Camper or Shed for our next coop?

[Onyxflock]

One other note - if you scroll down on this page you'll see prior posts related to camper conversions. May help you decide when you see what others have experienced.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I have a camper and a permanent coop. Most of the flock prefers the camper, my guess is because it is more open inside. The weather in your area will really determine which would work best for you. My camper stays in one location for most of the year, so the mobility really isn’t a benefit for most months. During the summer I like to move it close to my larger garden. The permanent coop is near my small garden by the house, so I can have grasshopper control in both areas.

 

[Folly's place]

You could always buy the camper, if it's a really good deal, and also build that shed coop.
Why not? it's only money...
Mary

 

[perkolator]

I'd lean toward the camper - depending on what it looks like.

When I was planning my coop, I REALLY wanted to repurpose a cool looking vintage camper or vintage panel truck type of vehicle. Unfortunately I couldn't find any for a good price, so I just built what I have now. Wife's coworker had this sweet old bread truck (from like the 1950s) that I saw on their property the one time I've been there - would have been so freaking sweet as a chicken coop.....but last month they were at my place and were asking about my chicken coop and orchard because they're thinking of getting chickens and planting an orchard - so I suggested the old panel truck.....they scrapped it a few months ago

 

[riss]

Hey there! I'm from southwest mi too, in my opinion I would go with the shed and have some windows in it just for ventilation so it's not super hot during the day inside. Since it doesn't get too cold at night during the summer it shouldn't be too bad.

For winter I'd put some insulation in the wall just to keep heat in there better or maybe even have a heat lamp for extreme conditions like if it gets super cold but your birds should be able to handle the cold.

Just make sure they don't get too hot and have some air flow cause you don't want any free unexpected chicken dinners

 

[aart]

For winter I'd put some insulation in the wall just to keep heat in there better or maybe even have a heat lamp for extreme conditions like if it gets super cold but your birds should be able to handle the cold.

Just make sure they don't get too hot and have some air flow

Insulation and heat(neither are needed in SW MI) are both moot with adequate ventilation.

 

[Folly's place]

x2!
Roof insulation is useful, especially for managing summer heat. It helps a bit with winter cold, and helps keep the snow on the roof, as more insulation.
Two things about insulation; it's not like a house, it is necessary to have lots of ventilation, especially overhead, and it's difficult to keep rodents from invading those wall cavities, because they will chew through wood to get there.
Also, chickens will eat any unprotected insulation!
Here we heat the waterers so the flock has unfrozen water.
Mary

 

[DoeAndGander]

Hello! I’m curious which way you decided to go. I basically scored this gal for free and will be converting it into my broiler coop soon. Huge bonus points for me was move ability & plenty of windows. Plus I will add more windows if needed

 

[Folly's place]

About Cornishx birds: even a step one foot high will be too much for them. We had damaged legs when we had a jump like that one year with those sad Cornishx chicks. Make a ramp or something so they can't jump up or down at all.
Love your new camper though!
Mary

 

[DoeAndGander]

About Cornishx birds: even a step one foot high will be too much for them. We had damaged legs when we had a jump like that one year with those sad Cornishx chicks. Make a ramp or something so they can't jump up or down at all.
Love your new camper though!
Mary

Thanks Mary! I was thinking a super short roost maybe 6” high. Should I just omit roost all together? Will I need a railing of sorts so they can’t jump off my ramp going into camper? I plan to do a chicken tractor with a pen connected to it