ASD Dad
Chirping
Hello all - new chicken owner here! We currently have 6 chicks but may be getting 2-3 more from a friend who has too many chicks right now (she had to buy a certain amount to get the breed she really wanted). Chicks are 2 Cochin and 4 Laced Wyandotte if it makes a difference. The 2-3 more we could get are "Easter" chicks that lay the colored eggs?
I live in Upstate SC so we get both extremes for weather - 100+ F in the summer and possible single digits in the winter! There are soooo many designs it gets overwhelming. I do not plan on letting them free range much, we have a lot of predators and wide open sky above with fields and woods close by. My run will be approx 40' x 30' if I put them where planned. The run will be on the backside of our detached 3 car garage/workshop that faces East. The coop I had planned on building on the South facing side of same garage. Garage is nearly two stories tall so will provide some shade. Plan was for morning sun and afternoon shade. House is to the West of garage so would provide afternoon shade to the coop. I will eventually post photos of location once I am allowed!
Anyway - Are there designs I should be leaning towards or plans to avoid due to my temp issues? Any things that should be a "must have" on any design? My 8 yr old is the one that really wanted these so it needs to be sort of easy for him to take care of them and check eggs.
I am pretty handy with wood and my father-in-law who lives next door was a Habitat for Humanity builder for over a couple decades so I feel like we can build most any design within reason. I can also weld up to 1/4" steel if necessary (due to my welders power output).
Current basic plan is to have coop up off ground a little to help with moisture (clay soil!). Pressure treated wood with 1/2" hardware cloth windows. Plywood floor with FRP panels glued down to ease cleaning. That is as far as we have gotten!
I live in Upstate SC so we get both extremes for weather - 100+ F in the summer and possible single digits in the winter! There are soooo many designs it gets overwhelming. I do not plan on letting them free range much, we have a lot of predators and wide open sky above with fields and woods close by. My run will be approx 40' x 30' if I put them where planned. The run will be on the backside of our detached 3 car garage/workshop that faces East. The coop I had planned on building on the South facing side of same garage. Garage is nearly two stories tall so will provide some shade. Plan was for morning sun and afternoon shade. House is to the West of garage so would provide afternoon shade to the coop. I will eventually post photos of location once I am allowed!
Anyway - Are there designs I should be leaning towards or plans to avoid due to my temp issues? Any things that should be a "must have" on any design? My 8 yr old is the one that really wanted these so it needs to be sort of easy for him to take care of them and check eggs.
I am pretty handy with wood and my father-in-law who lives next door was a Habitat for Humanity builder for over a couple decades so I feel like we can build most any design within reason. I can also weld up to 1/4" steel if necessary (due to my welders power output).
Current basic plan is to have coop up off ground a little to help with moisture (clay soil!). Pressure treated wood with 1/2" hardware cloth windows. Plywood floor with FRP panels glued down to ease cleaning. That is as far as we have gotten!