I need help fast!

[dmrflorida]

Something like this look interesting: https://www.backyardchickens.com/coops/images/playhouse-coop-2.jpg
It gives the chickens room to roam under the enclosed area. I wonder if we could do chicken wire over the run area to reduce cost and just gable the house? We do live in Florida with plenty of rain though. I am confused what the area going from the run into the house looks like? A small door to get into their house??? is it opened? I see the builder is selling their plans for a 'small fee' but was hoping to keep expenditures down as much as possible.

 

[Rusty's Ranch]

It almost looks like there might be an opening at the bottom of the coop. The birds might hop up on the roost that is positioned underneath, then hop up into the coop?? Most coops have a small 10 x 10 or 12 x 12 pop door that slides up and down. If the coop is elevated, a ramp is attached to help the birds get inside.

Here's a picture of ours ... hope it helps.



Also, regarding your run roof. Unless the run is in the shade, you'll want to protect the chickens from the summer sun with some type of covering. We have a mixture of chicken wire, covered with burlap (you can also get shade cloth at the nursery/hardware store that's not too expensive). On the sides, we've hung cheap shades; the kind that are used on patios (we got plastic ones at HomeDepot for about $15/ea).

 

[Greg Richardson]

We do live in Florida with plenty of rain though.

Put a slant on that roof. You will be glad you did later. Flat roofs unless you live in an area with only about 10 rains a year you are asking for trouble.​