Converting my shed to a coop!

[MKchicken85]

First time chicken owner and while the coop I have is a great little coop...winter is around the corner and I want a more weather hardy coop for my girls. Plus chicken math is real and a larger coop means room for more chicken babies. I currently have a wood shed in the back that I've been using for storage but don't NEED the storage. Seems like the perfect start for a coop! But before I start construction (something I know nothing about). I wanted to run my plans by some expert chicken keepers to ensure my current ideas are on the right track! Disclaimer I did some estimated measurements but not of the whole shed.

Current shed. Two doors that swing open and my plan is to build a screen to put into the existing frame. Then on warmer days I can have the doors open for some ventilation.
Closer image of the back. The shelf is roughly 24" wide and about 88" long. I plan to put a roosting bar all the way across as well as build a roosting ladder leading up to it of 2x4s. Giving the girls tons of spots to roost low, high, or in between. 3-4 nesting boxes under the shelf on the left side utilizing the shelf as the top of the boxes.
Now ventilation...obviously those tiny vents on the sides aren't enough. I plan to put a long thin vent above the door (maybe 5"x34"). At the back I was going to do 4 "windows" that were 12"x12". My only concern with the back vents would be in the winter if the girls choose to roost above the shelf. They'd for sure get hit by a draft...but I could easily cover those at least partially in winter if that's where they roost.

Now my questions. How many vents on the sides? Should I try to place them so that the roosting spots aren't in direct line of the vents? Will placing the nesting boxes just under the shelf when the roost is above it be too close for them to choose the roost over the box for sleeping? There's 51" between the floor and the top of the shelf so I could put them lower.

 

[staceyj]

I just stopped by to say your title should be converting your shed to a PALACE!
...love all of your ideas.
I'll step aside now and let the construction gurus talk.

 

[Rick&chickTampa]

Wow I wish I had that shed when I built my coop. My first thought was putting the roost above the shelf but converting the shelf into a poop board (but that could be because I was just cleaning mine) I live in FL so not real up on keeping chickens warm in the winter but I do know fresh air via ventilation is a must. I am a little confused about the screen in the door, do you not plan to have a run to let them out?

 

[MKchicken85]

Definitely going to have a run but this way in the hot summer I can leave the screen closed but keep the wood doors open to allow for tons of air flow.

 

[MKchicken85]

Haha I can assure you it will not look like a palace in the end. Especially once it's covered in bird turds.

 

[AllynTal]

I don't know where you are, so I don't know how 'hot' is hot or how 'cold' is cold weather-wise so these will just be general suggestions.

Can you give us a picture of the outside of the shed? I'm interested to see how far the roof eaves extend over the walls. If you have enough weather coverage (or can make enough weather coverage) at the gables, this is what I would do:

Cut out the gables and cover the openings with hardware cloth -- preferably 1/4-inch, but 1/2-inch would be okay. Put louvres on the outside over the hardware cloth to shed rainwater. Are there soffets where the roof meets the top of the wall? If yes, uncover the soffets and cover the openings with hardware cloth.

I used shed plans to build my layers' coop and modified it to suit my needs. Here's a pic of it when it was under construction:

Those are two approx. 3-foot x 6-foot windows in the front covered with hardware cloth. The green line is where there is a roost now (it wasn't in yet when the pic was taken) and the chickens really like roosting in front of the window. It's great in the summer when an evening breeze is much appreciated, but it's too exposed for winter winds. In winter, I cover the bottom 2/3 of the window (up to the blue line) with heavy, clear plastic. That keeps the wind off the birds. The soffets are open and covered with hardware cloth so even if the windows need to be closed ahead of a storm, there is still a 10-inch x 10-foot vent across the front and across the back.

Those big windows are kinda what you're going for with that big screen when you open the double-doors. Think hardware cloth for the screen since you're going to leave the doors open at night in the warm months. I'd put in as many vents as you can. If you find that some are making drafts in the winter, cover them with plastic. You might just need to cover vents on the side facing the prevailing wind.

 

[tigger19687]

Very nice !

 

[aart]

Cut out the gables and cover the openings with hardware cloth -- preferably 1/4-inch, but 1/2-inch would be okay. Put louvres on the outside over the hardware cloth to shed rainwater. Are there soffets where the roof meets the top of the wall? If yes, uncover the soffets and cover the openings with hardware cloth.

Good ideas here^^^^
Can always use pieces of cardboard tacked up inside to direct any breezes upwards instead of right onto roost area.
Those sheds usually have minuscule overhangs and no soffits.
I've seen identical gambrel roofs rebuilt to have 4 soffits - brilliant!

@MKchicken85 Welcome to BYC!
Putting your general location in your profile can really help garner viable suggestions and answers.

 

[MKchicken85]

@AllynTal I didn't even begin to think about keeping rain from getting in the vents. There is MAYBE 2"-3" of overhang all the way around. If I do the vents up high on front and back like you suggested I don't think I'll need to worry (especially with the bit of tree coverage in back). But plexiglass is something I'll need to invest in for the sides (or just keeping the wood when I cut the holes).

The right side is where the wind blows from and so it'll be the side I need to protect most. It'll also be the side that the run is built on though and I plan to add a roof to that.

Oh and I'm in Cincinnati, OH so on a hard winter we can get to below zero with the wind chill and upper 90s with awful humidity in the summers. Thanks @aart I added it to my profile.

 

[aart]

The right side is where the wind blows from and so it'll be the side I need to protect most. It'll also be the side that the run is built on though and I plan to add a roof to that.

Roofed run will shield big vents, wrapping run walls(except top 4-6") in winter will keep run snow and wind free.

There is MAYBE 2"-3" of overhang all the way around.

That's why they suggested adding louvers over vents...a great suggestion!