Converted Cedar Playhouse to Coop???

[ellend]

Oh, yes! I have been drooling over the SAME EXACT playhouse here, but I already bought a small coop last fall for in their run, and no room left in the city back yard. I'm still trying to figure out a way, though!

With adequate ventilation, which you need anyway, and dryness, ditto, I don't think there could be a problem. I'd use non-cedar for the floor, and non-cedar shavings, of course. Oooh; let us see what you do with it, inside and out!

 

[ellend]

Just read previous posts; Honestly, especially in the Pacific Northwest, where LOTS of ventilation is possible since you all don't get the awful cold we do here, I think you'd be fine. Perhaps prime and paint the ENTIRE interior to seal. (I like bright white interiors anyway.) If you raise the coop up a couple of feet, you can make a "roofed" weather shelter under the playhouse, preferably extending out. They'll spend much of their time outdoors if they can be out of the rain, and rodents won't hang out under a coop raised that high. Two feet is the minimum height I use under a house; that way I can get to a "reluctant" to be caught hen.

Of course windows will need predator proofing, and door requires sturdy locks.

To be on the safe side, don't put tiny chicks in it, but once they're a bit older, I think you'd have plenty of ventilation. We're not talking about fresh-milled, high-oil cedar here, either.

If you have to down-size to get something for reasonable cost, consider that chickens make a LOT of dust; more room, with lots of ventilation, can be better.

The playhouse I was looking at also had a "decorative" cupola, which could be made functional for all-season ventilation with a little ingenuity.

Closed up tight, those gasses could accumulate, but ventilated? I don't believe they would amount to much of anything at all. By us, you'd be lucky to find a decent doghouse for $125. or more. $236. is the price of the playhouse at our Sam's Club (if you pick up.) The online $400.+ price includes shipping.