Starting from scratch

[5goats]

My kids have been on me for about a year to get chickens AND rabbits.....Eggs to eat and yes, my wife wants to raise meat rabbits.... We have been preparing the kids for the latter since initially they of course thought we were starting a petting zoo. My plan is to build the coop and the hutch along opposite fence lines in the corner of our yard. Both would have raised living quarters with about a 4x6 foraging area, each opening up into a larger 15x20 penned yard for hopping and what not. I've already got the layout planned and 4x4s in. Aside from the design of the coop and the amiability between the species, I'm concerned about the heat. It'll get 110fht for days in the summer. I did run a 110/220 box out to the area. I'm just wandering if in going to need to plan for fans in both. Any feed back on any aspect would be much appreciated......I've got this 3 day weekend to move on this...... Thanks in advance!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, 5goats, and

! Great to have you with us! Your birds would enjoy the fans but an even bigger consideration would be shade. If they have a lot of that, cool fresh water, and at least access to breeze, they will be fine. I often times wet the ground down in deep shade and my hens will scratch down into cool dirt. Good luck to you!!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Check out the 'coop and run design' section in the "Raising backyard chickens" forum. Good luck with your planning and construction.

 

[drumstick diva]

Some kind of fan that they couldn't get "into" would help - moving air always feels cooler. I know some people use water misters but, I don't know if they use it for rabbits.

 

[5goats]

Greetings from Kansas, 5goats, and !   Great to have you with us!  Your birds would enjoy the fans but an even bigger consideration would be shade.  If they have a lot of that, cool fresh water, and at least access to breeze, they will be fine.  I often times wet the ground down in deep shade and my hens will scratch down into cool dirt.  Good luck to you!!

 

 

[5goats]

Kansas, thanks for the tip. I just planted a fig tree in their area and thought a about installing misters too.

 

[5goats]

Thanks you all for your welcomes. I'll upload picks as I get this thing built.