Converting shed to coop

[ChelsieW]

Hello,
We're converting this old wood shed into a new coop. It's much bigger than my current coop and we'll be able to walk inside.
I'll take any advice about things to consider but my main question right now is about the floor. It has a concrete floor and water does occasionally get in. Just a bit, not a flood. So, what should I do? I've been considering covering the concrete in gravel or sand (a mix maybe?). Either way we intend on having either straw or pine bedding in there. Just wondering what is necessary. Almost all of the time it's dry as a bone. Just occasionally when we have a big enough storm, the floor will be wet in there.
Also, will I need better ventilation for the hens? It's pretty ventilated but I'm wondering if cutting a window in somewhere might be a good call.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[3KillerBs]

Instead of gravel or sand inside you'd do better to solve the drainage problem that is directing water inside by diverting the ground water runoff. You can use grass swales or French drain to do this.

Creating/extending roof overhangs would protect against blowing rain.

The best place to add ventilation would be up right at the roof on both gables -- heat and ammonia both rise.

 

[ChelsieW]

Instead of gravel or sand inside you'd do better to solve the drainage problem that is directing water inside by diverting the ground water runoff. You can use grass swales or French drain to do this.

Creating/extending roof overhangs would protect against blowing rain.

The best place to add ventilation would be up right at the roof on both gables -- heat and ammonia both rise.

I didn't show pics of this but there is a 6 inch gap all around the top of the walls under the roof overhang. I think this building may have been a coop at one point before we moved in, actually. We're going to cover those gaps with hardware cloth to make it predator safe but I'm also considering putting in one or two small window vents.

 

[aart]

Instead of gravel or sand inside you'd do better to solve the drainage problem that is directing water inside by diverting the ground water runoff. You can use grass swales or French drain to do this.

Ditto Dat!
Find out where the water is coming in and look outside to see if a trench might work to redirect flow. Best time to dig trench is when it's pouring.

but I'm also considering putting in one or two small window vents.

Top hinged windows would be good.
Some vents high up on gables under the overhang.

Whenever I see a gambrel roof, I have to suggest this:

 

[ChelsieW]

Ditto Dat!
Find out where the water is coming in and look outside to see if a trench might work to redirect flow. Best time to dig trench is when it's pouring.

Top hinged windows would be good.
Some vents high up on gables under the overhang.

Whenever I see a gambrel roof, I have to suggest this:
View attachment 2252510

It does have eave vents on the north and south sides but it doesn't have a gable vent.

 

[ChelsieW]

It does have eave vents on the north and south sides but it doesn't have a gable vent.

I didn't show pics of this but there is a 6 inch gap all around the top of the walls under the roof overhang. I think this building may have been a coop at one point before we moved in, actually. We're going to cover those gaps with hardware cloth to make it predator safe but I'm also considering putting in one or two small window vents.

Yeah, I guess I need to find where the water is coming in. I thought maybe not because the floor only gets wet in there when we have a REALLY bad storm. I think it might be happening when the ground is fully saturated and it's leaking in from the south side. I'll have to investigate further. Thanks for the feedback

 

[Ridgerunner]

It would really help to know where the water is coming from. See if there is an easy fix. It doesn't sound that bad but you really don't want your floor to stay wet for long.

When I built my coop with a dirt floor I hauled in enough clay type dirt to raise the floor level a few inches to stop ground water from coming in. I also did a berm and swale on the uphill side to stop rainwater runoff. I use wood shavings on top of the clay in the coop. It stays pretty dry. Occasionally some rain or snow will blow in mine if the wind is coming from a certain direction (a gable vent not louvered) but not much and it dries out pretty fast. I do have good ventilation.

Don't know where you are located so I don't know what kind of weather you are looking at in summer or winter. From what you describe with the eves and top of the walls I'd expect you to have adequate ventilation but would be more worried about summer than winter.

You might want to put a window in that more for light than additional ventilation. In summer extra ventilation often helps. You and the chickens need to be able to see what you are doing in there.

If you don't have it you might consider cutting a small pop door for the chickens to go in and out. You could use that people door for the chickens but it could let in a lot of rain if it is open. That's the advantage of a smaller pop door, it keeps weather out better.

 

[ChelsieW]

It would really help to know where the water is coming from. See if there is an easy fix. It doesn't sound that bad but you really don't want your floor to stay wet for long.

When I built my coop with a dirt floor I hauled in enough clay type dirt to raise the floor level a few inches to stop ground water from coming in. I also did a berm and swale on the uphill side to stop rainwater runoff. I use wood shavings on top of the clay in the coop. It stays pretty dry. Occasionally some rain or snow will blow in mine if the wind is coming from a certain direction (a gable vent not louvered) but not much and it dries out pretty fast. I do have good ventilation.

Don't know where you are located so I don't know what kind of weather you are looking at in summer or winter. From what you describe with the eves and top of the walls I'd expect you to have adequate ventilation but would be more worried about summer than winter.

You might want to put a window in that more for light than additional ventilation. In summer extra ventilation often helps. You and the chickens need to be able to see what you are doing in there.

If you don't have it you might consider cutting a small pop door for the chickens to go in and out. You could use that people door for the chickens but it could let in a lot of rain if it is open. That's the advantage of a smaller pop door, it keeps weather out better.

Thank you for the ideas. I think the water comes in on the south side but only when it has rained A LOT. Like when the ground is completely saturated. I think it either leaks in from cracks in the concrete or from where the wall meets the concrete. But it's not a lot of water. So, I'm not sure how concerned to be about it. It might just dry out naturally. It only happens once or twice a year.
I'm in Northern Utah

 

[Ridgerunner]

They make stuff to seal basements that might work. My father-in-law tried different things with his leaky basement with varying success. Maybe something to consider. But it does sound as if it may not be a big deal.