 feet up where two generations of raccoons have been born. Ugh. I love my wildlife, but they need to stay in the forest acreage, not the fenced yard.

definitely! Neighbor’s entire flock was killed by raccoons this past week. Not sure where they were living Though. Neighbor and I caught 5 coons between us, so they can no longer have chicken dinners anymore!