Hello all,
I'm going to be undertaking some major work here soon. I need a shelter for the geese (locked away from predators) and the ducks REALLY need a new one (again, predators). My coop is still fine, but I have 7 standards sleeping in a large dog crate that are going to stretch the limits of my coop, so I expect I have to build something new for them. I live in northwest Florida, so the cold is not too much of a problem for mature birds, but the heat can be an issue.
I'm leaning towards the duck/geese pens (and POSSIBLY the chicken coop) being a wooden frame with wire walls, a covered pitched roof, and I can probably just put up tarps for rain or cold as there isn't TOO much need for serious shelter here. (Deep litter method chicken coop may be a problem, because I may need real walls to keep them dry.)
My most pressing need is for the waterfowl though. I looked at roofing materials today ...
The tin may be too hot, I'm thinking? They do like shade during the day, but I think they'd hate this.
I read what people said about the plastic ... there is a plastic panel available here (vinyl?) that is supposed to provide a little shade on decks, I think. It seems so flimsy though, and I don't know if it would protect from predators.
There is another type, thicker fiberglass I think it is, with little pebbling on one side. It STINKS! I am concerned that it may have some chemicals in it that I don't really want around my flocks.
I'm not ruling out plywood, but my coop with painted plywood walls is suffering a bit after a year in the weather. Can anyone tell me a very cost-effective way to weather-proof the plywood, if there is such a thing? Must I go with tarpaper and shingles?
I may just paint the plywood and stretch a tarp over that too. I really WANT pretty coops, but I'm not sure I can afford them. What works is what I really need. I can't think of another option, if there is one. Any suggestions much appreciated!
Sorry this is so long!
trish
I'm going to be undertaking some major work here soon. I need a shelter for the geese (locked away from predators) and the ducks REALLY need a new one (again, predators). My coop is still fine, but I have 7 standards sleeping in a large dog crate that are going to stretch the limits of my coop, so I expect I have to build something new for them. I live in northwest Florida, so the cold is not too much of a problem for mature birds, but the heat can be an issue.
I'm leaning towards the duck/geese pens (and POSSIBLY the chicken coop) being a wooden frame with wire walls, a covered pitched roof, and I can probably just put up tarps for rain or cold as there isn't TOO much need for serious shelter here. (Deep litter method chicken coop may be a problem, because I may need real walls to keep them dry.)
My most pressing need is for the waterfowl though. I looked at roofing materials today ...
The tin may be too hot, I'm thinking? They do like shade during the day, but I think they'd hate this.
I read what people said about the plastic ... there is a plastic panel available here (vinyl?) that is supposed to provide a little shade on decks, I think. It seems so flimsy though, and I don't know if it would protect from predators.
There is another type, thicker fiberglass I think it is, with little pebbling on one side. It STINKS! I am concerned that it may have some chemicals in it that I don't really want around my flocks.
I'm not ruling out plywood, but my coop with painted plywood walls is suffering a bit after a year in the weather. Can anyone tell me a very cost-effective way to weather-proof the plywood, if there is such a thing? Must I go with tarpaper and shingles?
I may just paint the plywood and stretch a tarp over that too. I really WANT pretty coops, but I'm not sure I can afford them. What works is what I really need. I can't think of another option, if there is one. Any suggestions much appreciated!
Sorry this is so long!
trish