Embracing my inner nerd.. want some advice.

[organic egglets]

So I am currently working on plans to make my first chicken coop, and wanted some advice.

I want to make my coop look kind of like Hogwarts.. yes from Harry Potter.. We are going to be living in South Louisiana and I am wondering if having a stone coop is even feasible temperature wise. Any insight?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Chickens hate heat and poor ventilation. If the stone bldg. has big windows is in the shade and a good air flow you'll be OK.
You can also choose heat hardy birds which will help.

 

[organic egglets]

Awesome thanks! I'm also playing with the idea of building a wooden coop and just putting some faux stone veneer siding on it to make it look like stone.

Chickens hate heat and poor ventilation. If the stone bldg. has big windows is in the shade and a good air flow you'll be OK.
You can also choose heat hardy birds which will help.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I think a veneer would be a good idea. There would be less mass to hold heat. If you had one end decorative and the other end more open and mostly wire, that should be pretty comfortable.

 

[JanetS]

I hope you post some pictures of this. Sounds great.

 

[Weasleymum]

OMG that is the coolest idea EVER!!!! I am the biggest HP dork (see username for proof) and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I don't think stone would be hot, just the opposite; thick stone walls don't let heat pass through them. People don't use stone because it's expensive and very time consuming, not because it's a poor material...

HARRY POTTER FOREVER!!!

 

[Northie]

Ok, I have been thinking about faux rock finishes for a fish pond project. You can make some pretty cool looking stuff out of foam and concrete. Check it out on you tube, people make stuff for fish tanks and lizard tanks then there's the statues, "rocks" for the garden and huge stage and set props....

 

[organic egglets]

OMG that is the coolest idea EVER!!!! I am the biggest HP dork (see username for proof) and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I don't think stone would be hot, just the opposite; thick stone walls don't let heat pass through them. People don't use stone because it's expensive and very time consuming, not because it's a poor material...

HARRY POTTER FOREVER!!!

YES! Lol. I have been thinking about using one of the courtyard entrances of the castle as inspiration, but there is just sooo much detail and I know if I don't capture it then I will forever be disappointed.

I have been looking around the internet and found these pictures of a playhouse that JKR had made for her children in her backyard. They may be a good simple design to try and copy.. we will see.. I'm pretty set on having the actual Hogwarts.

Edited to actually add the pictures. Whoops. lol

 

[DendroDerek]

YES! Lol. I have been thinking about using one of the courtyard entrances of the castle as inspiration, but there is just sooo much detail and I know if I don't capture it then I will forever be disappointed.

I have been looking around the internet and found these pictures of a playhouse that JKR had made for her children in her backyard. They may be a good simple design to try and copy.. we will see.. I'm pretty set on having the actual Hogwarts.

Edited to actually add the pictures. Whoops. lol

You and I have completly different ideas of simple. Good luck, post pics when you're done.

 

[loveourbirds]

rock is very hard to heat, but easy to keep cool. keep in mind that rock against wood normally rots the wood pretty fast. use bug resistant or treated lumber where stone meets rock.

your idea is awesome, but as a woodworker/carpenter with some experience, I will tell you its not going to be easy. for the round areas I would probably start with having someone who does metal working make me 2-3 large hoops (same diameter as building) I would drill the hoops to attach lumber, and use a center post to run trusses up. you could then run some perches from the post to sidewall.

another option would be to make it multi sided so it appears round. I wouldn't use more than 16 sides if I done this, but it makes it easier to install doors and windows. to figure your angle, take the number of sides and multiply by 2 then divide by 360. example : 2 x16 = 32, then 360/32 or 11.25 degrees on your angle. if you made your blocks 2 inches at the farthest measurements you would have approx. 1 foot in diameter. if you made them 8 inches you would have about 4 feet in diameter.

best of luck,
brian