Converting Half an old Shed

[nes]

Totally new to chickens so I need to make sure this coop-design idea is a good one before we go ahead. I'm sorry I can't get photos, the shed is currently buried in scrap wire (one of the perils of being married to an electrician), so I'll try to do the best I can. Where we live can get down to -30/-40C with the windchill (COLD!!!) so I need some tips on making sure the coop really well insulated but also cool in the summer.

So.

I'd like to house 2-3 layers with this set-up (we may go for meat birds in the future but I didn't think this was big enough for a decent number of them).

We're converting the back half of an old garden shed. One one side is an old table with some cabinet-style drawers in it, I'm going to take off the doors - they will make perfect nest-boxes. The table is maybe 2 1/2 - 3' tall. We are planning on putting wire in a rectangle shape at the back of the shed with the wire against the back-wall of the shed but not the entire height of the shed (just the height of the table). I'm going to insulate the back wall of the shed the same height as the table.

Then chicken wire a 'top' to our rectangle the height of the table, and insulate a removable top which can just be added on top of the 'coop' in the winter-time but allow ventilation in the summer.

QUESTION: the shed is currently not hooked up to power but my husband has plans to do that this summer (electrician, see above) - would ambient light on a timer in the middle of the shed be enough 'sunlight' for layers in the winter? or should I add more direct light right above the coop? (in that case I would make it a half-top, is that enough to keep the heat in?)

I am going to hinge-the entire front of our 'coop' so it's easy to clean out.

I do plan on burying some chicken-wire for the bottom then putting dirt over top before we start construction.

QUESTION: I was planning on just using straw on the bare-floor. Is that appropriate for the chickens? Wood a ply-wood floor make cleaning that much easier? (Keep in mind I am a bit of a clean-freak... presumably a ply-wood unpainted floor would be difficult to scrub once or twice a year?)

Then we're going to cut a hole in the side of the shed. That side leads out into my garden and there is a perfect little space between our backyard-fence and my compost that chickens can come in & out of.

QUESTION: Can chickens use a swing-ing door?
That would make it easier to hold the heat-in the winter, could they learn to use something they'd have to push to get in & out of? (obviously I will make it lock or I'm sure I'll find out cat in there!!!

)

QUESTION: The shed also stores tools as well as gasoline, and the lawn-mower. Is that bad for the chickens?

There is definitely enough ventilation in & out of the shed (it's quite old) as we had a pair of starlings nesting in there last year...
Also it has an old tin roof so warms up quite nicely in the winter.

QUESTION: I'm terrible at judging distances but I believe the shed is between 5-6' wide (based on how tall I am). I am worried about my girls getting enough exercise in the winter even if they don't want to go outside; but I don't want to let them loose in the shed. Is a 3' tall by 3' by 5' long run enough for 2-3 chickens?

What do you guys think?
THANKS!

 

[patvetzal]

I've NEVER seen a tin roof shed that warmed up in cold weather...even an automobile roof will loose more heat than it will gain from the sunlight.
Gasoline fumes are heavier than air and will stay at floor level, same as your birds. Starlings stay high...
I'd fasten some sheets of foam to the roof (and sides if possible) and store the gas someplace else.
Is it a metal garden shed (like ours)? They get cold up here, and while they will not get as cold as the wind chill, you will loose more heat due to the wind chill factor.
Check Pat's (the other one)posts on ventilation etc. She is also from somewhere around here (Ontario).....

 

[nes]

No it's not all metal - it's got wooden sides (it's probably 40 or more years old - I'm not sure). Maybe our roof is something other then tin? All I know about it is there is never any snow on our shed roof.


The starlings actually nested in a milk-crate on top of the table - and much to the chagrin of my husband I refused to let him 'vacate' them until after the babies fledged - they made a real mess!! (I think they are starlings - blue/black birds with yellow beaks?)
(he's all gooey inside - I'm sure he couldn't have done anything about them, it was more that he likes complaining about the mess

)

I'll look up Pat's posts & see what I can do about the gas - thanks

.

 

[patvetzal]

Actually in the light of day, your set-up doesn't look too bad. Wooden sheds are easier to heat/cool than metal, plus you will have a small "inner" coop that is insulated, right?
I assume your shed probably has a wood roof covered by tin, if so, even better.....
Light and ventilation are going to be your main issues from what I see......
I try to make my coops raccoon proof and figure that it will take concrete to keep a bear out. We do have a resident weasel (ermine) that has been hanging around for years so I keep my vents screened. He seems to prefer red squirrels to chickens anyway.....

 

[nes]

He he he - it USED to be covered by wood, there are quite a few slats missing

.

I was worried about the amount of light as well - there are some windows in each side of the shed we are going to plexi-glass this year - that should help.

Thanks!!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
A reasonable rule of thumb is that if the chickens are getting enough light for you to read a newspaper by (*at chicken level*, where they are spending their time) then that is enough for photostimulation of laying. If it were an open 8x8 or 10x10 coop, a 60w bulb on the ceiling would be fine. However I do not know how full of Stuff your shed is, or how much the insulated top of the little coop will block light, so you will have to eyeball things and decide for yourself what the best arrangement is.

I do plan on burying some chicken-wire for the bottom then putting dirt over top before we start construction.

This is a dirt-floored shed, then? I would suggest maybe using 1/4" hardwarecloth instead of chickenwire, then, to reduce the amount of mice that burrow in and keep out rats.

QUESTION: I was planning on just using straw on the bare-floor. Is that appropriate for the chickens?

Sure, no problem... although you may find that unchopped straw is hard to clean out and that you like shavings better. Shavings are also real good for cold winter weather, when you can put down 8-12" of them to help keep the birds warm (it insulates them against the ground *and* they can snuggle down into it if they're feeling cold)

Wood a ply-wood floor make cleaning that much easier?

The main issue is that if your shed floor is dirt, you don't want to be putting plywood right down on that (or even raised up on joists that are on or near the ground) on account of a) the plywood will rot and b) vermin will take up residence under there. If you want to use a wooden floor -- which does have some advantages in terms of predatorproofing and warmth -- I would suggest maybe raising the whole coop up a foot or more above the shed's floor.

QUESTION: Can chickens use a swing-ing door?
That would make it easier to hold the heat-in the winter, could they learn to use something they'd have to push to get in & out of? (obviously I will make it lock or I'm sure I'll find out cat in there!!!

)

I believe some people have trained their chickens to use rigid cat-flaps, but an easier (IMO) alternative is a curtain or overlapping strips of some heavy material. Some people use canvas or old feedbags, I use wide strips of heavy translucent vinyl shelf-liner. You do have to install it *gradually* (or pin one corner up, or etc) to let the chickens figure it out over a few weeks.

QUESTION: The shed also stores tools as well as gasoline, and the lawn-mower. Is that bad for the chickens?

Yes, that is not a great plan for the chickens. They have pretty sensitive respiratory systems. If it is at all possible to store those things elsewhere, that'd really be better. That said, you might be okay, hard to say for sure in any particular instance.

There is definitely enough ventilation in & out of the shed (it's quite old) as we had a pair of starlings nesting in there last year...
Also it has an old tin roof so warms up quite nicely in the winter.

You will need more ventilation for chickens though, they create *a lot* of humidity and humidity+cold=frostbite. Really. You will almost certainly need to insulate the underside of the tin roof, too, as it will otherwise become a 'frost farm' that will prevent your ventilation from working effectively. Also insulation will help keep the shed warmer.

QUESTION: I'm terrible at judging distances but I believe the shed is between 5-6' wide (based on how tall I am). I am worried about my girls getting enough exercise in the winter even if they don't want to go outside; but I don't want to let them loose in the shed. Is a 3' tall by 3' by 5' long run enough for 2-3 chickens?

I'm not clear whether this is an indoor run *in addition to* indoor coop, or whether you mean this is the size of their indoor quarters?

If it is in addition to, you're good. If it is the whole extent of their indoor quarters, enh, some people get away ok with that, I prefer to give them a lot more indoor space and they seem to appreciate it. Could you consider an upstairs-and-downstairs design, wherein you have a 3x5 coop over top of a 3x5 'run' in the shed, PLUS their outdoor run? You can also wind-protect and possibly even roof their outdoor run, that will make them much more apt to go out there.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat, an hour or so north of Toronto​

 

[nes]

Thanks Pat that was REALLY helpful!!

I'll fix the roof up and provide move ventilation on both sides of the shed!

My concerns about shavings are just how long they take to degrade - but that's another issue all together.

Vinyl strips are a great idea! Combined with a locking door I can swing out of the way should help with the cold in the winter & bugs in the summer.

That is just the size of their indoor coop (for now) I'm going to let them free-range all over our backyard/neighbours cow pasture (with permission) since I spend most of my time out there anyway they'll be supervised

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