Converting a large travel trailer to a coop

[janiedoe]

I am so envious! What a gem for a chicken palace! I have two camper coops for my chickens, which we made out of POS campers that people just wanted hauled away.

My biggest challenges and complaints:
1. Not enough ventilation. I have to use fans 24/7/365. Small ones, carefully placed to move air but not make it drafty. In summer I add a box fan.
2. Both of our POS campers had damage, rot and holes that had to be repaired to keep snakes, rodents and predators out. (I'm drooling over your camper - doesn't appear to have those issues!) They have no roof leaks, though - thank goodness.
3. Due to snakes still getting in, my shower/bath-converted-into-brooder didn't work out as I envisioned. Now I'll have to cut it into pieces to get it out the door if I can't solve the snake problem.
4. Haven't had an issue yet, but there's a possibility I'd have to crawl underneath to retrieve a sick or dead hen, or eggs.

Best things I LOVE about our camper coops:
1. Operable roof vents!
2. INSULATED!
3. Metal-encased & repaired, predators canNOT get in. Very secure. (except snakes!)
4. Portable!
5. Working electricity!
6. Provides plenty of cover, shade, and a breeze underneath. Hens love to dig holes and dust bathe or lay in those. And in winter, it stays snow-free, ice-free, and DRY.
7. If someone gets left out of the coop at night, they've got the axles to roost on.
8. I have jalousie windows (old campers) and LOVE these! I can adjust for ventilation and they keep rain out even when open.
9. CABINETS to store all the chicken equipment and materials.
10. Room to store barrels of feed and bags of wood chips inside.

Things I wish I'd done differently:
1. Epoxy on the floor. I installed new plywood, then used cheap sheet vinyl flooring and it's tearing everywhere due to scraping when I clean the coop.
2. Installed more wall vents up high.
3. Removed that cabinet where I always bang my head on the corner. Ouch!
4. Talked hubby into letting me fix the front awning/rock guard so I could use those windows! (He just doesn't "get" the need for ventilation year-round - and in winter, solar heat gain. It's an ongoing debate with us.)

Some other notes to consider:
1. I installed "bumpers" all around the perimeter of the walls inside, with 2x4's screwed into the floor. Makes scraping the edges and corners easier and sealed up points of rodent entry.
2. We put the campers up on blocks and store the tires in the barn to prevent rot, for when we want to move them.
3. You likely have storage areas underneath! I don't, but wish I did! Among other uses, it could be a weather-protected area to place outdoor feeders and waterers, nesting boxes, broody hens with or without chicks, isolation enclosure, more storage.... And at night, just close them up to keep raccoons out! What a bonus I wish I had.

Here's a link to our setup:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/camper-converted-into-chicken-coop.1367928/

I've bookmarked your coop link! Thank you for that!
The hens already use the underside of the trailer for shade, as it is fenced right into the chicken yard. I have had to climb under to retrieve an injured rooster once.
The lack of ventilation is a huge problem, but I'm thinking wire over all windows and the two doors also. There are ceiling vents, 3 small windows, and two large doubles.
As @BlueBaby Pointed out, we are in a very hot climate. The trailer hasn't been too hard to cool with fans. It has working air, but that wouldn't be practical with chickens.
I would strip out the appliances, the shower, and toilet, covering all with hardware cloth.
My biggest problem would be attaching awnings over windows and doors. It may be rediculously expensive to do so.

 

[BlueBaby]

@janiedoe what about shade cloth over the door's and windows to help keep it cooler too? The shade cloth will help with the sun and to still allow air to pass through it.

 

[janiedoe]

@janiedoe what about shade cloth over the door's and windows to help keep it cooler too? The shade cloth will help with the sun and to still allow air to pass through it.

I'm probably going to nix it altogether. I think for around $700, I can add a good sized section to my existing set up. I think it will be cooler, and much better protection from predators, rain, and wind.

 

[BlueBaby]

I'm probably going to nix it altogether. I think for around $700, I can add a good sized section to my existing set up. I think it will be cooler, and much better protection from predators, rain, and wind.

That's most likely a better idea.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

@janiedoe what about shade cloth over the door's and windows to help keep it cooler too? The shade cloth will help with the sun and to still allow air to pass through it.

FWIW, I think shade cloth would get clogged pretty quickly with dust and dander, if it's installed to cover windows. BUT... you could make shade awnings with it, perhaps?

 

[MarkRainbolt]

I would just sell the trailer and use the funds for a proper coop. You should be able to sell it for 2 grand easy. Start the price at 2500.00 and let people haggle with you about the price. Deer season is coming up and people are always looking for a new deer camp.
Mark

 

[BarnyardChaos]

@janiedoe I have an idea.... could you make your own fabric awnings? Use tent material, blue tarps, billboard vinyl, canvas dropcloth, anything like that. Cut to size. Wrap both ends around 1x2 boards and staple in place. Screw the length of one end over a window, and attach poles or boards or what-have-you to the other board to prop it up.

 

[janiedoe]

@janiedoe I have an idea.... could you make your own fabric awnings? Use tent material, blue tarps, billboard vinyl, canvas dropcloth, anything like that. Cut to size. Wrap both ends around 1x2 boards and staple in place. Screw the length of one end over a window, and attach poles or boards or what-have-you to the other board to prop it up.
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I love those. I just ordered lumber to build on to my old coop, but I'm saving this!

 

[janiedoe]

@BarnyardChaos I like those awnings so much, that after I finish the new construction/add on to my existing coop, I'm going to give this a shot.
I think I could remove a large portion of wall, and add hardware cloth. With the right awning, I think I could open the trailer up enough, and use fans to circulate the air, so that it wouldn't be too hot.
My hubby is determined that we keep this hunk of junk and recycle it into something useful.
I'd love to use it for the birds.

 

[perkolator]

Just like automobiles, trailers and RVs have increased value to an almost ridiculous point in the last two years - I would sell the trailer and put the money toward a coop. My wife wanted a trailer and I started looking - minimum $5k for a leaky trailer that's been sitting in a field for 20yrs and needs a complete overhaul