Show me your open air coops

[Messipaw]

 

[steveurkel]

Here's ours, along with our Chief Security Officer:

 

[thomasboyle]

Not quite all open air, but we have to deal with snow in CT. Be happy you don't have to in FL!


Here it is in warmer times!

 

[SunnySkies]

Check out this book. http://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Chicken-Coop-Step-Step/dp/1603429808 Multiple ideas for open air coops. I particularly like the Sym coop and am trying to work out how to add some doors to keep snow out as I would love to use it as a breeding pen.These are not for large flocks, but would be ideal for a breeding group or just a few birds.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I live in a hot climate and have an open air coop. I made it to allow the birds a place to get out of the wind and rain and to allow maximum shade and air flow through the coop.





Here is a picture of it before it was put in place. You can see how the hot air can rise and immediately flow out of the coop through the ends of the roof and all along the front eave.



Even though the coop is placed directly under a giant eucalyptus tree, it gets direct exposure to sunlight in the worst of the afternoon hours. So, I put up shade cloth panels over west-ward exposed wire and a separate layer of panels in front of those. The run has grapevines that grow up and over to provide tremendous shade and constant forage for most of the year. You can see more pictures on "my coop" page.




Here is a chicken enclosure I made from recycled materials for a friend of mine. It's about as "open" as you can get, with just an old awning for overhead protection from rain and the roosts and nest boxes situated under it. It is, perhaps, more open than I'd like, but she's raised chickens for years under this arrangement here in AZ.

 

[AliNaz]

Thank you everyone for all the pictures and great ideas!

SunnySkies, thank you for the name of the book! I will definitely read it.

 

[SunnySkies]

Thank you everyone for all the pictures and great ideas!

SunnySkies, thank you for the name of the book! I will definitely read it.

I borrowed it from our local library, but I think it is also available on Kindle if you wanted to buy it. I like it enough I'm thinking of buying it.

 

[AliNaz]

My library has it too. I'm picking it up this weekend. I can't wait!!!

 

[greenacregirl]

My husband converted an old dog breeding pole barn from the previous owners of the farm into three open air coops for me. I am in Oklahoma so I am weighing out how I want to proceed this winter with it. I have tarps and heat lamps as my options. I will post pics soon.

 

[greenacregirl]

Here are a few pics. It's still a work in progress. He covered the walls with plywood. I hope to paint but the birds needed their new home ASAP. So that's a project for next spring. We also filled in gaps in the fence and covered the chain link with chicken wire and then a base barrier of tin. Roosts were made and a nesting area for my laying hens. The run needs to be covered still, and reinforced, along with a barrier to prevent predators from digging in.