Florida Members: Any advice for Coop construction?

[halo]

Genius! What a gorgeous coop.

 

[TigerLilly]

Quote:
I'm loving yours! Would also love to have the back wall you have, around my whole property--I'm a fortress kind of gal...

 

[elmo]

Shade. That's the key, I think. Site your coop in the shadiest part of your property, especially with respect to the afternoon sun. I'm in North Texas, and I stupidly put my open coop with wire walls right smack dab where it gets the afternoon sun. Even with all that ventilation, heat builds up under the roof and makes it hotter than you know what by the time the sun sets. It takes hours for the coop to cool down even after dark.

My new coop is a conventional, closed sided one, but it's in the shady part of our yard, it's insulated, and the roof has radiant roof sheathing. The inside of this coop gets no hotter than the ambient outdoor temperature in the shade, which is plenty hot enough but the best that I can do for our climate.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Could you post another picture of those nifty shade cloth panels you rig up on the side of your coop? It's a great idea for those who lack natural shade. The airspace between the tarps and the coop side is an excellent design.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
I couldn't agree more! I didn't have the shade I wanted so I had to make it. If I had a spot in the yard where the sun never hit, that's where I'd put my coop. Thanks for the compliments everyone.

I think you read my mind elmo. I saw your comment on the preview. Here are the pics.

 

[yelim]

Those awnings are great, and you really need them in AZ.

I built mine off the ground so they could get under it whenever they wanted. The roof blocks the sun so inside stays a little cooler,
that keeps the floor cooler so under the floor is chicken comfortable. I have trees around also so there is always some shade.
Make sure they have plenty of water.

This pic shows the plastic I had over the seams in the siding where I can remove the siding and there is a large area that is open area, but covered with 1/2"
hardware cloth. so even more ventilation.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

yelim, that looks like paradise!

 

[Rubyegg]

These are all such great ideas! I am planning an elevated coop, under a huge Live Oak tree, with a run extending out from under it which will be in sunlight most of the day. I'm also toying with the idea of having a removable wall that can be lifted up much like our awnings? I love my owls. I know they're not good for chickens but ours are actually very curious and friendly and they provide much entertainment and night music. As for hurricanes? I was here for Charlie, Frances and Jean. Chickens will be in the garage. Yup, I know it's a mess, but ever try to potty a dog in a hurricane? They now get Fake grass on a huge tray on top of kennel mat to go on, and they do use it! So they will have shade, but I also know what the first thing to go during a hurricane is, The Trees!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

We have a 14'x20' shed with a roll up door on one end. The inside is walled so they can't get out the garage door. It is set under a live oak and cluster of palms for shade. The garage door goes up during the summer/hottest months. Our runs have auto doors that open each morning turning everyone out into chain link surrounded runs with shade cloth roofs. The coop also has two windows plus vents in the upper peak of the roofline. Never too hot, or chilly when the temps did go down. Have not lost anyone to heat & get lots of eggs daily.

 

[yelim]

That shade cloth is a good idea. I could put it over my run during the hottest months and remove
during the cooler months. Would be easy to throw it over my run, I think. But nothing is easy any more.