Build a coop with materials we have or use materials on existing shed?

[kuntrychick]

Me and hubby are in for a lot of work tomorrow (or later today since it's so late)..

Anyway, I need some advice...

We need to build a chicken coop for 4 (and possibly a few more soon).

We have some wood hubby got for free and we have two choices:

We have an existing metal shed ...I think it's like 12 x8 or something (one of those that you can buy...but it's old with an old deck as a floor) that we could convert into a coop and use the wood hubby got to build nest boxes and make roosts and such, ventilation, and an access door for us to get in...and attach the run...

OR

He has 3 trusses (along with the wood he got) that he could build a coop out of.


Of course, neither of these will be as fancy as some of yours I've seen on here...lol, but which should we do?

Some things to consider....

We live in North Central Alabama...it's in the 90's here right now with heat index some days of 100+ (so would the metal shed be too hot?) I know today it was very hot when we were in the shed contemplating what to do...so of course ventilation if we go that route.

In the winter here, it does get down to below freezing some nights and sometimes like 8 degrees F or so, but mostly in the 20's and 30's. (too cold for me, but I'm cold natured)

We are looking to buy or rent a home and hopefully will be moving in the near future (in the same area). The existing shed we can just leave for the next tenants. If we build a coop, we'll probably take it with us.

So, which would you do...build a new coop with the wood or convert the metal shed to a coop?

 

[Mahonri]

Metal is just too hot unless you've got tons of insulation and it's sitting in shade at all hours.

 

[patandchickens]

Metal in a hot humid climate is just asking for ongoing management headaches and chicken health problems. You could do it, and it might sorta work ok if you had enough shade and added a lotta ventilation, but you'd get something much better for the chickens and easier for you to manage if you purpose-build something using the trusses you have.

However, if you are thinking of moving soon, what about another option -- build a chicken tractor type thing, i.e. *designed* to be moveable. This is pretty easy for just 4 chickens. Would be cheaper and simpler than making a Real Coop for them. And you could take it with you when you move; or if you don't want to, and want to build a Real Coop in the new place, you won't have sunk a lot of money into the tractor. Just a thought to consider anyhow.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat