Texas

[Kristie9901]

I'm about to build my first coop. I found an 8x8 coop design here on BYC by Mikeee.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/8x8-coop

I live in Texas (an hour north of Houston) and it gets super hot in the summer. My plans are to build it under a large tree in our back yard and I'll be adding some windows for air flow. The kind you cut out after you build it and attach a hinge to open the 'window' and prop it up with a 2x2. And I'll cover the window hole with heavy chicken / rabbit wire.

Is there a certain way the coop door should face? Towards the north/south/east/west? Windows on a certain side for breeze? Or anything else I need to know before I start building?

Thanks

 

[Nksg75]

I am no expert, so hopefully you get other suggestions, however I would put Windows on all 4 sides of the coop. This way you are covered which ever direction the wind blows. If your coop will have access to electricity, you could mount a small fan inside. Just be sure to cover the fan with hardware cloth, so no one can stick their beak in the fan blades.
I might also suggest that you cover those windows with misquoto screen. I am south of Houston, and the mosquitos are terrible, and can cause Fowl pox.

 

[jtn42248]

I'm about to build my first coop. I found an 8x8 coop design here on BYC by Mikeee.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/8x8-coop

I live in Texas (an hour north of Houston) and it gets super hot in the summer. My plans are to build it under a large tree in our back yard and I'll be adding some windows for air flow. The kind you cut out after you build it and attach a hinge to open the 'window' and prop it up with a 2x2. And I'll cover the window hole with heavy chicken / rabbit wire.

Is there a certain way the coop door should face? Towards the north/south/east/west? Windows on a certain side for breeze? Or anything else I need to know before I start building?

Thanks

There are so many variables when it comes to windows and doors that you really need to play it by ear. However, more important that those things is ventilation. Either by windows and doors or with some sort of ventilation along the top of the coop under an eve. You want not only air to circulate but to take with it the humidity that can build up in a coop. Take into consideration the primary direction your winds blow down there. Here in West Texas we have primary North/South winds and secondary East/West winds. So we oriented all our doors and windows South to avoid the cold North winds and allow for air flow during hot summer months. Then, we opened up sections under the eve's covered with quarter inch fence fabric. Make sure that all openings are secured against predators. We don't have the humidity problems you have down there though.

 

[ChicKat]

I'm about to build my first coop. I found an 8x8 coop design here on BYC by Mikeee.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/8x8-coop

I live in Texas (an hour north of Houston) and it gets super hot in the summer. My plans are to build it under a large tree in our back yard and I'll be adding some windows for air flow. The kind you cut out after you build it and attach a hinge to open the 'window' and prop it up with a 2x2. And I'll cover the window hole with heavy chicken / rabbit wire.

Is there a certain way the coop door should face? Towards the north/south/east/west? Windows on a certain side for breeze? Or anything else I need to know before I start building?

Thanks

Hi - welcome to BYC!

I live about 1 1/2 hours from Houston airport and about 50 minutes north of Beaumont, so our climate may be similar.

That coop plan is pretty cool -- but something that may be more important for consideration is the outdoors space that your chickens will occupy. -- Depending upon your local predator population, etc. their run, or pasture or free-range may be equal or greater in importance than their coop. IMO of course. My chickens use their coop to sleep at night and to lay eggs, the rest of the time they are outdoors. Just something for your consideration.

Be sure to keep us posted on your progress!

 

[asudavew]

Greetings Texans. I didn't realize there isTexas thread, but now that I have found it I thought I would say hi.

So hi!. I am in San Angelo,

We have rock barred, Rhode Island reds, common reds, Americanas, copper marans, and cream leg bars. I have some Cochin in the incubator and I just started,raising coturnix quail.


Obsessed just a bit...

Have a wonderful day!

Dave

 

[ChicKat]

Greetings Texans. I didn't realize there isTexas thread, but now that I have found it I thought I would say hi.

So hi!. I am in San Angelo,

We have rock barred, Rhode Island reds, common reds, Americanas, copper marans, and cream leg bars. I have some Cochin in the incubator and I just started,raising coturnix quail.


Obsessed just a bit...

Have a wonderful day!

Dave

Hey Dave!
welcome to BYC! and the TX thread.

 

[TexasLisa]

Quote:

I'm about to build my first coop. I found an 8x8 coop design here on BYC by Mikeee.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/8x8-coop

I live in Texas (an hour north of Houston) and it gets super hot in the summer. My plans are to build it under a large tree in our back yard and I'll be adding some windows for air flow. The kind you cut out after you build it and attach a hinge to open the 'window' and prop it up with a 2x2. And I'll cover the window hole with heavy chicken / rabbit wire.

Is there a certain way the coop door should face? Towards the north/south/east/west? Windows on a certain side for breeze? Or anything else I need to know before I start building?

Thanks

Welcome from Rosenberg!!

Good luck with your coop building Kristie. My coop faces the South and has large windows on the west and South. We also put a ventilator turbine in. It helps.

Greetings Texans. I didn't realize there isTexas thread, but now that I have found it I thought I would say hi.

So hi!. I am in San Angelo,

We have rock barred, Rhode Island reds, common reds, Americanas, copper marans, and cream leg bars. I have some Cochin in the incubator and I just started,raising coturnix quail.


Obsessed just a bit...

Have a wonderful day!

Dave

Welcome from Rosenberg!! Dave, I believe you have been bitten by chicken math. You have come to the right place.

 

[jtn42248]

Greetings Texans. I didn't realize there isTexas thread, but now that I have found it I thought I would say hi.

So hi!. I am in San Angelo,

We have rock barred, Rhode Island reds, common reds, Americanas, copper marans, and cream leg bars. I have some Cochin in the incubator and I just started,raising coturnix quail.


Obsessed just a bit...

Have a wonderful day!

Dave

welcome. Great to see another person from West Texas.

 

[asudavew]

Thanks JTN!

I know several people that live in the Coleman area. We have also enjoyed camping and fishing at Hordes Creek.

 

[asudavew]

  Welcome from Rosenberg!!  Dave, I believe you have been bitten by chicken math.  You have come to the right place.   

For sure. Thank you!