coop vs climate question

[ki4got]

I'm still in the planning stages for my large coop, but reading up on some other ones made me wonder...

I live in SW Virginia, in the Blue Ridge mountains, so we do have pretty well distributed seasons. Summers the highs tend to be upper 80s to mid 90s. Winters we do get some snow, but it rarely stays below freezing for more than a day or 2 at a time.

Anyways, here's my question...

Would a coop have to be totally enclosed, or would a 3-sided coop be sufficient protection?

I like the idea of having an open coop, especially in the summer, but at the same time don't want them to get too cold in the winters.

thanks for any input here.

Karen

 

[coalroadcabin]

KI4GOT? KF4KNJ here!

I'm also in VA and I'm glad you asked this question: My chicks are due to arrive in a couple of weeks. I'm in the coop planning stages now and was wondering if a 3 sided coop would work for us.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I grew up not a tremendous distance from you. I'm surprised it doesn't occasionally get colder than that. We had times that it stayed below zero Fahrenheit for two or three days straight. Rare, but they happened. We'd occasionally hit 100 in the summer, but again that was kind of rare. Mid to upper 90's were pretty common.

In the summer, an open coop like that is fine. In the winter I'd be a little concerned, but if it just barely got below freezing, you would probably be OK. We had chickens that slept in trees instead of the coop, even in the winter and with our temperatures. What I'd suggest is that you enclose them on all four sides as high as they roost, then open it as much as you can aboved them on the roost. A panel you could open in the summer down below them would also be very good. I'd try to avoid a direct draft on them in the winter. Your danger is more frostbite than them freezing to death.

 

[JackE]

See the link below. I have an open air coop. The front is open year round with no problems. The other windows are opened for the warmer months.
Jack

 

[welasharon]

Here in North Fl we occasionally get some freezes. Several times in the upper teens. Mine is an open air pen which is really nice for the summer heat. I put plastic on almost all the sides during the really cold parts and mine did fine. Frostbite is more likely with high humidity but there is enough ventilation that none built up.

 

[ECBW]

It is the cold wind that ruffles their feathers that is the concern. Three-sided or open design is great for the summer. I would suggest a flexible design that can be closed up for the winter (with proper ventilation of course).

 

[jgervais]

I'm in very cold Michigan, but using the garden coop style which has an open top - it has a screen window that i will 'board up' in the winter and a door for the run which will also be closed on the very cold days. When the days are getting near freezing I can place an insulated board over the top to cover most of the opening while still leaving some open for ventilation. So far so good and It seems to have a lot of customization options-
heres ours: http://simplelifeainteasy.blogspot.com/2011/05/best-chicken-coop-ever.html