Openish coop in a 'mild' climate?

[Ribh]

I wouldn't even hesitate in Queensland! I'd make sure I can cover as needed for those lovely tropical storms though

The covering in an emergency has me stumped. We do get the occasional cyclone.

 

[PouleChick]

I wouldn't even hesitate in Queensland! I'd make sure I can cover as needed for those lovely tropical storms though

The covering in an emergency has me stumped. We do get the occasional cyclone.

Maybe something solid that you can screw into the sides when you know you have one coming - I remember the winds - a tarp would just get ripped to shreds! I remember waiting for a big one to hit Hervey Bay when we lived there - luckily it got turned back out to sea just off the top of Fraser Island / Bundy' - was scary enough just getting the outskirts of it!

 

[imnukensc]

I have a couple of reasons that I'm unsure about this - firstly the existing concrete base I have doesn't face that way. Also the majority of our weather comes from that direction (ie rain blowing in). What is the theory about coops needing to face south?

Sorry, I made the assumption that your weather/wind/rain would mostly come from the north, northwest, or west as it seems to be for most folks here in the US. Facing south or southeast here helps to alleviate that as well as to warm up the coop in the winter.

 

[PouleChick]

Sorry, I made the assumption that your weather/wind/rain would mostly come from the north, northwest, or west as it seems to be for most folks here in the US. Facing south or southeast here helps to alleviate that as well as to warm up the coop in the winter.

I'm not sure if it is the case everywhere but we are on a hill (almost at the top) sloping down to the S/SW with the valley running east west (ish) at the bottom - to the west is the Atlantic and I think the worst of our weather blows in from there, up the valley and up the hill if that makes sense! So now that I think about it it is more West / SW than S that the weather comes. My current air / openings are south and north and I've never really seen any rain get in - and that is with no eaves. My biggest issue is that S is the neighbours yard not so far from the coop spot - I'd rather have it opening to the North to be honest in terms of logistics as I can't really see the layout working that well if it was the other way (would be pointing away from the run, the garden, the house etc etc). I'm not sure what that means in terms of air flow but pretty sure it generally is pretty clear of rain coming in from there so I wonder if that would work

 

[Melky]

Sorry, I made the assumption that your weather/wind/rain would mostly come from the north, northwest, or west as it seems to be for most folks here in the US. Facing south or southeast here helps to alleviate that as well.

Actually our weather here comes from south west and travels mostly north east. So we would not put anything facing south as it puts us in the line of fire. Also away from the sun. We direct north. It depends what your surroundings such as buildings, woods, and weather patterns in your area as to what holds true. Probably different for everyone.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I wonder is you could do something like what Alaskan showed but with sliding door(s), and maybe a dutch door to close it up... something like this using "barn door hardware" as shown below:

 

[PouleChick]

with sliding door(s), and maybe a dutch door to close it up... something like this using "barn door hardware" as shown below:

Ohhh that is clever! Best of both worlds.

 

[Kris5902]

I’m still working with my Tractors that are somewhat similar to the three sided back idea, but with a solid front as well! On my second one I corrected a big problem in the first (not being able to access the roosting box easily) by putting the siding on, then adding bracing to the inside, 2 verticals and a diagonal like a N so the whole side panel can be removed easily and will hold together (my roosting box is 5 horizontal pieces of siding high).

You’re working with an existing concrete base so I would suggest adding a bottom plate and some vertical supports to the front of the open side. If you’re doing a gable roof I would frame the triangle part out and screen it with hardware cloth, then all you would need to do if you get really nasty weather is screw in front panels to give your girls some more protection, and they will still have ventilation in the open triangle at the top. Pre-cutting said panels and keeping them on hand will probably ward off the nasty weather in its self!

That said my chickens really seem to like being inside (not how I pictured this working), they hate wind, rain, and the cold! They are about as cold friendly as I am, lol. Yesterday to get one to come out and drink I had to reach in, remove her from the roosting box and let her perch on my hand to keep her feet off the cold ground (that I had my hand on for her!), because as soon as her feet touched the ground she made a b line for the roosting box. The other 12 in that pen had no problems standing on it, just the one little princess!

 

[aart]

something like this using "barn door hardware" as shown below:

Where did you find that gif!!

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Where did you find that!!

The hardware pic I swiped off Amazon, the coop animation I “Inventor-ed” up real quick.