Suggestions on Warm Weather area Coop?

[Backyard Buddies]

Glad to see more OC folks on the list!

Another thing to keep in mind is the Santa Ana winds. With an open coop, you do take more risk that the winds will be problematic for you, unless your coop is situated on the side of the house that is blocking the winds.

Although I'm only a few miles from the ocean, and therefore not as warm as you get in Anaheim, I do have an enclosed coop and a covered run. Here's a picture of my coop that contains three chickens.

It was made from an old playhouse that my kids outgrew. There are two windows - one opening to the run and the other you can see in the front with the shutters. The windows are covered with hardware cloth and the shutters on the front does a nice job of keeping the rain out. Their food is mounted on the wall right below the window and has never gotten wet.

As you know, even though we don't get a lot of rain here, it sure can come down hard at times!

The block wall to the right blocks the Santa Ana winds.

I don't believe you'll need any insulation if you can close off the coop at night. With the shavings inside, they stay pretty toasty and they will snuggle up to one another.

When it gets warm, I do things very much like Xtradust. In addition, I fill empty gallon milk jugs with water and freeze them. A couple of those in the coop and/or run can help bring the temps down.

Xtradust is also correct about the critters. I've seen pretty much all of them in my area and although I've not seen a coyote, a neighbor lost a cat to one a few years ago.

 

[Xtradust]

Hey Backyard Buddies! I always liked that coop. Didn't know it was yours.

You're right, the Santa Anas almost blew a few of my chickens away last week. But, they still won't go into the coop during the day. Better wind than 'cooped up' I guess. They all pile under the same bush and hide out.

I live between Orange Park Acres and Villa Park on Santiago Creek and our low temp last night was 39! That's cold for us.

My Seramas thought it was going to snow, but the Cochins didn't even notice.

Plenty of hawks out right now too. Lots of screaming above my house. I think they're mating. Once they have chicks, look out!

Matt

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Thanks! We like the coop as well, especially since most of it was free.

You're right in the path of the wind where you live and I know it can be pretty heavy out that way at times. I'm surprised your chickens simply deal with it. My girls are wimps!

Yes, it was very cold last night, and was actually a bit of a surprise considering how warm it has seemed lately. Although not as cold as it was at your house, we managed to get into the mid-40s here near the coast.

I agree. Once the baby hawks come, there is definitely an increase in activity here. My yard is small enough that strategically placed lawn chairs help cut down on their excitement to invade, but prior to learning that little trick, I did have a juvenile hawk take a dive at one of my girls while I was standing only a couple feet away. Fortunately, it was a clumsy attempt. I bet you get quite a few hawks out your way! I live right between the Santa Ana River and the Newport Back Bay, so I get them from both directions. I may have to go back to using my PVC tractor if the activity gets too bad.

 

[DLS]

IT is really hot & humid here with loads of 90 & 100 deg. days . What about having a celing fan blowing down OR a box fan or two will that hurt any thing?

 

[greysandy]

I've always lived in areas where there were lots of predators (Elfin Forest, San Diego's version of Orange Park Acres), so I just assummed that things were much less so here in suburbia. But I have seen racoons in Irvine, hawks on my power lines, and rats in my house and garage (until I got my miniature pinscher hunter extraordinaire).

I was planning on putting my coop on the South side of the house. The dogs have the backyard (East facing). I could also move the chickens to the North side during the really hot 100+ weather. The winds will be mostly blocked by block wall fences, unless they are up off the ground flying a bit. I remember taking a tour of a lighthouse near Carmel that was on a big rock and the tour guide told us how they had to tether their chickens because they would blow off the hill if they weren't tied down.

My father in law built my coop extraordinaire over the weekend for me and it has lots of windows, that open or close as needed. I'll post pictures once I get it at my house.

Backyard Buddies - your coop is so cute! That's a great set up.

It did get cold last night. I had the heat lamp down in a low position and my day old chicks that I got at 10 am on Sunday were in 80 degrees for a while instead of 95. They all seem to be doing fine right now though.

I'm glad there's some folks around here that have chickens too!

 

[Xtradust]

Ya know, there were two weeks last spring that were below freezing every night. I just happened to be between flocks. But I lost a bunch of expensive plants.

Backyard Buddies, you're in a great spot. Not too hot and not too cold.

I have fruit trees that need a lot of cold time, so it's really kind of good that it does get colder here.

I know you're supposed to put the coop where it gets the most sun, but I've really started thinking I'd rather have the coop in the shade and have the chickens be able to find sun when they want to warm up. At my house, they only want the sun until about 10-11am. After that, it's warm and they are hanging out in the shade.

I work on my coop all the time, adding stuff. Greysandy, you'll figure out what works best.

Oh yeah, here's my coop.

Matt

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Cute, Xtradust! I like the drop down shutter thing. It looks like that provides some nice airflow into the coop.

I think that when you live where it can get warm, the "rules" don't necessarily apply. I agree with both of you that some blockage from the sun and wind is necessary here. Like Xtradust, my girls like the sun most in the morning and, thankfully, our coop happens to be oriented so that it receives morning sun only. By late morning, the sun has shifted so that the coop is in the shade of the block wall. I did put some plywood up on the top of the run to help with that, though.

That's a funny story, Greysandy, about tethering the chickens! I think that your block wall will probably help keep that from happening. Do you plan on covering the run area or will that be open?

Did you get your chicks locally, greysandy? If so, where?

Have either of you located Food grade DE locally?

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Matt,
Great looking coop!

The more I read, the more I'm thinking that in southern California (or any other hot area), that the main idea is protect the chickens from heat. An open, predator proof area is best. A coop itself can be pretty minimal... an area to park an egg

so that it's easily found, and a good roost to satisfy the instinct to be 'up' while asleep. Plenty of water, with shade and a good dust bath available are important.
And be careful of retained heat from block walls, driveways and houses. These will radiate heat, and raise the temperature quite a bit. Green beans, and other fast growing annual vines on the structure will help keep things cool, plus attract a few bugs for hens. During winter, deciduous trees that lose their leaves to allow the sun to shine into the chickens' area would be beneficial.
Some of these coops are beautiful, and very cleverly put together. With a protected, enclosed run, they probably aren't really necessary.
But they really do look nice in the backyard!

Carla