Converting 8x12 shed into a coop?

[Jandsloch]

Ok new to chickens and chicken math got me...started with 4...now have 20....including 4 chicks in the brooder. Anywho I have plans for the 2 coops we have and honestly want them all in 1 for the winter. I cleaned out the shed Sunday (waiting on smaller shed for our stuff) and put a roost from the yard (made from pallets) and makeshift nest boxes from one of the other coop. To get them started. This weekend we are adding roosts nest boxes poop board under roosts cheap vinyl flooring so wood doesn’t rot and for easy clean up. Now in the pic you will see a vent above the doors there is one on either side. Will this be enough for the winter for ventilation? I’m asking because the roof is so low on either side that I can’t put vents there because it will be drafty for them. We were going to put in window on the 2 doors however again if I opened it would get drafty. Where I’m at winters have seemed a bit mild lately with one negative temp week in January. I don’t want them to get frostbite and I don’t want them to freeze. I have solar lights inside and it stays a warm lighted shed for them to add extra light. They don’t have a door (this weekend they will) currently so the door is open and the light isn’t needed. I’m wondering if the vents are too small or if I should take them off and put up hardware cloth and leave open as it’s the peak and roosts will not be that high.any help, suggestions, pics etc would greatly be appreciated from a first winter chicken momma

 

[gtaus]

View attachment 1930926I’m wondering if the vents are too small or if I should take them off and put up hardware cloth and leave open as it’s the peak and roosts will not be that high.any help, suggestions, pics etc would greatly be appreciated from a first winter chicken momma

First of all, I think that shed is going to make a great chicken coop. Love the looks of it already. As to ventilation, I always hear that more ventilation is always better. My chicken coop is a gambrel roof shed type design like yours, and my vents at the top of the roof are even smaller than yours. But, I have 2 sliding windows, one on each side of my coop. Others have told me that I do not have enough ventilation, so I too am looking to increase my vents. This will be my first winter, too, so I'm trying to figure it out just like you are. Good luck to us both.

 

[Jandsloch]

First of all, I think that shed is going to make a great chicken coop. Love the looks of it already. As to ventilation, I always hear that more ventilation is always better. My chicken coop is a gambrel roof shed type design like yours, and my vents at the top of the roof are even smaller than yours. But, I have 2 sliding windows, one on each side of my coop. Others have told me that I do not have enough ventilation, so I too am looking to increase my vents. This will be my first winter, too, so I'm trying to figure it out just like you are. Good luck to us both.

This is what the inside currently looks like until this weekend lol edited to add that pallet roost is from the yard lol it works for now but they miss it in the yard for sure

 

[gtaus]

This is what the inside currently looks like until this weekend lolView attachment 1930959edited to add that pallet roost is from the yard lol it works for now but they miss it in the yard for sure

Very nice, a little work in conversion and you will have a great chicken coop. I would keep an eye on that cargo net, or maybe take it down. I can see one of my girls getting herself up there and all tangled up in the netting. Could be a problem.

 

[Jandsloch]

Very nice, a little work in conversion and you will have a great chicken coop. I would keep an eye on that cargo net, or maybe take it down. I can see one of my girls getting herself up there and all tangled up in the netting. Could be a problem.

It’s actually solar lights and it’s a lot higher than it looks. I am actually potting the roost on the left side 12ft wall so far they have no interest in the lights. I notice the pic make it look really crammed lol they are about 4 ft from those lights. They are so scared still and have been in there since Sunday. But this weekend we hope to finish the inside I just want to be sure I have proper ventilation and if. It what can I do as the roof is so low on the outside walls

 

[Jandsloch]

My intentions was nest boxes 12”tall with poop bin or litter box as I like to call it for sand/pdz mix to scoop out then front lowest roost about 6-10inches higher than poop litter. (Still undecided I have to see it to decide) then the top roost being a foot or so above that so we r looking at about the highest being around 3 ft. My 6’2” tall cousin stand up no problem in the shed and I’m 5’ and the side walls are standable for me. It’s really a tall shed.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes you'll want more ventilation and gambrel roofs make it a little tougher, due to lack of big overhangs plus the lower walls being too low to easily add windows. Is there any vents in the roof or anywhere other than the small one in front? Keeping them warm isn't as much the issue as frostbite due to moisture build up inside from lack of vents/being too buttoned up. Louvers, awning style openings and buffers can go a long way in helping with vents that you feel would be too open to the weather, by protecting from winds and rain/snow.

With 20 chickens you'd want to aim for at least 20 sq ft of ventilation, so go measure what you do have and that'll give you a starting point.

 

[Jandsloch]

There is a vent on either end front and back I knew I needed ventilation vs. heat and am worried about how in the world I’m going to do it lol I wonder if I make both of those a bit bigger and instead of the grate I put hardware cloth on inside and leave open we plan on a window on top of both those doors maybe a vent on top of windows? I drew it on pic to help visually but imagine both doors. Plus as I stated above comments roosts won’t be higher than maybe 3 feet-adding the bigger vent in back and front will help also. We do at times get windchills in the negatives last January we hit -25 so I am worried about those so I don’t want the cold air blowing on them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I too agree that you need more ventilation. What you have comes no where close to 1 sq. ft. per bird. I would bite the bullet, take a saw and cut a hole in a wall and install a huge window, preferably on the east wall.
You can always create an awning like structure over the window to keep rain and snow out.
With chickens, it isn't about warmth, it is about fresh air and humidity.

 

[Jandsloch]

I too agree that you need more ventilation. What you have comes no where close to 1 sq. ft. per bird. I would bite the bullet, take a saw and cut a hole in a wall and install a huge window, preferably on the east wall.
You can always create an awning like structure over the window to keep rain and snow out.
With chickens, it isn't about warmth, it is about fresh air and humidity.

Cutting a hole in the wall isn’t that easy the bottom of the roof is about 4ft to the ground so if I cut a hole in the wall I’m allowing the draft into my chickens a lot of conflicting reads about more ventilation yet not allowing the draft onto the chickens