Converted "tool shed" to use as a coop?

[whatchick]

Hey y'all! I have been rethinking our decision to use our old "tool shed" for a coop. We live in Central TX and the "tool shed" is brick on three sides and solid wood on the fourth, but has a cinder block/brick wall about three feet away from it. It has plenty of outlets and has a concrete floor. It's about 130 sq ft, which I know is plenty of room for our flock of 8 hens. (It may be larger than 8 due to a "loophole" in the town's codes. But I don't think I could handle more than 12!) But it's the summer heat I'm more worried about when it hits over 100 for weeks at a time. We are planning to cut 1 or 2 large windows in the wooden wall, along the southern wall. There are also 6(?) tiny holes (about 2") along the top of the north wall, which is in a sheltered area. It has 2 doors (on opposite walls) that can be screened. Is this going to be enough ventilation for those 100 degree days?

More info -
Predator-proofing all around inside. The chickens would be carted out to a large pen (about 100 sq ft) during the day with water, nest boxes, tarp for shade and protection that we'd move every day or two. Food would be provided after they have had their fill of bugs and grubs in the daytime. And of course, we'd be completely cleaning the "tool shed" out first!

Should we use this set up?

7992 - taken inside the north door looking at south door
7993 - taken outside along the wood wall along south "hallway"

Thank you for reading all of this!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

As you have noted, heat will be your biggest problem. Rather than a couple windows, just take out the top half or more of the wooden wall. Fill that missing wall space with hardware cloth to keep predators out. In the early days of poultry production 100 years ago, they closed up chickens in tight buildings thinking they were cold. Each winter they would lose over half the birds. They discovered the chickens weren't getting enough oxygen and the buildings were harboring bacteria and viruses causing respiratory disease. One farmer took out one wall of each of his buildings and didn't lose a single bird that year.
Also, you can never have too much space. The lower the stocking density, the easier it is to keep clean.

 

[whatchick]

As you have noted, heat will be your biggest problem. Rather than a couple windows, just take out the top half or more of the wooden wall. Fill that missing wall space with hardware cloth to keep predators out. In the early days of poultry production 100 years ago, they closed up chickens in tight buildings thinking they were cold. Each winter they would lose over half the birds. They discovered the chickens weren't getting enough oxygen and the buildings were harboring bacteria and viruses causing respiratory disease. One farmer took out one wall of each of his buildings and didn't lose a single bird that year.
Also, you can never have too much space. The lower the stocking density, the easier it is to keep clean.

Okay, I hadn't thought of going with that much! That makes sense, though. My brain was stuck on putting in windows. We'll do one giant window!

 

[NatJ]

Okay, I hadn't thought of going with that much! That makes sense, though. My brain was stuck on putting in windows. We'll do one giant window!

A thought: it probably does not matter if the "giant window" has a few boards running through it. So you could leave the boards that actually support things, and just pull off the siding or whatever is covering the part of the wall you want to open up. That would also leave plenty of spots to attach the hardware cloth.

 

[Tib]

Another thing to consider, just because weather can be weather, make the wall sheathing a hinged awning with some good supports? Like a big garage door that you could close over the hardware cloth. I don't know if you ever get remnants of storms out of the gulf where you live.

 

[whatchick]

Another thing to consider, just because weather can be weather, make the wall sheathing a hinged awning with some good supports? Like a big garage door that you could close over the hardware cloth. I don't know if you ever get remnants of storms out of the gulf where you live.

We sort of do get the remnants of storms. The wood wall is "inside" of a breeze way/hallway so it's 99% protected from weather already and it's in an area that is relatively protected. Now that I said that, a storm will find the 1%.

 

[whatchick]

A thought: it probably does not matter if the "giant window" has a few boards running through it. So you could leave the boards that actually support things, and just pull off the siding or whatever is covering the part of the wall you want to open up. That would also leave plenty of spots to attach the hardware cloth.

It's literally just studs and pieces of plywood. Nothing else. No siding to pull off.

 

[NatJ]

It's literally just studs and pieces of plywood. Nothing else. No siding to pull off.

In that case, the plywood is the thing I was thinking of pulling off. Whatever it is that covers the spaces between studs

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good tips here. After removal of the plywood, the remaining studs would be good support for hardware cloth.
Does the building in question have shade? An unshaded building in the sun will bake even with one wall removed without a breeze coming through.
If it isn't shaded, perhaps plan on planting a fast growing shade tree. There is also a product called shade cloth that could be draped a foot or two above the building to prevent the sun from hitting the roof directly.