Basement Coop, outdoor run?

[3KillerBs]

has a few small vents, but thinking we could add some larger ones to the door and sides (the top of the basement is slightly above ground).

Assuming that this outside access area is completely sealed off from the human inhabited parts of the house the issue is going to be ventilation.

You have to think square FEET, not square inches. 10 square feet as a minimum for 10 birds, maybe more depending on climate. Given that basements are usually damp, I'd expect to have to at least double that because dry chickens are healthy chickens.

Here's my article about it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

 

[Codex0802]

SW Missou

Rule of thumb is 4sqf per bird in the coop not counting nest boxes. And 1sqf of ventilation per bird that is well above there heads while on roost.
10 birds would require a 40sqf coop (5x8). Maybe only get 6 chickens. That would reduce the coop size to 24sqf or 6x4.

Your not in a horrible cold climate, I'd look into hoop coops. Easy to build and not expensive compared to a normal walk in coop.

The basement is 10 feet by 15 feet - or 150 sqft. Plenty of space for 10 birds. But we are also looking at building a coop instead if needed - it's just several hundred dollars more than using the unused basement.

 

[Chickassan]

Anyone brought up the mice?
Anywhere you have a coop you're going to have a mouse party.
Keep that in mind, even if you keep everything cleaned..... mouse party.

 

[SourRoses]

Poop.
Poopoo goes everywhere.
Not just down.
It will go on the walls.
It will go on the ceiling (whoever knows how).
They fly, they poop wet poops, they don't care where it lands.
It will fuse with the concrete and brick, a really spotty paint job.
At the bare minimum you would need to seal / paint the concrete and brick, the walls, floor and ceiling. If you ever wanted the space to be redeemable, that is. Or the property saleable. At least then after a very thorough scraping and scrubbing you could maybe strip the (ruined) paint to have a fresh surface to work with.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Anyone brought up the mice?
Anywhere you have a coop you're going to have a mouse party.
Keep that in mind, even if you keep everything cleaned..... mouse party.

In my house, that is where we notice mice first before they even get into the main house. They may hang out in the basement rather than come into the house, but no….just no. I hate mice as it is and it’s not like I can put snap traps down there with chickens.

Granted I will have mice in the coop but out there, there are other things I can do…and the garter snakes we have will help(though I haven’t physically seen any yet. We have only been in our home since the begging of the year. But i know they are around, lived in the area almost my whole life. But i don’t want mice making a home in my home.

 

[Codex0802]

Anyone brought up the mice?
Anywhere you have a coop you're going to have a mouse party.
Keep that in mind, even if you keep everything cleaned..... mouse party.

Hmmm good point

 

[McChooky]

I have raised beds all around my driveway, coop & run so its possible to have both.I also have an aquaponic tower garden for fruiting vegetables and train the vines grow on trellises and lattice. My green house takes up the biggest portion of my lot. Farther out I grow grape vines,elderberry & shrubs.

 

[McChooky]

If you you wanted to put your chickens in the attic they'd be healthier but the basement is a damp & moist.It would be a breeding ground for parasites & disease, some that could be transmitted to humans.

 

[knobhillfarm]

What kind of floor is in this space? A concrete slab or just dirt? Deep litter is a good system, but don’t underestimate the potential smell if it stays moist under there. Also carefully check the potential for air from this space to get into other parts of the house. There could be openings going up into wall cavities or the attic that could allow air to permeate indoors through outlets/plumbing/etc. Finally, is there insulation in the area? You don’t want the chickens destroying that or ingesting it.

Don’t underestimate the cost of retrofitting this space with proper ventilation, access, nest boxes, and roosting areas. I would bet you could put together a hoop coop or simple plywood/hardware cloth coop for very little difference in money.

 

[3KillerBs]

Don’t underestimate the cost of retrofitting this space with proper ventilation, access, nest boxes, and roosting areas. I would bet you could put together a hoop coop or simple plywood/hardware cloth coop for very little difference in money.

Indeed.

The cost of adding adequate ventilation to your foundation wall could be staggering.