Experiences With Hoop Coops?

[Tervuren]

I'm planning for the arrival of my first chicks in April. I've been doing research on coops and I think I've landed on a hoop coop for a couple reasons. One is that I have never built anything before and a hoop coop seems like the hardest design to mess up lol. I also live in a place where temps often get over a hundred in the summer and frequently below freezing in the winters. Hoop coops seem like something that can function as kind of an open coop design in the summer and can be adjusted to provide more protection from the weather in the winter. I've read through many of the wonderful articles on this site about building hoop coops, but I'd also like folks' opinions about what they like and don't like after using them for a while.
Thanks!

 

[chickieandchookie]

I have one - more like a dome but the same principal - I love it and so do my hens. I have place it under a shady tree and put some shade cloth for extra protection over one side. We have hung a trestle with shade cloth which gives them somewhere high while providing shelter from rain and sun underneath. I have also put in a dog kennel where the lid raises. Inside of this is a perch and a nesting box full of straw. This provides full shelter from the elements if needed. I have tree stumps and bales of straw in there as well.
I have a separate coop outside of the dome which I call their bedroom. I give my girls several hours of free range and they end up putting themselves to bed in their separate coop. In the morning, I let them out and they happily follow me to the dome and jump in.
I really like the dome, we transfer it to other areas when needed and put it under different trees. It is also a relatively large space for them to run around in. I live in Australia so we don't get the really bad winters that some countries do. If this is the case, ensure you have a good area for them to go to in awful weather.

 

[aart]

I also live in a place where temps often get over a hundred in the summer and frequently below freezing in the winters.

Hoop coops can be tough in both situations.
Biggest issue is preventing rain infiltration while also having max ventilation in summer.
Wind, and snow accumulation, can be issues in winter.
Just some thoughts on what I've seen here over the years.

I live in Australia so we don't get the really bad winters that some countries do.

Do you have some pics @chickieandchookie ?
Does it get really hot in your part of AU?
Also, here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[mowin]

I've got a hoop run. Its attached to my coop. I covered half in a HD tarp. I'm thinking about adding another alongside, and attaching with a tunnel. Pic is during the building process.

 

[chickieandchookie]

Hoop coops can be tough in both situations.
Biggest issue is preventing rain infiltration while also having max ventilation in summer.
Wind, and snow accumulation, can be issues in winter.
Just some thoughts on what I've seen here over the years.


Do you have some pics @chickieandchookie ?
Does it get really hot in your part of AU?
Also, here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2492798

I live in Victoria - not the hottest part of Australia - but it still gets hot! The most important thing I believe with hoops/domes is to provide shelter with trees and to have something either inside or attached to provide shelter and protection. I will take a photograph and upload it when I finish work today. Btw - mine is small, suitable for about 4 hens and I only have one now after my other girl died. (this one is as happy as larry though after me fretting for days on how she would cope being on her own) But my dome is big enough for four adults to stand in.

 

[chickieandchookie]

Here is my dome!

 

[ozzie]

Hello fellow Aussie @chickieandchookie . Mine is similar in concept and looks like @mowin’s

It’s still a work in progress. I need to build a “Chunnel” to connect the side of the metal coop to the run (I have yet to cut a pop door on the side). Currently I just open the door of the coop and they follow me into their run. I also need to rig up a misting system in the run and on top of the coop roof for those stinking hot days. I really like the hoop house. It’s roomy.

 

[Duckee]

I use a static hoop coop for my hens. My main concerns are to keep preditors out, keep the girls dry, and good ventilation.
Here is the way mine is built:
There is about 18 inches of chicken wire attached to the bottom wood frame & buried deep in the ground.
The rounded part (hoop) is covered with chicken wire and a thick tarp. The sides rolls up or down depending on weather. They lock into place.
The floor of the coop has chicken wire stapled to the frame with about 4 inches of sand atop. This is cleaned by scooping then more sand added as needed.
The front & back have wood framed harware cloth doors that have wood framed plastic "window" inserts for top and bottom of each door. To control weather. I dont use the windows in nice weather unless we get strong winds. Then i usually only need top ones to protect perches. Same with winter. Each door has a top & bottom lock.
The sides around front and back doors are plywood.
Each interior side has 2 perches with a huge covered nest box in between. So 4 perches & 2 huge nest boxes total.
I do have a LED light in the coop just used for counting heads at night. I havent found it necessary to add heat.
The girls are let out every morning into their good size deep bedding run and a couple times a week let out to free range. Daily in the nicer weather.
Oh, and I have a dog to guard around the outside of the coop as well.
I like the set up well enough. But I do wish I could still use my wood coop...but because of chicken math that coop became too small! LOL
Alot of info, but I hope it helps.

Edited to add missed details.

 

[chickieandchookie]

Hello fellow Aussie @chickieandchookie . Mine is similar in concept and looks like @mowin’s
View attachment 2493957
It’s still a work in progress. I need to build a “Chunnel” to connect the side of the metal coop to the run (I have yet to cut a pop door on the side). Currently I just open the door of the coop and they follow me into their run. I also need to rig up a misting system in the run and on top of the coop roof for those stinking hot days. I really like the hoop house. It’s roomy.

Looks absolutely fantastic! Mine is not nearly as glamorous as yours but I only every have two chickens at a time and they are more like pets to be honest and it is really only for their daytime hours.

 

[alwaystj9]

There are a lot of Hoop Coop articles. It's kind of neat how everyone tweaks a similar structure. I will probably go with a hoop coop when I rebuild next time.