Coop Of Wire

[Jennlloyd]

This is the coop my hubs built me, and as we live in south FL I am glad that it is so open, yet maybe it is to open and the chickens will feel insecure? I actually had him build storm shutters we can quickly screw on and off, but feel my chickens will feel unprotected. Am I thinking to much into it?

 

[crazyfeathers]

They should be fine. How many chickens are you putting in the coop? Is this attached to a run or do they free range? Are the tops of the nesting boxes angled so the girls don't roost there and poo all over them? I think the shutters were an excellent idea not just for security reasons but for Sun, wind, and rain protection. I would love to see pictures of your flock. Best of luck!

 

[Jennlloyd]

Hi ya, thanks for the confidence in my wire, I have three, 1 month old chicks in the coop as of last night, getting two more Sat but they will be a few weeks younger so I will keep them in garage for a week or so as it is about 8 degrees warmer, then introduce to the girls. Yes, the top of the nest boxes are slightly sloped but so far the girls just huddle in the corner of the shedrow. Awww. The run is underneath as in the picture the coop has no roof yet and the run is not wired yet, which is the legs of the coop. They will also have free range when we are home to watch for a while. This is all so new and exciting and I am mesmerized by them. Actually my pic of my flock is my Avatar. My flock, ha! love the sound of that.

 

[crazyfeathers]

Excellent it sounds like you have everything under control, you will find you will make all kinds of adjustments to keep your girls happy. We have enlarged 2 times added more nest boxes, lights, roosts too many times to count lol but it's a labor of love. I have over 60 chickens (I refuse to count) I tell my husband I have 20 or so lol. We have a large coop in our barn a huge run and the girls also free range. They have a great life with me.

 

[Lewis Farms]

I am considering doing the same thing because they love the fresh air and being outside. I was thinking about surrounding the coop with potted trees/shrubs to give it a protected forest feeling but still have an open breeze during the warm nights.

 

[crazyfeathers]

Ha our neighbors pulled out some shrubs and nice tall bushes we planted them in and around the run and your right the tree inside of the run is the hot spot where all the popular chickens hang out lol. I also planted vegetables and flowers around the run. They have 3 structures for rain and shade protection but they love that shrub the best, even the ducks.

 

[crazyfeathers]

Am sure I am stating the obvious, careful where you plant the trees so predators don't use them to access your run...