Add coop and run to my existing shed

[KrisIL]

I need some help since I'm new to this. About two years ago I build a barn shed style with porch (see the picture for reference. Not my shed but exactly the same)
The shed is 12x16. Inside I have added a loft to store stuff. I would like to use some space from this shed for coop. I'm thinking to use the whole 12 ft width of back of the shed. Also I will start with 4 chickens. Can someone tell me what I need to have in the coop? How to construct it? I would really appreciate it. Just a note my shed is about a 12-20" off the ground since my yard has a slope in it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How many chickens do you plan to end up with? That's how you should size it. In your climate I'd go big rather than small but no need to get carried away. Still, I like my 8' x 12' coop.

What do you need inside? Nests, usually one for every four hens is a good number. Roosts, hard to say exactly how much as it can vary by flock but plan on 12" per bird. That's plenty safe. You normally want a pop door (a small chicken-sized door maybe 12" x 12") that leads to an outside run. If you use a human door for that it can let in a lot of weather.

You will need food and water for them somewhere. Some people provide that outside, some inside, some both. In your climate in winter you might want to do that inside.

That's about it for "need". There are a lot of other things you could put in there that might be really handy to have but a lot of that depends on flock make-up, your goals, and other things. The more you can tell us about your plans and goals the more we can help with that.

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

 

[KrisIL]

How many chickens do you plan to end up with? That's how you should size it. In your climate I'd go big rather than small but no need to get carried away. Still, I like my 8' x 12' coop.

What do you need inside? Nests, usually one for every four hens is a good number. Roosts, hard to say exactly how much as it can vary by flock but plan on 12" per bird. That's plenty safe. You normally want a pop door (a small chicken-sized door maybe 12" x 12") that leads to an outside run. If you use a human door for that it can let in a lot of weather.

You will need food and water for them somewhere. Some people provide that outside, some inside, some both. In your climate in winter you might want to do that inside.

That's about it for "need". There are a lot of other things you could put in there that might be really handy to have but a lot of that depends on flock make-up, your goals, and other things. The more you can tell us about your plans and goals the more we can help with that.

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

For beginning I'm planning to get four chickens (hens). I will setup an outside run for them. Will also make poop door so they can run outside. Outside run will be tall enough so I can walk in there.
One question. Since my barn shed is just that plywood siding panels. Should I insulate the inside walls and put panels on the inside also? Another thing is , is it safe to let the chickens walk under the shed? They can use it as dust baths since there is only bare soil under it.

 

[townchicks]

Another thing is , is it safe to let the chickens walk under the shed? They can use it as dust baths since there is only bare soil under it.

Unless you can also easily access the area underneath, I don't recommend letting them go under it. They can lay eggs under there, that you can't reach, or sick chickens can hide under it and you can't get to them to help them, or remove their dead bodies. If you can reach under there, then it can be made safe by putting hardware cloth around the open area, and a hardware cloth or welded wire skirt about 12 to 24 inch all around the shed to prevent digging. Be sure to put an access door in the hardware cloth, though.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Since my barn shed is just that plywood siding panels. Should I insulate the inside walls and put panels on the inside also?

Personally I would not. The wall's job is to keep predators out, keep snow and rain out, and keep wind out. You do not need insulation to do any of that. Some people would insulate, that will slow down how fast it cools off or warms up with a weather change but it also gives mice a safe hiding place to raise families.

Another thing is , is it safe to let the chickens walk under the shed? They can use it as dust baths since there is only bare soil under it.

I agree with Townchicks. if you cannot retrieve eggs or chickens from there I would not allow access for the chickens. The downside of that is that critters might want to live under there if they can get there. It's a trade-off.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Another thing is , is it safe to let the chickens walk under the shed? They can use it as dust baths since there is only bare soil under it.

I agree with Townchicks. if you cannot retrieve eggs or chickens from there I would not allow access for the chickens. The downside of that is that critters might want to live under there if they can get there. It's a trade-off.

I agree with both of the above. If your set up is like the photo, then the clearance under the shed is too tight for retrieval of injured/sick birds or eggs, and will tend to attract pests instead.

In that case I recommend putting a wire apron around the base, to keep both chickens and pests out. Not the greatest photo, but at the bottom of my coop you can see that I've used screws and fender washers to attach 1/2" HWC around the base, which has about a 6" clearance from the ground.

 

[aart]

My coop was built inside an existing shed.
Might give you some ideas.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-coop-page

Oh, realize the rest of the shed, and anything in it, will become covered with 'chicken dust'.