In 2 weeks we're being gifted with four pullets. Having not kept chickens for about 50 years (well...my parents did) I'm starting from scratch knowledge - wise. My husband and I first planed an A-frame tractor coop, a bit like the picture, with a solid back and a door to get into the laying boxes...and probably a side able to lift up for ease of cleaning out litter. We aren't the handiest and an A-frame seems the simplest build. I was thinking 6x8, with the coop about half the length. Is that big enough?
I like the idea of the tractor so I can move it. We have 2+ acres, mostly flat, but I'm worried about predators at night. I live in the country. I haven't seen much wildlife besides rabbits and birds, but we have abundant half-stray cats thanks to the neighbors. There are dogs and no leash laws, but they mostly are kept in fences. Still, I feel like we need to close up a coop at night for safety. Just because I haven't seen racoons and foxes doesn't mean they aren't there. I'd like to free range my 4 little hens, but we do have lots of hawks.
I live in SW Missouri. We don't have terrible winters, but it gets to single digits, occasionally negative, but not often. I'd say it's more likely in the 20's. Summers can be awful. We just finished literally a month of 90 to 100+ highs, and humidity making it over 100 heat index for days at a time. Its been hot longer than I remember it being really.
I guess these are the questions:
1. I understand the ventilation issue. Would it work to make the entire front of the coop hardware cloth? I've seen these just open to the air, but I want more security. We could extend the roof to keep out rain in the front like a porch. We could also do a screen window at the peak in the back.
2. If we did that, wouldn't we need to close it up in front in the winter to keep out drafts? If we do that, then aren't we back to the ventilation issue?
3. If we do a ridge vent, like on a house metal roof, covered with hardware cloth so things can't get in, would that help enough with ventilation?
4. We have metal siding left over from our garage build (It's one of those built-on-site metal buildings) and thought we'd use that for the walls, But will It be bad in heat/cold?
I'm sure I have more questions I can't think of now. TIA!
I like the idea of the tractor so I can move it. We have 2+ acres, mostly flat, but I'm worried about predators at night. I live in the country. I haven't seen much wildlife besides rabbits and birds, but we have abundant half-stray cats thanks to the neighbors. There are dogs and no leash laws, but they mostly are kept in fences. Still, I feel like we need to close up a coop at night for safety. Just because I haven't seen racoons and foxes doesn't mean they aren't there. I'd like to free range my 4 little hens, but we do have lots of hawks.
I live in SW Missouri. We don't have terrible winters, but it gets to single digits, occasionally negative, but not often. I'd say it's more likely in the 20's. Summers can be awful. We just finished literally a month of 90 to 100+ highs, and humidity making it over 100 heat index for days at a time. Its been hot longer than I remember it being really.
I guess these are the questions:
1. I understand the ventilation issue. Would it work to make the entire front of the coop hardware cloth? I've seen these just open to the air, but I want more security. We could extend the roof to keep out rain in the front like a porch. We could also do a screen window at the peak in the back.
2. If we did that, wouldn't we need to close it up in front in the winter to keep out drafts? If we do that, then aren't we back to the ventilation issue?
3. If we do a ridge vent, like on a house metal roof, covered with hardware cloth so things can't get in, would that help enough with ventilation?
4. We have metal siding left over from our garage build (It's one of those built-on-site metal buildings) and thought we'd use that for the walls, But will It be bad in heat/cold?
I'm sure I have more questions I can't think of now. TIA!
