Coop build on Advice.

[Loweryfarm]

I bought a used large rabbit hutch that I figured I could convert to a chicken coop and have some ideas but would love advice/ideas as well.
its 10 ft long and 32” wide, floor to top is about 8 feet.
I obviously want to cover the bottom half so it’s more of an enclosed coop.
I was thinking maybe ladder roosts, only Bc I have two large Orpingtons who currently show no signs of wanting to ever roost but a low roost might help them do it and a a small silkie that I don’t want hurting himself trying to get to high(even though I’ve seen him hop on a smaller roost and climb to the top of it like a maniac). That’s about as far as I got ideaa wise. Any ideas/advice helps, I’ll have several people to help me one day this coming week and acces to a lowes/Home Depot for materials and tools etc.

 

[aart]

It would make an excellent brooder for chicks.

Just the 3 birds?
Might work OK, but it's really rather small and open to the elements.

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Loweryfarm
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[igorsMistress]

I would agree that know your location would be helpful in providing suggestions.

Are you going to put it in a run or leave it out in the yard? That would also be helpful to know.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, where, in general, are you located? Climate matters, particularly in housing.

And how many chickens?

It's a much better base to start with than the usual dollhouse prefab and has good ventilation.

 

[Loweryfarm]

I would agree that know your location would be helpful in providing suggestions.

Are you going to put it in a run or leave it out in the yard? That would also be helpful to know.

It’s in a fenced off pen area currently. About 20x20 ft.

 

[Loweryfarm]

Yes, where, in general, are you located? Climate matters, particularly in housing.

And how many chickens?

It's a much better base to start with than the usual dollhouse prefab and has good ventilation.

Indianapolis, Indiana. Winters definitely suck here lmao.

 

[3KillerBs]

It's all one open area inside without dividers, right?

And a flat roof?

Were you planing on taking the floor out and using the entire frame to create a coop or to use it as-is with a ramp up to the floor and underneath as sheltered day space?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Due to the flat roof and the fact that it's already open and ventilated on one side, if it were placed in a fully roofed run to help protect it from the elements, it could probably work.

How many chickens do you have total? You mentioned 3 but I see 4 in the photo, so I assume there's more than just a few birds you want to house? Depending on the number of birds, I'd consider turning one of the "bays" at one end into 1-2 nest boxes, by partially covering up the wire mesh for privacy. It'd give you easy access to eggs since you could just open the hatch for access. Then run a roost lengthwise/partially-lengthwise across the center of the rest of the space (depending again on # of birds). One of the hatches can be left open as the pop door and you can either use a ramp or steps to provide access to the birds.

BTW a rabbit hutch style structure makes for an excellent brooder, so that might be a thought if you wanted to expand with a bigger coop and repurpose this as an outdoor brooder instead...

 

[Loweryfarm]

It's all one open area inside without dividers, right?

And a flat roof?

Were you planing on taking the floor out and using the entire frame to create a coop or to use it as-is with a ramp up to the floor and underneath as sheltered day space?

I was going to cover the bottom sides in plywood to further enclose it and then take the wire floor out. In all but 1 of the four spaces. Do you think I could get the hens to use that one space as a big nest if I put a wood floor in it and wood sidings all around it. I have 4 hens. And then makes roosts on the other 3 spaces?
The roof is opaque plastic and is on a slight slant.

 

[3KillerBs]

I was going to cover the bottom sides in plywood to further enclose it and then take the wire floor out. In all but 1 of the four spaces. Do you think I could get the hens to use that one space as a big nest if I put a wood floor in it and wood sidings all around it. I have 4 hens. And then makes roosts on the other 3 spaces?
The roof is opaque plastic and is on a slight slant.

OK, I didn't see that it was a wire floor.

Yes, taking out the wire and using the full height is a good idea. That should make a lovely, roomy coop.

I'd suggest covering the wire on 2 bays of the windward end -- leaving the top 6 inches or so open (with awnings if necessary to keep rain out -- and putting the roosts there, set in crosswise. Be sure to put them above the level of the nests. I'd make both roosts and nests fairly low since Silkies can't fly and big breeds like Orpingtons often don't fly very well.

4 hens only really *need* one box but I think it's a good idea to offer 2. The boxes need to be at least a 1 foot cube and it's good for them to be a little bigger for big breeds like your Orpingtons -- so if you divide the 32" width in half and make them square you should be good.

I'm not a major fan of internal nestboxes unless you've got a really big coop, but for only 4 birds it's a really big coop so it could work. Would you have inside access or outside access?

One of the major pluses of this structure is the VENTILATION, but you'll want to put top-hinged covers over the wire on the doors to keep rain and snow out unless you're going to put it inside a roofed run.