Open Air Poultry Houses Coop free book, online

[GiddyMoon]

I found this deeper, a few are talking about it & I figured this would make it easier for some newer people to find info.

http://books.google.com/books?id=o0...&resnum=2&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[peeplessinNC]

I've already decided on the 8'x14' Tolman Fresh-Air Poultry house when I am ever able to have chickens. It is the style house at the very end of the book. I like the look of it and that it could house up to 28 chickens (plus an outdoor run area), even though I don't think I will ever have 28 chickens, more like 12-16, but we all know about chicken math - LOL! Any open-air house would be good in North Carolina with our (usually) mild winters and humid/hot summers.

When reading about these Fresh-Air houses, you must keep in mind that these were built as far north as Canada and all over the US. So if you are bumfoozled by the ventilation issue in coops, these houses are a simple alternative. I hope to see more of these Fresh-Air houses for chickens from our members here at BYC.

 

[GiddyMoon]

It just makes so much sense. I was going crazy trying to come up with design that would really work here in AZ..the heat can be insane..but we can get to the teens in winter, rare, but we can..and the monsoons come thru..we were already leaning towards a garden coop but I think I will continue reading this and go from here..

 

[patandchickens]

In a real hot climate you don't need to get all design-y like the old time coops, you just need as big a roofed area of shade as you can provide, period, full stop. Some small area around roost sheltered from wind; the capacity to close more off if you have cool winters; but, really, the acceptable parameters are VERY broad. (As opposed to in the North where it matters a whole lot more how the bldg is designed, but where total size of roofed area is not as big an issue)

Pat

 

[GiddyMoon]

My concern was predators..the more wire, the more than chance. I live in a populated "rural" area..meaning, I am on the corner of the second offshoot main road on one side and dirt road in front, everyone has an acre or more and there are a lot of people with farm animals..a lot of dogs and they do keep the coyote and such at bay..but that means the dogs can be a problem. I see dogs running loose all the time and this property is open...so a lot of wire on a night time coop worried me. We will be using half and 1 inch hardware cloth and we will sink it...I am really enjoying this book..about a 3rd thru already

 

[Chester1977]

I rehabbed the vintage chicken coop at my farm in Virginia and have my first flock, 6 pullets and 4 guineas about 2 months old. It is 13' by 22' and the entire south side is open mesh chicken wire. I don't know if this is what is meant by "open air" but it seems like it will work for me so far.

 

[GiddyMoon]

Pat, I have a question...what about using a wire bottom for the coop? I want the coop raised so they can also use the area under it for shade , would a wire or slatted floor be better?

 

[GiddyMoon]

Quote:
Chester, this is exactly it!

 

[GiddyMoon]

ANd Chester, I would love to see it!

 

[Chester1977]

I will snap some pics when i get home this evening and load them into this thread tonight or tomorrow. I am a super rookie with yardbirds (we had 4 commercial broiler houses when i was a kid, HATED IT) but we are really enjoying having them for now!