Chicken Run/shed/coop idea

[rosemarythyme]

Have you considered an open air coop? Something with a wall of hardware cloth? Since your space is tight (and your climate mild) you could skip the extra space under your current coop design, and think about enclosing a few walls on the run, instead. You'd need to make the whole thing predator-safe, of course, but it's just a thought.

x2. Instead of enclosing a traditional coop structure you can do a combination coop/run due to your mild climate.

Here's a few examples: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas-coop-build-pic-heavy.1371038/ and https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...tral-mississippi.1299778/page-2#post-21327161

 

[nigma]

not too sure if i can do an open air coop, we get tons of predators of all kinds... even tho we live deep in suburbia haha

 

[nigma]

@rosemarythyme oh yeah... i never thought of that design, your examples make more sense. it does rain a couple of times a year and randomly windy rain too... so i am not sure if those designs can keep them rain free? but it does add more space for the guys.

 

[3KillerBs]

not too sure if i can do an open air coop, we get tons of predators of all kinds... even tho we live deep in suburbia haha

If you use hardware cloth for all your wire and leave no gaps larger than 1/2" and put down an anti-dig skirt you can make an open-air coop highly predator resistant. Adding electric fence wires at strategic heights can give you an extra layer of security at a bargain price.

 

[aart]

it does rain a couple of times a year and randomly windy rain too

Maybe I missed it, but......
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Spikeandbean]

@rosemarythyme oh yeah... i never thought of that design, your examples make more sense. it does rain a couple of times a year and randomly windy rain too... so i am not sure if those designs can keep them rain free? but it does add more space for the guys.

For rain/wind protection, it definitely depends on how you orient it. I was just thinking about your space concerns & how brutal the summers can get. Up in Chico, we're in triple digits for days in a row, and it doesn't cool off below the 70s (or even 80s) at night. If I were building, I'd definitely consider something open. That said, you already have a design you like, so I'll let more experienced coop builders advise you!

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

You could always put a lip instead of a wall on the fourth side just tall enough (descending from the roof) to block any wind blown rain from hitting them while they're roosting/in the nest boxes. Should be easy enough especially if the roosts/nest boxes are close to the back wall.

 

[rosemarythyme]

@rosemarythyme oh yeah... i never thought of that design, your examples make more sense. it does rain a couple of times a year and randomly windy rain too... so i am not sure if those designs can keep them rain free? but it does add more space for the guys.

Doesn't actually need to be rain free throughout. You mainly want the roosting area, nests and feed to stay dry, which means if you know your predominant wind directions, orient your solid wall(s) in those directions to provide protection.

 

[BanoOmg]

I'm also in socal. We've an open coop/run with a smaller coop inside. The four walls of the enclosure are all hardware cloth over the structural bits, and it has metal roofing.

It hit 80F today, but the enclosure is pleasant and shaded. It makes me hopeful for when the triple digit days show up again...

Open designs should stay dry as long as the roof overhangs enough. (And as long as it's socal baby rain). I think the standard is 12" per side. Ours only has enough overhang on two sides, but it stayed plenty dry during our (short) sideways rain season!