Is This First Timer on the Right Track?

[Judy]

In this climate I really feel a 3 sided or open air design is better; I always cringe when I see a box type coop in the South. It never gets what a chicken would consider cold down here, not even last night at 21 or so. But they can die in the heat (you want heat tolerant breeds; you don't want large fowl Cochins, for example, or so I just read this AM.) Here's a thread with some Florida type ideas and pics:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=163417

 

[7L Farm]

I'm here in Texas very hot I'm talking hot one more time "HOT". I would build a three sided coop. Here's a couple I built they are positioned so the prevailing winds blow on the birds this picture was taken last summer. Also, notice I built a deck on top which shades the birds as well.