Before I rebuild, what would yall do differently?

[z3lda3]

Hi! So I’ve got what I THOUGHT was an old shed on my property. Trees and brush had taken over, and once my husband cleared the area, turns out it’s an old chicken coop. It’s huge, at least for us. I’d guess, 9’ tall, 20’ long and 15’ deep. Or bigger. The inside in divided in two by a barn door and screen door and huge ‘window’ with shutters. There’s hinged boards on the bottom backside, I’m guessing for easy cleaning?
Here’s the thing.. it’s NEEDS work. The roof is fine doesn’t leak and sturdy. Some of the floor boards needs replaced, and well just basic board replacement here and there. I was going to tear it down but coops and wood are so expensive. What’s the harm in having an additional coop? (Hello chicken expansion).
The plan is to redo the walls and blah blah blah. Before I get started, do y’all have any advice? Like oh put in installation or before the walls do this or that? Is there anything y’all would do differently in y’all’s coops, that I should consider? There’s also 6 4x4 glass windows with screens. Should I board over those to make it predator proof? Or do raccoons typically not bust through glass windows? I have 10 chickens, the coop they have now is fine so no rush. The ppl who lived here before apparently had chickens and rabbits, and at least 2 huge coops, made out of wood. (Like actual wood not pressed sawdust). Any suggestions?

 

[tripletfeb]

For starters, I would put hardware cloth over those windows to make them predator proof. That way you can still have them open for ventilation and the chickens would be safe. And please do not do insulation. Chickens don't need it

 

[z3lda3]

For starters, I would put hardware cloth over those windows to make them predator proof. That way you can still have them open for ventilation and the chickens would be safe. And please do not do insulation. Chickens don't need it

Right?! That’s what I said no insulation! But hubby saw a YouTube video… I said I THINK the thing is ventilation no drafts.

 

[tripletfeb]

Right?! That’s what I said no insulation! But hubby saw a YouTube video… I said I THINK the thing is ventilation no drafts.

You tube is not always correct. I live in northern Ohio and would never put insulation in my coop. Draft free ventilation is all that's needed

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I know how outnumbered I am, but I really can't believe how many people assert that insulation is bad. I can tell you it's the number one thing that will keep my coop cool all summer. Granted I'm not in a hot climate but we have been getting serious temps more and more each summer. Last year we had a few days of *107. Yet when I open my coop door a rush of cold air hits me due to the insulation. I've used 2inch rigid foam core in walls and floor and I have ventilation via windows and peaks. Obviously, it helps in cold temps too. I just have to put this out there because I don't usually see people explaining a negative experience with insulation.... At any rate, how did the expansion go? Do you have pics? I am a perpetual expander, lol.

 

[z3lda3]

I know how outnumbered I am, but I really can't believe how many people assert that insulation is bad. I can tell you it's the number one thing that will keep my coop cool all summer. Granted I'm not in a hot climate but we have been getting serious temps more and more each summer. Last year we had a few days of *107. Yet when I open my coop door a rush of cold air hits me due to the insulation. I've used 2inch rigid foam core in walls and floor and I have ventilation via windows and peaks. Obviously, it helps in cold temps too. I just have to put this out there because I don't usually see people explaining a negative experience with insulation.... At any rate, how did the expansion go? Do you have pics? I am a perpetual expander, lol.

The insulation debate is real. We put walls up on the inside and not on the outside yet because we’re still confused about if we should put insulation in or not. My question is especially for ppl who say no it’s not needed, why isn’t it important? Or what’s the harm? I suppose it’s just another expense. I’m in the south with HOT temps, not even summer yet, and the average has been 90 degrees so far. In the coop it’s 75-80 of course I’ve got a fan and plenty of ventilation. The winters aren’t horrible averages 20-30 but can drop to 5 or below, so wouldn’t insulation help with that? I’d much rather NOT put in a heater thing, deathly scared of a fire. As soon as the coop is done I’ll be posting before and after pics, my husband has absolutely been busting his butt on this thing. We are NOT carpenters not even a tiny bit so it’s been trial and error. Not to mention the lovely poison ivy we both got into. So we’re in the blistering humid heat itching like crazy ppl, and I’ll look at my girls and say “I better see me some egg laying going on!” (They’re only 15 weeks). Do they care? No they’re too busy arguing about the dirt hole to bathe in, even though there’s like 200 to choose from!

 

[Snakebiteholloway]

Insulation chickens eat doesn't process. I found some in my neighbors eggs.

For starters, I would put hardware cloth over those windows to make them predator proof. That way you can still have them open for ventilation and the chickens would be safe. And please do not do insulation. Chickens don't need it

 

[Snakebiteholloway]

Insulation chickens eat doesn't process. I found some in my neighbors eggs.

If there's no bears or cougars, hw cloth over the Windows was my only other thought, too. Ventilation is fabulous!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

The insulation debate is real. We put walls up on the inside and not on the outside yet because we’re still confused about if we should put insulation in or not. My question is especially for ppl who say no it’s not needed, why isn’t it important? Or what’s the harm? I suppose it’s just another expense.

This is my question precisely. Are people just saying "it's not needed, they are fine." OR are people saying there is something BAD/WRONG about it? I do think it must not be the later because my experience is that while they may not NEED it, it's VERY helpful to me. They don't eat it in my coop anymore than they would if they lived in my house because it's in between exterior siding and interior OSB. It's also under my wood floor. It's not available for them to eat and I'm 100% glad that I did it. So my point is that it is indeed an OPTION. They can be just fine with or without. My first coop did not have insulation but I've expanded so much that it's just an upgrade I was able to do because we had a bunch leftover from a different build.

 

[z3lda3]

This is my question precisely. Are people just saying "it's not needed, they are fine." OR are people saying there is something BAD/WRONG about it? I do think it must not be the later because my experience is that while they may not NEED it, it's VERY helpful to me. They don't eat it in my coop anymore than they would if they lived in my house because it's in between exterior siding and interior OSB. It's also under my wood floor. It's not available for them to eat and I'm 100% glad that I did it. So my point is that it is indeed an OPTION. They can be just fine with or without. My first coop did not have insulation but I've expanded so much that it's just an upgrade I was able to do because we had a bunch leftover from a different build.

Well if it’s a no because they’ll eat it, my chickens won’t be able to get to it either. It’ll be between the interior and exterior walls too. This coop was built like a dang house! Whoever had this property and coop before me wasn’t playing! Maybe I will add insulation, I’d hate to regret that I didn’t. Yes it’ll be an added expense but mentally it’ll be worth it. I’m a worrier, and I know I’ll worry about them getting too cold this winter.