Need ideas for open air coop

[ag92]

I've got 15 hens that are ready to go outside. I've just about finished their coop but I have a few questions. I live in West Texas (it gets very hot), and I am building a 10'x20' 3 sided coop. The North side is completely enclosed and the East and West sides are partially enclosed. The South side will be completely open and just covered with wire. My question comes to the roof. Would it be best to completely cover the roof with corrugated tin roofing or only cover half and cover the other half with wire?

 

[cavemanrich]

I would cover whole roof. Here is why.... Even in Texas it rains. Your coop will get wet. Chickens don't like wet. You may have heard this one before, "" MADDER THAN A WET HEN "" Considering that one side will be totally open, you don't need any additional ventilation thru roof. . Here is another added idea.. on the south side that is open, attach a tarp to roof and extend it out. This will create a great overhang and provide shade as well as keep rain out of chicken quarters. The lite duty tarps that are 12 X 20. cost about $25 or so. They will last 2 to 3 years . In the winter time you can bring the tarp to reach ground and close off the open section with the tarp. Keep wind on chickens to minimum. Your possibilities are almost endless. You will keep learning as you go.
WISHING YOU BEST. AND

 

[henless]

Howdy fellow Texan!

I moved from West Texas many, many moons ago and now live in East Texas. What a change! LOL

I agree with cavemanrich, cover it up!

My coop is an open air coop. It started out as 10x20 with similar walls to your, but I'm making a few changes now. I've decided to pull all my walls off and make the whole thing covered in hardware cloth. I will put up tarps/clear plastic this winter for wind break.

You can check out my build and rebuild by clicking on the "my coop" under my avatar. Good luck with your coop and chickens!

You can also join us on the Texas thread. Just start from the last few pages, way too many to read from the beginning. Lots of info and help there for us Texans.

 

[JanetS]

henless- what an awesome coop and run you have!

 

[henless]

henless- what an awesome coop and run you have!

Thanks! It's still a work in progress. I was out this morning doing some work on it. If it wasn't for work, I'd probably get a lot more done! LOL

 

[junebuggena]

Make sure you have a secure place for them to sleep. Chickens can't see very well in the dark, and when they sleep, they don't hear anything going on around them. The bird next to them on the roost could be getting torn to pieces and they won't stir. They are pretty defenseless against nocturnal predators.