Help for Florida Coop plans for 7 hens

[gclarrot]

I am not entirely sure if my math is correct but for a half free range hens as I am a stay at home mom and rarely leave for the day (theyll have a massive side yard, fenced off from the rest of the yard) its 28 sq ft? 3 next boxes? I have 4 Buffs, and 3 Easter Eggers. How big? 3x6? 4x7?

We freeze maybe once a year, we stay above 60 plus majority of the year. Maybe, maybe a few weeks in the 40s - 50s but not so much.

Where do I find plans for hot weather coops for house 7 hens?
My husband will be building the coop next weekend, and we'll be using the obvious hardware cloth as we have a raccoon family, and a fox (And so many other things since we live in Florida).

 

[AllenK RGV]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/chicken-coops.12/ is somewhere I would start here on this site. Honestly shade and lots of open hardware cloth siding would be ideal also inclde a sloped roof as you want to vent off as much heat possibly for the majority of the year. Depending on where in Florida you are you might want to build it stout and ensure you use your hurricane straps to reinforce joints, unless your evacuation plans involve taking your flock with you.

 

[rosemarythyme]

2-3 nest boxes should be fine. I would go 4x8 just because lumber tends to come in 4 & 8' increments, so a 4x8 is likely about the same price as a 4x7, and less cutting needed so you can save time.

For hot weather coops think as much open ventilation as possible, and pockets of deep shade. Depending on your wind directions some walls might be entirely open with mesh instead of wood.

 

[gclarrot]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/chicken-coops.12/ is somewhere I would start here on this site. Honestly shade and lots of open hardware cloth siding would be ideal also inclde a sloped roof as you want to vent off as much heat possibly for the majority of the year. Depending on where in Florida you are you might want to build it stout and ensure you use your hurricane straps to reinforce joints, unless your evacuation plans involve taking your flock with you.

That’s great advice about the hurricane straps. I wouldn’t have thought about it. We live north of Orlando, and no flood zone thankfully.
Could you imagine 2 kids, two dogs and three cats, 7 hens in a Subaru?

 

[gclarrot]

2-3 nest boxes should be fine. I would go 4x8 just because lumber tends to come in 4 & 8' increments, so a 4x8 is likely about the same price as a 4x7, and less cutting needed so you can save time.

For hot weather coops think as much open ventilation as possible, and pockets of deep shade. Depending on your wind directions some walls might be entirely open with mesh instead of wood.

They’ll be in partial shade with supervised roaming in the full sun.

I was thinking one large back wall with one side then the rest be hardware cloth. Would that work? And one vent in the back covered by hardware cloth? The boxes on one side, and the roosting Poles in the middle or side with a pan underneath.


The floor will be hardware cloth, and we’re using the deep litter method.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I was thinking one large back wall with one side then the rest be hardware cloth. Would that work? And one vent in the back covered by hardware cloth? The boxes on one side, and the roosting Poles in the middle or side with a pan underneath.

The floor will be hardware cloth, and we’re using the deep litter method.

As long as the back wall is the side that faces oncoming rain/winds, that'll work fine (the vent back there probably isn't necessary, as the other sides will be open or partially open).

If you're doing deep litter, best to have nothing but plain old dirt as the floor, and then build litter materials on top. For security best to have the hardware cloth as an apron around the entire unit.

 

[gclarrot]

So no

As long as the back wall is the side that faces oncoming rain/winds, that'll work fine (the vent back there probably isn't necessary, as the other sides will be open or partially open).

If you're doing deep litter, best to have nothing but plain old dirt as the floor, and then build litter materials on top. For security best to have the hardware cloth as an apron around the entire unit.

So no hardware cloth on the bottom just the apron?

 

[rosemarythyme]

So no hardware cloth on the bottom just the apron?

I wouldn't do it. A well installed apron does the same job in most cases with far less risk to feet.

 

[aart]

A well installed apron does the same job in most cases with far less risk to feet.

Ditto Dat!
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation.
If rodents are prolific, burying the apron ~12" would be good.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[AllenK RGV]

Turns out I do have some rodents. The cats we playing with a couple of juvenile rats last night. I pull chick feed nightly, but if we throw scratch not a chicken or wild bird is interested in the milo/millet/sorgum part of it and seems that is bringing in my rats.

All Feed is stored in galvenized metal trash cans so rodents will never get in there.