]I converted my second wood shed to a coop and hen house.
It's about 5x 12 and I have a covered L shaped chicken yard.
I ran a section of 2x6 along the bottom to keep the wind and snow of them. I put windows in the front and one side to give them light and ventalation. I converted a old bath fan to cool the place down on sweltering nights. I set that up at the top of the roof and aimed it longways to the far window. I built it in the shade so during the day they are never in the full sun. In the winter I line the walls with cardboard and turn on a red heat lamp (Only on bitter cold nights) I instaled two hinged feeding slots for food and water trays so you do not have to enter the chicken run when you are in a hurry. At first I left the top of the yard covered with lattice , but it yard got to muddy during rain of filled with snow in the winter. So the yard stays dry and fairly clean with thoe ceadar chips. I laid plywood on the dirt floor and throw straw on that.. Everyday I have my son scoop up the nights chicken dropping and put in a burn barrel. After that he sprinkles fresh lime on the poop boards to keep the flys and smell down. I hung my water can up from chains inside to keep them clean and so they can't sit on top them. Last I built a supply closet where I keep feed, water, lime, extra feed trays buckets gloves etc..
Everything I used except the chicken wire and hardware, was salvaged from old barns, dumpsters and stained with homemade stain . It looks very rustic and I enjoy sitting on that bench watching the birds scrach and pick at the mulberry and rasberrys.
It works for me and the birds
It's about 5x 12 and I have a covered L shaped chicken yard.
I ran a section of 2x6 along the bottom to keep the wind and snow of them. I put windows in the front and one side to give them light and ventalation. I converted a old bath fan to cool the place down on sweltering nights. I set that up at the top of the roof and aimed it longways to the far window. I built it in the shade so during the day they are never in the full sun. In the winter I line the walls with cardboard and turn on a red heat lamp (Only on bitter cold nights) I instaled two hinged feeding slots for food and water trays so you do not have to enter the chicken run when you are in a hurry. At first I left the top of the yard covered with lattice , but it yard got to muddy during rain of filled with snow in the winter. So the yard stays dry and fairly clean with thoe ceadar chips. I laid plywood on the dirt floor and throw straw on that.. Everyday I have my son scoop up the nights chicken dropping and put in a burn barrel. After that he sprinkles fresh lime on the poop boards to keep the flys and smell down. I hung my water can up from chains inside to keep them clean and so they can't sit on top them. Last I built a supply closet where I keep feed, water, lime, extra feed trays buckets gloves etc..
Everything I used except the chicken wire and hardware, was salvaged from old barns, dumpsters and stained with homemade stain . It looks very rustic and I enjoy sitting on that bench watching the birds scrach and pick at the mulberry and rasberrys.
It works for me and the birds
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