Any experience with plastic sheds?

[astatula]

I am about to purchase a 6x8 plastic shed to convert into a coop. Are there obvious issues I should pay more attention to like humidity or ventilation? I would also like to know if people have had success converting these plastic sheds into a coop.

I am looking for answers to how to put in windows and ventilation, as well as floor considerations, this shed has one of those puzzle-locking rubber floors.

Here is the listing on craigslist if you want a picture of it. http://lakeland.craigslist.org/for/1111542056.html

 

[ChickieKeeta]

I have an 8 by 12 1/2 resin shed as a coop. There are two vents just under the roof front & back. It also has a window that opens. My son screwed hardware cloth over the window. The floor is installed & I have had no problem with the deep litter method. I did use a heat lamp in the winter.

The chickens roost on an upside down large sturdy ferret cage. The doors have been removed from the cage. I have pet carriers on the 2 lower levels as nesting boxes. I have a tray from a dog crate over the nesting boxes, under the roost. I clean the poo every 1 or 2 days into the compost pile.

My chickens have done well for a year in there so far. This is the only photo I have uploaded. I can post more after I get home.

 

[patandchickens]

You'll have to cut some openings for windows and/or ventilation openings, and a pophole, but plenty of people use that sort of shed for coops. Mark where you want the opening to be, drill holes in the corners, then use a power jigsaw (with a relatively fine-toothed blade, and a steady firm hand) to cut the opening from hole to hole to hole to hole. To affix things into the plastic (e.g. trimming out openings, and pophole door and ventilation-closing flaps) you are likely to want to put a piece of wood on the other side to screw or bolt through into.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[astatula]

Thanks for the wood suggestion, I was wondering what to do to attach the chicken door and the windows and to keep them secure. That will work.

 

[Guitartists]

I take the glass out of the windows once it warms up in the summer and put hardware cloth in. I have openings on both sides for them to come and go to their runs and also when they free range I leave the door open.

In the winter it seems to stay pretty well insulated, though I did have to fill all of the cracks where it assembles at the corners with that foam spray.

 

[astatula]

KG13, can you post a picture of the inside of your shed/coop. I want to see if I can get some ideas about the nesting boxes and roost from your design. Thanks, Ron

 

[EweSheep]