Does the coop need walls if it does not get cold/rain?

[AnimalLover99]

We have a coop and run with 4 hens in it already, but wanted to add about 10-15 chickens to our flock. Our run is about 140 sq feet, and they free range a lot of the time so that space is alright. but the coop is only 5 by 4, and even tho they only spend the night in there, that definitely would not be enough room for the current hens and the newcomers. We are planning to build another coop to act as a transition coop for the little ones and just another coop for more roosting space. The current coop has 4 walls/ a roof/ a floor with one window, but does the new coop really need it? I live in southern california where even in the winter it almost never drops below forty and very rarely rains. For the new coop could it just have a roof, a floor, and short walls around the bottom to keep shavings in with the rest closed by chicken wire? We are planning on putting it inside the run so it will be predator safe.

 

[barneveldrerman]

Yes you could. You would need to cover it with plastic in the winter if it does get cold. I have a coop like that and it's perfect for the California climate. It really helps when it's warn out. Also remember that each chicken needs a MINIMUM of 4 sq. feet.


Hope this helped answer your question!

 

[Emma Miriam]

Yes, I agree. Are you absolutely certain their day pen is completely predator proof, even for nighttime predators? Personally, I would use 1/2 inch hardware cloth rather than chicken wire, just to be safe, but if your run is fully enclosed in hardware cloth and hardware cloth is buried a foot into the ground on all sides, then that would be unnecessary.

If it doesn't get below 40, you may not even need to put plastic up in the winter.

 

[AnimalLover99]

Thank you for your answers! I realized that it wouldn't fit in the run height wise, so instead I think we will connect it on the opposite side of the run from the other coop. So, we will use hardware cloth on the sides and raise it high off the ground to predator proof. Thanks again for your input!

 

[RJSorensen]

The concept should work fine. The roost should be draft free… and it is there that you might wish to consider some kind of drop down flap for evening time. Plastic will do, it just needs to keep the wind away from the birds as they roost at night. Dry and draft free are the essential requirement for successful bird keeping. A partial wall down low is ok, but you should consider a method to keep the breeze at bay.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[Emma Miriam]

That's true. Perhaps you could switch it...hardware cloth the bottom and put solid walls near the roost. The coop I bought (google Smart Coop) has that same concept.

 

[Fentress]

Even in a mild climate you might consider enclosing two walls adjacent to each other, especially during the winter. Point that corner into the prevailing winter wind direction. That gives your birds an opportunity to get out of the draft if they choose. That said a chicken out to be able to turn its tail to the wind and hunker down at least some of the time. Some people, even in temperate climates, are taking dog pens and putting a tarp over a portion of the roof and two of the sides, even in the winter. Fresh Air Poultry Houses is always a good source for this type of chicken keeping.