I need a design for a coop able to handle COLORADO!

[krys2000]

Hi. I live in Colorado and my yard is frequently subjected to 65+ mph winds (and I do mean FREQUENTLY!) I need a coop design that can stand up to the wind & our crazy weather. Any ideas, any one?

I have 6 chicks that are coming 2nd week of May and need a great, inexpensive, sturdy design that my husband can build when the chicks move outside.

I also have a dog (mostly indoors) and a neighborhood fox. So any thoughts on an elevated run? Is that okay for chickens, or even feasible?

This is my first venture with chickens and I want to do everything I can to raise happy, healthy chickens.

 

[tragic59]

Depending on what area of Colorado you're in, you will probably be able to find a local "coop tour" that you could take to get a feel for what other people in the area have done to keep their chickens safe from the elements.

I know they have coop tours in Denver and Colorado Springs.

As for the predators, they are a universal problem in suburban and rural areas, and you should be able to find plenty of advice on building predator-proof runs and coops just by browsing through this section of the forum.

 

[tragic59]

A note on the "elevated run", most of the advice I've seen on this site has been against having your chickens walking on any sort of whire flooring. So the elevated run is probably out. The wire can cause abrasions and cuts on the feet that have a tendency to get infected and cause bigger problems.

As to dog/fox-proofing your run, you only need to bury your siding into the ground or fold it out and run a "skirt" around the edges of your run to keep them from being able to dig under the sides.

 

[tragic59]

Another tip for you: if you're within driving distance of Denver, you can attend a chicken keeping class held there. They also have regular classes on gardening and numerous other "Urban Homesteading" subjects.

Here's a link:

http://www.denverurbanhomesteading.com/new_page_2.htm