Embracing my inner nerd.. want some advice.

[loveourbirds]

this is a picture I found on the net, the square part of this building would make yours easier to build.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

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.

That's a great idea. Build a 3 sided castle with one side completely open for good ventilation.

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.

...

The OP is in San Diego so cold won't be a problem.

I don't worry about cold and I'm in MO.

 

[loveourbirds]

That's a great idea. Build a 3 sided castle with one side completely open for good ventilation.
The OP is in San Diego so cold won't be a problem.

I don't worry about cold and I'm in MO.

I didn't catch san diego part sorry. here in ohio we have some cold spells, for the most part if you keep them out of direct wind they will be fine. some of the larger single comb birds do have issues here when raised out in the open. I guess I also forget that not everyone is hatching eggs in February, so most of you wont heat your coops.

I looked at building a chicken castle here, we have tons of rock laying about on our land. my plan was to use the "slip form" method for construction. we decided against anything in stone after we realized our flock keeps growing, and stone is a little harder to add to.

 

[Weasleymum]

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

Must be nice to be the richest woman in the country... LOL. Forget 'playhouse', I could live in that thing.

 

[Weasleymum]

You know, Hagrid's hut would make for an awesome coop...

 

[loveourbirds]

I agree about hagred's hut, that design would be easier to modify for chickens. also the way the roof tapers, 1 light in the center with roosts under the roof area would probably keep them warm in the coolest nights. a solid rock design of this should be really easy.

 

[organic egglets]

You know, Hagrid's hut would make for an awesome coop...

I agree about hagred's hut, that design would be easier to modify for chickens. also the way the roof tapers, 1 light in the center with roosts under the roof area would probably keep them warm in the coolest nights. a solid rock design of this should be really easy.

oooh that is a fantastic idea! I have a couple sketches of the entrance courtyard and I was having such a hard time capturing all of the details that make me love it so much. I will def be going with Hagrid's hut! Thanks yall!

 

[loveourbirds]

if you don't have a lot of natural rock available, i have an idea. (or if you don't want to cut a few ton of rock)

most home improvement stores have landscape block cut to make circles (trapezoidal shape) i would start there. if you have a manufacturing plant for them close to where you are, it might be worth your while to see if they have any seconds. you can usually get them for about 1/3 the price.

you could also cast the stone yourself, its not as hard as it sounds.

everyone has their own construction techniques but i think this would be by far easier out of stone than wood stone composite.