Please show me your hot weather coops

[m2wandc]

WOW...some impressive warm weather coops...

Our weather is pretty warm most of the year, but our nights get COLD because we are in a valley...

 

[tcox4freedom]

Quote:
Thanks for the pics virginbred!

I think I'll use your gate/door design.

I was wondering what you had planted in the hanging buckets? Tomatos?

We've planted a "Box" garden (our 1st) next to our barn. I think I would like to plant something in buckets and hang them off my barn as well.

I don't necessarily know what I'm doing. But I'm also trying to build a '4x8' hen house w/a 8'x16' run. I'll try and get some pics up soon. (Frame and walls almost done)

 

[virginbred]

glad you liked it...i've got cucumbers, zucchini and squash hanging on the other side as well...easy upkeep and picking!...another good thing about having the chickens using the garden spot for a run during different seasons is they take care of any fire ants...they are a terrible problem where i live...i am lucky in that my husband can build anything...he is not a carpenter by trade but he is in the concrete business...he definitely has skills!!! good luck with your coop and don't forget to post those pics! virginia

 

[virginbred]

i forgot to add that i really like the look of your boxes...neat and tidy...well done!

 

[tcox4freedom]

Thanks virginia;

To the OP:
Please forgive me!
I don't want to hijack this thread or get off topic. But, I really would like some directions on how to prepare the buckets.

What size holes in the bottom and how many?

How much soil is in the bucket?

Do you plant normally then just hang the bucket up?


PS;
We have lots of fire ants here in Florence as well.

PSS;
I may want some imput on where to get chickens once my coop is finished.

Back on topic:
Here's a couple of pics of the floor support and partial frame of the hen house. I have the roof up 'now" and will be completing the frame and wall this week. (I hope?)

The coop will be 4'x8' and will roost about nine chickens. (I think?) I've also gotten some great ideas on the nest boxes here. Thanks everyone!

I plan on a 8'x16' run; utilizing 4"x4"x8' posts for support; 2"x6" treated lumber for the ground frame work and 2"x4" for the rest of the framework. (ALL Treated)


We have three dogs and a LOT of predators here! The dogs do a fairly good job of keeping them at bay. (They've killed several oppossum, racoons and snakes) However, two of them have also killed a couple of chickens that had gotten out of their coop and wondered on our property.

I'll be using a heavier "Kennel" type wire (Over, Under and Around). For the top cover I'm using a 1" pvc pipe frame so it can be easily removed/repaired etc. For the bottom foot or so, I will also be using a smaller "spaced" under the kennel wire to deter heads being stuck through.

I'm taking some pics and doing some video as I progress.

 

[chickens3]

What is a nice hot weather coop i like the way you made the run.

 

[fledgling]

Hijack away! No worries.....

 

[Malou-La-Croix]

OOooooh do i have coop envy! These are all gorgeous! I am starting on a coop for my 2 girls this weekend but I can already tell that I will be wanting to make another. I have to be on the *down-low* with design since I am not supposed to have chickens in my city but I do have a very private backyard (and really nice neighbors who accept my new pets!).

Keep the photos coming!!

 

[chickeepoo]

Quote:
I'm in Central Florida, and one of my coops is a low, reworked cage that used to hold my hens before they outgrew it. It's 6Lx3Wx3H' with a roost at one end and a 3x3x2.5' slope-roof hen house at one end (2 large breed hens share this house/run).
It's a good design for staying "under the radar" since it would take a peeping tom/trespasser to even see it; only changes I'd make is make it a little longer and higher, and plant plenty of shade and landscape plants around it to cool things down as well as camouflage it (only one tree on my backyard, and it's not near the fence where this is). My neighbors are also good about me having my birds, but I still try to keep it low key…

 

[r-l-newell]

I live in Central Texas and I am in the process of building a 8 feet wide by 6 feet deep Coop with it enclosed on four sides and I am considering putting a large window in the front and back of my chicken coop. Any sugggestions if I should do this for circulation? If so should it be on the North and South sides of the Coop or where? I have no shade trees on the area where I want to put this thing so I hadn't figured out if I should face it from North to South or from East to West as we have really hot Summers here.

Any help would be much appreciated.