Planning my Coop-Questions

[Straw Hat]

We are building a coop in hot Arizona. Did I mention hot? Due to the heat, we are considering an open air coop design made from hardware cloth. I will build to maximize the shade from trees, plus use shade cloth. I hope to build one structure with different "apartments." Ideally, I'd like one area for the general poultry community, a grow-out pen for DP roosters, a honeymoon suite for breeding, and a brooding area. (Plus room for the turkeys and geese I'd like to get someday, but am afraid to tell my husband about). While all these spaces would be nice, it's a lot. Funds are not unlimited and I'd like to get the most bang for my buck. I'd like to know about the compartments others have in their coop and how they get double duty from them. I hope to house 15ish layers, 1-2 roosters, and for the freezer, grow out DP roos and occasional batches of meat birds. I'd love to use broody hens and then there are those future plans for other poultry. Ideas/comments please....

 

[Flockincrazy]

We are building a coop in hot Arizona. Did I mention hot? Due to the heat, we are considering an open air coop design made from hardware cloth. I will build to maximize the shade from trees, plus use shade cloth. I hope to build one structure with different "apartments." Ideally, I'd like one area for the general poultry community, a grow-out pen for DP roosters, a honeymoon suite for breeding, and a brooding area. (Plus room for the turkeys and geese I'd like to get someday, but am afraid to tell my husband about). While all these spaces would be nice, it's a lot. Funds are not unlimited and I'd like to get the most bang for my buck. I'd like to know about the compartments others have in their coop and how they get double duty from them. I hope to house 15ish layers, 1-2 roosters, and for the freezer, grow out DP roos and occasional batches of meat birds. I'd love to use broody hens and then there are those future plans for other poultry. Ideas/comments please....

Your open air is a great idea for Arizona i upcycle pallets for my coops and brooder box is a shipping crate upcycling is a great way to save money you do want at least one solid wall for cover from the elements this is what mine looks like I'm in Northern Ohio so I have inserts for the winter and do yourself a favor and put in a shallow pond for them to drink and stand in to keep cool

 

[Straw Hat]

A pond, huh? Will chickens really go wading? Is that something they do naturally if its hot enough, or do you have to teach them? I like your coop! Thanks for the pictures. I like how you built the exterior nest boxes. I was wondering how to do that on the mesh. Designing an open-air coop is a new concept for me. We just moved to Arizona from Wyoming, where temperatures with windchill could be well below zero for weeks at a time. (They are actually expecting highs in the the 20s and snow NEXT Week!)

 

[Flockincrazy]

A pond, huh? Will chickens really go wading? Is that something they do naturally if its hot enough, or do you have to teach them? I like your coop! Thanks for the pictures. I like how you built the exterior nest boxes. I was wondering how to do that on the mesh. Designing an open-air coop is a new concept for me. We just moved to Arizona from Wyoming, where temperatures with windchill could be well below zero for weeks at a time. (They are actually expecting highs in the the 20s and snow NEXT Week!)

I have ducks in with my flock so I have a pond for them and I see my chickens swimming all the time I have never taught them to do it so they should just get in and the nestboxes were super easy to make i build everything myself if you go into the coop building my article is called coop building McKinney style

 

[aart]

Get out some graph paper and layout your 'apartments'.
Then add a good 18-24" of roof overhang all around to protect your open mesh walls.
And plan the posts and rafter spacing needed to support your solid roof.

 

[Alaskan]

Then add a good 18-24" of roof overhang all around to protect your open mesh walls.

X a jillion

 

[Alaskan]

Due to the heat, we are considering an open air coop design made from hardware cloth.

Yes, excellent idea.

A photo from the internet for more ideas

I'd like to know about the compartments others have in their coop and how they get double duty from them.

I have what looks like a screen door that installs whenever I need it, to make the area under a poop tray into a brooder area.

I really like my poop trays.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Wow that looks just like my plans for my breeding pens