Anyone ever use Green Roof Chicken coop design??

[Hamptons06]

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Yes, there will be an outside run. I want about 1/3 of the shed or so for the hens. I think I may build something just very simple but I'm by NO means architecturally gifted. I need it all laid out for me.

Any ideas where I can get free simple plans? How about building something from pallets?

 

[patandchickens]

You can use pallets if you really want; your best bet would be to find 2 large ones that are alike and the right size, use them as 2 walls (use a corner of the shed as the other 2 walls), put chickenwire inside the pallets to keep chickens frompoking their heads through, then put a piece of plywood or a frame filled with chickenwire atop as the roof. Really all you would have to do is attach the pallets together, and you could use metal angle-brackets or other hardware to help you do that.

However you would come up with a nicer looking product, and probably have less aggravation (pallets can be troublesome to work with, as they are brittle and splitty and most are not designed for sittting up on end) if you just got some 2x4s and plywood or chickenwire, and knock together a box-shaped structure. Again, you can use hardware to help you with the corners.

If you really really want plans, go to the library and find a book with plans for making a doghouse, and modify that; or if you want something bigger, a small kid's playhouse or a storage box. Frankly though it is probably just as simple and more educational to Just Do It, and figure it out as you go along

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Ooooh, that shed !!!

Forget the chickens, I'd love to have that for mySELF to make a groovy lil' workshop/studio/hideaway!

All right, it's for your chickens. What's it look like inside? Wood floor, exposed studs? You may not need to make them a special little coop inside, just enclose a section for them to live in, with roosts, nest boxes, and feeders. You could do that with 2X4s & chicken wire. And add a door big enough for a human to go through for maintenance. Leave a section of the shed available for storing feed & other needs, that could be by the door. Then make a small chicken door on their side that opens to the outside, where I guess you'll attatch their run.

Be sure to secure the windows with sturdy screens made of hardware cloth. Also check for any other openings, under the eves or around the walls, and make sure they're also secured with hardware cloth.

Then set some rocking chairs on that little porch so you can sit back in comfort & watch your chickens going about their birdy business.

 

[Hamptons06]

Quote:

That's exactly my plan!! The inside is gray concrete floor, the walls are painted and stuff though. Which is why I want to build something to put inside b/c I don't want to ruin anything. The back wall has a full row of cabinets that will be wonderful for food storage and such. I need to take pics of the inside. BTW.... it is wired for cable and electricity too.

When shall I expect you?

 

[poultrygeist]

Tell me exactly what you're looking for and get some photos and I could design something for you!

 

[gsim]

I can see how it would keep complaints from city neighbors to a minimum. Other than for that, I would not want it. I would never want to deny my flock the sunlight they need and that thing would certainly do so. (Unless they get to free range)

 

[Hamptons06]

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What about something like this minus the shingled roof. I can do a plain roof, since it will be inside it won't matter. I need something easy since we don't have much of the tools needed and will have the pieces pre-cut. https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2803 I don't need the attached run... although I do plan to make a run not attached.

 

[Hamptons06]

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The "shed" gets PLENTY of natural light and I wouldn't keep them in there all day long. The left side of the shed has double doors that go from one end to the other and open all the way (the riding mower used to go in and out through there)... which is where I plan to put the run.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

How many chickens will you be keeping & what kinds? Am I correctly understanding your plans, that you're not converting this deluxe shed into a coop, but want to build something to keep your chickens housed inside it? And they're going to be spending most of their time outdoors in a run, but this will be where they sleep at night? If so, I still don't think you need to build any sort of solid-walled house for them, but something like a rabbit hutch would do. You could make a simple frame from 2X2s or 2X4s and staple chicken wire or hardware cloth around it. If the shed is secure the chickens should be safe from predators and need little extra protection.

You will have to figure out what to do for their floor, if you want a raised wire one or if this will be on the concrete floor with some bedding. Chickens poop a lot overnight, and shed fleathers, fluff & dander, which will drift over anything else you store in that shed.

Also, where do you plan for your chickens to go in inclement weather, and to lay their eggs? Do you plan for them to have free access to their coop from their run?

And will they be enjoying a full-featured cable plan or have to make do with basic?

 

[sillybirds]

If I were you, I'd keep that nice shed nice, to use as a workshop, or whatever, and just build a simple coop and run adjacent to the left side (as it's shown in the photo) of your shed. It looks rather level and shouldn't be too difficult.

Good luck!