Can I use a small barn as a coop?

[Blueox4]

I have a small barn, maybe 25’x20 that used to House 2 horses. I’m in the planning stage of getting chickens and am wondering if the barn would be too big for 5-7 chickens? I was thinking of building a enclosed run off the barn for them. I’m in upstate NY and it does get cold in the winter. Could I use the barn as a coop or do they need a smaller coop? I’ll be cleaning out all the junk in the barn over the winter.

 

[naf_appaz]

Chickens would love it!!! Way more coop space than you need for that small a flock but it would work fine as long as you make sure its predator proof

 

[N F C]

I would love to have that for a coop! Tall enough to stand up in (for the humans) and room to store supplies. You could probably section off some of it to use for broodies or for an injured/sick bird.

With some modifications, you can make a terrific coop from that small barn!
(I gotta quit looking at this forum, all it does is feed my coop envy.)

 

[Smuvers Farm]

I have a small barn, maybe 25’x20 that used to House 2 horses. I’m in the planning stage of getting chickens and am wondering if the barn would be too big for 5-7 chickens? I was thinking of building a enclosed run off the barn for them. I’m in upstate NY and it does get cold in the winter. Could I use the barn as a coop or do they need a smaller coop? I’ll be cleaning out all the junk in the barn over the winter. View attachment 1180461View attachment 1180463

Absolutely!!! If you feel there's too much room, you can always get a few moar chickens!!! Chicken math is awesome!!

 

[N F C]

Absolutely!!! If you feel there's too much room, you can always get a few moar chickens!!! Chicken math is awesome!!

That was my first thought too...right now it might be a coop for 5-7 chickens (but we all know it will eventually end up housing 15-20)

 

[Ridgerunner]

That would be a dream to make a coop. You don’t have to worry about keeping them warm or giving them a small space their body heat will warm up any more than you have to worry about the wild birds that overwinter needing a cozy home. For many reasons bigger is better.

In Upstate New York with the winters you will have I’d probably section off a corner about 8’ x 8’, somewhere in that region depending on that stud spacing. I can’t tell how tall that barn is but it looks plenty high. Since 2x4’s and other building materials come in 8’ or 4’ dimensions, make it easy and make it 8’ tall also. That way it’s tall enough you can work in there without problems. Since it will be protected by the barn I’d make the top of that 8’ cube wire for great ventilation.

That still leaves you a lot of storage space in that barn. With your winters they will probably spend a lot of time in the coop because of snow. A coop that big gives them plenty of room so they don’t go stir-crazy and start beating each other up.

That just looks absolutely fabulous.

 

[Parront]

That would be a dream to make a coop. You don’t have to worry about keeping them warm or giving them a small space their body heat will warm up any more than you have to worry about the wild birds that overwinter needing a cozy home. For many reasons bigger is better.

In Upstate New York with the winters you will have I’d probably section off a corner about 8’ x 8’, somewhere in that region depending on that stud spacing. I can’t tell how tall that barn is but it looks plenty high. Since 2x4’s and other building materials come in 8’ or 4’ dimensions, make it easy and make it 8’ tall also. That way it’s tall enough you can work in there without problems. Since it will be protected by the barn I’d make the top of that 8’ cube wire for great ventilation.

That still leaves you a lot of storage space in that barn. With your winters they will probably spend a lot of time in the coop because of snow. A coop that big gives them plenty of room so they don’t go stir-crazy and start beating each other up.

That just looks absolutely fabulous.

X2 on just section off an 8' area, with a 1/2 roof over the roost, rest wire. Small cracks could let in a hungry varmit, smaller night time area will stay warmer.

 

[Parront]

A chicken dream come true! Space for feed and bedding in the loft?

 

[Roosters Rest2]

we bought ours last Dec I will have 3 stages new born than a separate run next to adult run so they can used to each other before adding to flock and I want MORE LOL

 

[Parront]

we bought ours last Dec I will have 3 stages new born than a separate run next to adult run so they can used to each other before adding to flock and I want MORE LOL

For each flock, you need at least 3 runs! Each different breed = 1 flock, so lots of runs needed as the chicken math progresses from addition to multiplication . . .