open air coops

[TXmom]

I'm happy to see this post, because I was almost second-guessing myself on my open front coop. Mine doesn't really look like any of the coop pictures I've seen on this site, but I think it will work for us. It's still under construction, so don't have any finished pictures, but here's what it looks like so far:

I wish it was done so you could see it. The front will remain open most of the time, but will have a flap that can be folded down if absolutely necessary. The roof will be several inches above the walls for ventilation at the top (gaps covered with hardware cloth). It will slant to the back so rain water rolls down and falls behind the coop. The run will be secure and 6 feet tall, with electric fence wire around the outside of the run and coop to keep predators away.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
TXmom, I really like the way you're doing that. It should work well for you. Lucky chickens!

Pat

 

[tdgill]

looks great!

I also was happy to read replies about open coops. I was (as always) second guessing as well.

 

[TXmom]

Quote:
TXmom, I really like the way you're doing that. It should work well for you. Lucky chickens!

Pat

I'm so glad you like it!!!! I have read many many of your posts and you have so much knowledge and wisdom. I've already let them run around inside the coop a couple of times, and maybe I'll let them out there again this afternoon. It gives them a chance to get fresh air, sunshine and run and flap their wings.

We hope to finish the coop and start on the run this weekend. I will post updated pics when it's done.

 

[lalyswishytail]

So if the front wall was built higher, do people think that TXmom's design is good for cold climates?

Also following TXmom's design...does leaving a gap where the roof connects to the walls all the way around count for good ventilation? I still don't understand how this kind of vent would be partially closed in more severe weather.

Pat--could you take a picture of your main chicken house?

What is hardware cloth?

Thanks for your patience with me!

 

[TXmom]

Quote:
I don't have any experience with the kind of weather you have, so someone else would have to answer those questions. I don't have to worry about snow here! I can't think of any reason to have to cover the gap under the roof line.

Harware cloth is like a "screen", or wire mesh. It's a lot thicker than a window screen. It's strong enough to keep out most predators. My hardware cloth has 1/4" little squares, but it comes in other sizes.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Well sure, but I'm afraid it's not going to help you any

... it is a 15x40' outbuilding with insulated 6" stud walls, a heavily insulated ceiling, and a slab floor. Just because, you know, we had it already available and it happens to suit chickens fairly well

There is a photo of the front of it on post #16 of this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=106021&p=1

(Although those are kind of old pix and it now has a small winterized run (also provides some solar heating) on the left front [And on post #10 of https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=117878&p=1] and a practically finished roofed run off the R side.)

What is hardware cloth?

Half- or quarter-inch welded wire mesh. Make sure to get *galvanized* for outdoor use.

HTH (tho I doubt my pix will

),

Pat​

 

[patandchickens]

So if the front wall was built higher, do people think that TXmom's design is good for cold climates?

I'd do it. (Not like I'm in the Arctic here or anything, but it does get reasonably cold). Mind, I'd put not just plywood but *insulation* over most of the wire wall for our winters, but yeah.

Also following TXmom's design...does leaving a gap where the roof connects to the walls all the way around count for good ventilation? I still don't understand how this kind of vent would be partially closed in more severe weather.

Sure, that's a good way of doing ventilation (with predatorproof screening of course, and ideally a good roof overhang, like 12" or more). The easiest way to close it down is with hinged flaps, but there are alternatives too. If it were me I would make each flap maybe 4' long so that there were several in series down the side of the building, so I could regulate the amount of airflow that way as well as by how open the flaps are. There are other, and if you like fiddly work then also *better*, ways of doing it too, of course.

Pat​

 

[morelcabin]

Well I have a regular 10x10 shed and have opened up from the top of my door to the peak of the roof. It works extremely well until we get about -35C...so I would recommend it to anyone south of me:>) It is great here in Canada as well, this winter was just especially butal. My roos got frostbite around the -35C, but only because we had a whole week of it....until then everything was perfect:>) Haven't had any colds or sickness in there at all

 

[cgmccary]

I have two of these coops that 4 & 5 birds grouped for breeding purposes, boarded on two sides, completely open on one end & all wire in the back (this wouldn't work for people with predators but for me in the city, the predator has to get over in the run first-- dogs haven't yet, only opossums & wouldn't work in Northern climates as it is too open) that is a 2X4 roosting bar in the middle- wire bottomed: