Do I need a house?

[Centralflafred]

I live in central Fla. where the temps seldom get very cool. I keep my girls now in a 10X10 pen with tarps on top and three sides. They have a roost inside under cover and get plenty of sun when they want it. I was just wondering if I need a wooden hen house?

Thanks,

 

[Camelot Farms]

If it aint broke....dont fix it

If your set up works for you and the chickens then you have no worries.

My DS's pheasants live in something like you describe and they are very happy.

 

[aussieheelr]

The do need some form of shelter, temperature isn't the only factor... rain and wind are not good either. Not to mention aren't you in hurricane alley?

 

[DarkWolf]

Quote:
You're fine with that. Alot of hot climate people only have open pen style coops with a roof and three walls to shelter from wind and rain.

 

[Camelot Farms]

We use the tarp method too and since it is one 3 sides and the top, the ground underneath stays perfectly dry. They have a doggie kennel that they could go in if they wanted to, but I have never seen them use it...lol.

Is the open side facing away from the wind?

 

[Joz]

My plan has been to build a sturdy pen with a roof, and then to enclose 3 sides of one end for a shelter (with roosts). Temps rarely dip below 30 (2x/year max). Do I need to consider a 4th wall in winter?

And as far as hurricanes are concerned... if it's that bad, a coop likely isn't going to make it. The OP might lose her tarps, but the pen fences will survive because they're not catching the wind. A coop would need to be overbuilt to resist the wind forces, and then may not even survive flooding or trees falling on. My hurricane plan involves a dog crate in the garage during the worst, to be moved up on to the porch if it starts flooding.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

You might do a search for hot weather coups. There are some fun ones out there. (Just to see what others have done.)

 

[Centralflafred]

Hot weather coops sounds like a good idea. I'll try that, thanks for the search idea.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Centralflafred wrote:
I keep my girls now in a 10X10 pen with tarps on top and three sides.

I'm assumng youve never been in a hurricane?

I'd build a small solid shelter for storms​

 

[loralei]

Just a thought but what about preditors? Your pen may very well be preditor proof or preditors may not be a problem where you are but I like having my girls on lockdown every night.

Laura