Coop Design - Need some feedback!

[willkatdawson]

Great! As soon as I know which one is the male I can let some of the others go. Nice to have someone near by to talk chicken with.
I love Cartersville I get my hair cut there. I am only about 15 min from main street Cartersville.

 

[clarkestep]

Quote:
I sent you a private message.

 

[willkatdawson]

Clarkestep I wrote you back.
Talk to you soon.
Willkatdawson

 

[patandchickens]

Looks good!

If you hike the whole thing up another 6" (while making sure it is stable on its blocks or posts or whatever, of course) then you would have 18" of clearance under there which would permit the chickens to use the area underneath the coop as a cool shady hideout during hot summer days. THe only disadvantage of this would be the difficulty of your retrieving them from under there should that ever become necessary -- but if you worry about that you could just use chickenwire to fence of the central area (that's hardest for you to reach) and leave them the 3' or so under the edges of the coop for summer coolth purposes.

Personally I think you're better NOT using store-boughten windows, probably, and just doing what you said about making 2x4' predator-screened openings that have flaps to close them off in cold or hurricaney weather. You could inset plexiglas panels into the covers so that light still gets in (wouldn't have to be a fancy job, just screw or bolt the plexiglas along the edges and seal with caulk, since the fact that the whole FLAP would close means that the plexi itself does not have to move per se)

The problem with store-boughten windows is that they do not open 100% (unless you use casement windows but then there are issues with them blocking the breeze or ripping off in a wind) and thus would decrease ventilation. And I think you will want SIGNIFICANTLY more ventilation than your plans seem to indicate. Airflow is your friend

Good luck and have fun,

Pat