Advice on coop building in southern california

[cl_omega]

Heya! Just joined the forum, but have been lurking now for a while. I am building a coop soon hopefully, and have a few questions, mostly in regard to building a coop that's suited to a dry, hot climate. I'm from the Inland Empire and where I am it's not a full on desert, more like a Mediterranean climate.

http://www.simplesuburbanliving.com/2016/03/how-to-build-simple-suburban-chicken.html?m=1 So this is the coop I am thinking about building. Mostly cause I only want to keep 4 MAYBE 5 chickens and I like that he goes by it step by step (I don't have much experience with DIY stuff). Now this guy is from michigan, so he is building it to be able to handle snow and freezing weather and stuff.

1. Do you think I would be able to forgo the metal roof? And maybe just have a plywood roof? I'm trying to cut down on costs and don't think I would need the metal, but maybe i'm wrong haha.

2. In regards to pressure/heat treated wood.... do you think it would be ok to only use treated wood for the base of the coop only? And then use non-treated wood for the rest? I'm not too sure about what the best practice is for my climate. Like I said, it's usually quite dry and not humid here.

I may have some other questions that I can't remember right now, but that's good for now! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[CinnaBun]

There is another member building that coop-
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/follow-along-on-my-coop-build.1358512/


Inland Empire... might be in the Newcastle Quarantine area.
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/VND_RegionalQuarantine.html

 

[cl_omega]

There is another member building that coop-
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/follow-along-on-my-coop-build.1358512/


Inland Empire... might be in the Newcastle Quarantine area.
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/VND_RegionalQuarantine.html

Ahh thank you! I will check that thread out. And yes.... sadly I am in that area. Hopefully it ends soon!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks for mentioning your climate. Main issue I see with that coop as is for your climate is that it needs way more ventilation in the coop itself, or it'll be like an oven.

 

[aart]

Just barely big enough for 4 birds.
You're going to need more windows for ventilation.
I recommend glazed top hinged windows.

1. The plan calls for corrugated roofing over OSB(which is not water proof-at all).
You could use metal or plastic corrugated, but you need something up there that is water proof, plywood is not.

2. Yes.

Plan says to make roof with "as much over hang as you would like", I agree.
Front and back are good, but I'd make sides go out farther.

Forget the slide out tray, they don't work worth a darn. Just put a solid floor in.

 

[cl_omega]

Thank you very much for the advice!! I hope to get started very soon!