Convert a shed or make a coop?

[GreenSoul]

Hello,
my husband and I recently moved to Germany and got 10 baby chicks that we are raising. We have yet to decide on just how to setup our coop/shed. The question is should be modify/build into our existing attached shed for a coop, and use our backyard for the chickens, or build a stand alone coop outside the backyard, and then fence in another area for the chickens. We have a large fenced in yard that has another huge patch behind it that is on our property as well, so area would not be a real issue. We are thinking that the shed option would be much cheaper but not sure if it would be best for the chickens..the pros are it is more weather proof so winter would be a non-issue. Also, there is two windows on the one side and a large, double door that we could frame in chicken wire in place of to create optimal air flow. However then our chickens would be in our backyard and not in a separate area, since we have a small dog and a 3-year old son. Just looking for thoughts and opinions on our ideas to help with the decision.

 

[Odelia]

It sounds like you would rather have the chickens in the back "pasture." But you have a structure that would be easy to convert into a coop. So it isn't a matter of what is better, but what is better for you. Do you choose the extra cost and work to build a coop where you would rather have the chickens? Do you use the existing shed? Just know that 10 chickens will produce over 250 lbs of chicken poo in your back yard each year. They also scratch at the ground so depending on how large your backyard is that is a lot of damage to your grass and garden. If the poo and damage to plants isn't an issue then put them in the yard. If not give them their own space where they can do their chicken thing and not cause problems. Good luck with your new birds.

 

[GreenSoul]

How big do you think the coop would need to be for that many? We would be letting them out to range as much as possible but In Germany we also get winter and snow so I am sure there will be times they wont be out to range as much. We are a little worried about cost because after looking at wood here cost is a lot more then in America.

 

[GreenSoul]

But it would be possible to convert a shed right? It would kinda be a little like a barn the I guess. We don't know for sure what type we have yet either the person who helped us get them said they will be on the big and good layers.

 

[Odelia]

How big do you think the coop would need to be for that many? We would be letting them out to range as much as possible but In Germany we also get winter and snow so I am sure there will be times they wont be out to range as much. We are a little worried about cost because after looking at wood here cost is a lot more then in America.

Cost is always a factor in life. Ideally you should have about 3 square feet per bird. The smaller the bird or the more docile the breed the more you can push that number. .

But it would be possible to convert a shed right? It would kinda be a little like a barn the I guess. We don't know for sure what type we have yet either the person who helped us get them said they will be on the big and good layers.

Of course you can convert the shed! It is very easy to turn a shed into a coop. You need a chicken door for them to get in and out. It needs to be secured at night to keep predators out. They need roosts to sleep on, nesting boxes for the eggs. You will need 3 nesting boxes for that number of birds. You also need at least 1 foot of roosting bar per bird as well. Most importantly you have to add ventilation. Especially up near the top of the coop. The chicken create condensation as they breath and if that moisture can not escape it will cause frostbite in the winter. Also you need the ventilation to let out the ammonia from their droppings. Chicken lungs cannot take the build up of gasses from their droppings. Hope that helps. Good luck!

 

[GreenSoul]

Thank you I think that does help so far from what we have been seeing in pictures all the breeds that we think we could possibly have are all docile and well mannered just a little on the larger side. It is a shed that is connected to the house so it is park of the standing strucktcher cemented walls and then above it is a garage with a ceiling and so fourth. There are windows in there so we thought we could just open those and cover then with chicken wire to make sure no one could get out (no windows in Germany have screens.)

 

[Trefoil]

Redoing your shed would be more cost efficient and result in a better coop than most you could buy for multiple times the money. Since you are going to have winter when the birds may not go outside you want to give them as much room in the shed as possible. Larger is easier to keep clean as well. Most of us compost out bedding after cleaning the coop so we get double duty out of the bedding. It works out really well. Depending on your predator situation, you may or may not want to have a special for for them. Enjoy your chickens

 

[GreenSoul]

we have heard there can be marters here (i dont know what the American name of them would be) I guess they are very geographical and we haven't seen them here yet. From my understanding they are kinda like ferrets but aggressive. Another thought was to build the coop so that it could be put into the shed for winter. If we do the shed then all there play time would be in the yard where our dog and child play too, Would that be too much poo for a family yard? And then we were thinking build the coop so it could be disassemble and taken back to the states with so we could get and raise chickens there too. So then maybe for now at least it wouldn't need to be winterized and could be good for the summer and not money we cant use in the long run. Does this sound feesable or does it sound like we are over thinking it?

 

[Odelia]

we have heard there can be marters here (i dont know what the American name of them would be) I guess they are very geographical and we haven't seen them here yet. From my understanding they are kinda like ferrets but aggressive. Another thought was to build the coop so that it could be put into the shed for winter. If we do the shed then all there play time would be in the yard where our dog and child play too, Would that be too much poo for a family yard? And then we were thinking build the coop so it could be disassemble and taken back to the states with so we could get and raise chickens there too. So then maybe for now at least it wouldn't need to be winterized and could be good for the summer and not money we cant use in the long run. Does this sound feesable or does it sound like we are over thinking it?

Is someone else going to be paying the shipping charges to bring your coop back to the U.S.? If not I don't think that options is going to save you money in the long run. Put the coop in the shed. It should take very little work and money to convert. You just need to put in a roost, a couple of nesting boxes, and chicken wire on the windows. You don't even need the nesting boxes until they hit laying age so no hurry. If you hate it there you can always choose to build a coop later. Do you get much rain in your area? The good thing about chicken poo is it pretty much disappears in the grass in a good rain storm. Sadly where I live in Idaho is a high plains dessert. So when there is too much poo for me (or I am having company) I have to go around with the hose spraying the chicken poo's. It was very dirty this winter. There was no rain (snow does not have the same effect) and it was too cold to run the hose. The Chicken poo started driving me crazy.

 

[GreenSoul]

We do get a far amount of rain here in Germany. All of our house old items and belongings all come back with us together that cost is not a factor we are military and move on a regular basis. So it would be more so what would be better for the chickens and our family. We have never had them our selves before so we are afraid we wont know all the pros and cons of all the choices we have.