“Extreme Coop Makeover” (join my journey)

[FeatherProfessor]

Maybe not very extreme but I’m going to be renovating a previously used coop. It has good “bones” but needs a bit of work. It’s currently divided into two sections with a door between. Step 1 has just been trying to sweep/shovel/rake all the old gunk out. Here’s where I started.

The two sections each have their own door. There’s a fenced yard for the big one and a tiny side “yard” for the front.

 

[FeatherProfessor]

It’s about to rain so taking a break but got a bunch cleaned out. Still a long ways to go though!

Edited to Add: I’d love suggestions of what you would do to fix up this coop! Feel free to share your thoughts.

 

[DobieLover]

Every big project had to start somewhere!
What are your plans to put ventilation in that? It's desperate for some!
Are you going to tear off the rotted T1-11 and put up plywood and vinyl siding or new T1-11 and paint it?

 

[Bechavez]

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

 

[aart]

This might probably not be enough for FL, but......

 

[3KillerBs]

What a great thing to have a divided coop so that you've got the ability to separate ages, breeding groups, etc.

I agree, ventilation is going to be critical.

In Florida you might want to pull off large areas of the siding to replace them with hardware cloth and covert it into an open air coop.

 

[FeatherProfessor]

Every big project had to start somewhere!
What are your plans to put ventilation in that? It's desperate for some!
Are you going to tear off the rotted T1-11 and put up plywood and vinyl siding or new T1-11 and paint it

Thank you! I’d like to vents under the eaves all along both sides, open up and increase the size of the vents above each door and put in a circulating fan style vent.

Definitely ripping off the rotted sides and putting up new boards. Likely plywood and siding but we will see. I’m in Florida so it rains a TON and I’m considering incorporating chloroplast as well as an insulation layer to protect the plywood.

 

[FeatherProfessor]

This might probably not be enough for FL, but......

View attachment 3487700

Thank you for the diagram! It has poorly done gable vents to start that I’m aiming to replace with larger circulating fan style vents. The eaves are in the works. I like the ridge vent idea too!

 

[FeatherProfessor]

What a great thing to have a divided coop so that you've got the ability to separate ages, breeding groups, etc.

I agree, ventilation is going to be critical.

In Florida you might want to pull off large areas of the siding to replace them with hardware cloth and covert it into an open air coop.

Right? A divided coop is exciting because I want to do multiple projects. I hadn’t thought about an open air coop… the wind is pretty bad some days (like today) and it can rain sideways. But maybe partially open or with open sections like “windows” of hardware cloth. Hmmmmm

 

[3KillerBs]

Definitely ripping off the rotted sides and putting up new boards. Likely plywood and siding but we will see. I’m in Florida so it rains a TON and I’m considering incorporating chloroplast as well as an insulation layer to protect the plywood.

Consider Hardie Board -- it costs more, but is impervious to rot.

Or metal. With adequate ventilation, metal isn't actually any hotter than any other siding.

Repecka Illustrates Coop Ventilation

Right? A divided coop is exciting because I want to do multiple projects. I hadn’t thought about an open air coop… the wind is pretty bad some days (like today) and it can rain sideways. But maybe partially open or with open sections like “windows” of hardware cloth. Hmmmmm

Does this have a wooden floor?

If yes, then you will need to keep it perfectly dry (top-hinged covers for the vents are good), but if it's a dirt floor then a little rain getting in isn't a problem as long as the ventilation is sufficient to let it dry right back out.

In fact, a little moisture is the key to an active-composting deep litter system.