Converting this old barn into The Banty Shanty *UPDATES pg 4&5*

[ddeans]

That is really nice to have and even better to have the ability to fix it up like you say. You could have thousands of chickens there.

 

[conroy]

OMG that is awesome.... too awesome. I say give the roos the cute l'il coop and but like a hundred hens for the barn... it's like chicken heaven..

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Quote:
I agree. The whole structure is run down but is strangely inviting. I'll come over and help you with it!

 

[SterlingAcres]

Must. Not. Drool.


Great project! Imagine all the birds you can get in there?! Maybe some porkers too

 

[katrinag]

That would make an ideal coop.

 

[Vcomb]

corncribs make ideal chicken coops.

here's some advice on converting yours:
- cover the exposed wooden end with more sheet steel.
- build a frame in the open end out of dimensional lumber in that big doorway, make it so that it bolts in place. cover it in chicken wire and make a normal sized door in the fram for you to walk through. This way if chickens get out they can't go far, plus u can take it out completely if you need in there with a vehicle.
-if you chop up the length of the sides into sections, try to do so in a way that matches up with the rafters above. most likely those rafters are set on 2 foot or 16 inch centers, so count the spaces between to decide if you want a 4 foot wide run, 6 foot, etc.
- if you chop up the side that has the wooden door on it (pic looking into a bunch of windows) consider making doors like that to each run, youll find cleaning a lot easier this way than if you're wheel-barrowing the shavings from the last pen clear thru every other pen to get to that one "out" door.
-depending on the type of turkeys,you can nail roosts high up (like along the baseplate of the eave of the roof) clear across to the solid wall of the shed. turkeys like to roost high and this will keep them out of the weather. you'll want to add more light in there somehow.
-if, on the bantam side you decide to put a false roof in to hold heat in, put good planking on top of the crossbeams. hang your lighting from the beams, but then above (from the outside in the main area) you'll have an area to store things you don't use much, such as extra cages from sales or feeders, etc.


that's all i can think of now.....good luck!

 

[Indiana hens]

My opinion only convert 1/2 of each. That would leave you room for cows, goats, pigs, quail, ducks, llamas, sheep, pheasants,horses,mules, and all our favorites Reindeer!

 

[PamsPride]

Can't wait to see after pics!! That building is going to work perfect for all of your chickens and turkeys!! I agree...make room for goats and other animals too!

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

Quote:
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The covered run areas on each side are 12'x30', the center isle is 9'x30' and the pen/corn crib areas on each side are 5'x30'. I didn't measure the storage area in back but I believe it's roughly 43'x20'. Part of that area is becoming a blacksmith shop for my son.

Thank you all for the great ideas. This helps tremendously. Keep the ideas coming! But those offering to help better be careful. Sounds like I will have no problem putting you to work. Kind of like an old fashioned barn raising party.

 

[Griffox]

I converted a corn crib and am currently converting another large room in the barn for more chickens.

I had to rent a dumpster to get rid of all the junk that was left behind by the previous owner. I was pleasantly surprised to find concrete floors, once I got rid of a 50 gallon trash can worth of dust and dirt. The biggest challenge is getting nails into petrified wood that might as well be concrete. Also I found a huge roll of contractor plastic that I stapled to the inside of the walls to reduce drafts. It looks tacky, but it works great.

Your barn looks to be in much better shape than mine. I wouldn't put any large animals in my barn for fear that with one kick the whole thing would come tumbling down...but lucky me, it's perfect for chickens and a pigmy goat.

Corn crib