Can I use a small barn as a coop?

[Scott E.]

We repurposed an old minibarn. I had to build new doors because the old ones rotted off.

 

[aart]

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!
Can have separate a section for main flock,
a section for growout/additions/broody/hospital/isolation,
and another section for storage of supplies and feed.
Worked great for me..http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-coop-page

Loft floor might inhibit ventilation addition, which is very important year round.
Is floor and foundation concrete?

Spending the winter planning and learning here will be great.
Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!

 

[N F C]

View attachment 1181041View attachment 1181043

We repurposed an old minibarn. I had to build new doors because the old ones rotted off.

That is beautiful!

 

[Blueox4]

Absolutely!
Can have separate a section for main flock,
a section for growout/additions/broody/hospital/isolation,
and another section for storage of supplies and feed.
Worked great for me..http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-coop-page

Loft floor might inhibit ventilation addition, which is very important year round.
Is floor and foundation concrete?

Spending the winter planning and learning here will be great.
Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!

Thank you! I plan on doing something like that-a separation plan similar to what you and others have suggested.
The floor is dirt in the barn. Two Horses used to be kept in the barn previously. The loft above the barn has a wood floor but the barn floor is dirt.

 

[Parront]

Thank you! I plan on doing something like that-a separation plan similar to what you and others have suggested.
The floor is dirt in the barn. Two Horses used to be kept in the barn previously. The loft above the barn has a wood floor but the barn floor is dirt.

It is nice to dig-proof (Is that a word? It should be) your coop. Some put wire out from the walls and rock over it, to keep digging varmits out of the chickens. I ended up cementing the floor in when I converted an open air horse shed. Plywood walls, but then poured cement to keep the dogs from diggin in. Now, I think I would just use a hot electric wire.

 

[aart]

It is nice to dig-proof (Is that a word? It should be) your coop.

Yeppers.....anti-dig apron:
Good examples of installation, tho I'd not recommend 1/2" HC...go with 14ga 1x2 or 1x1, will hold up much longer and is easier to lay flat.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208