coop design questions - first steps for converting a shed, animal control, sizes, etc.!

[emb]

I am totally new to chickens, focusing for now on designing my coop. My goal is to convert this old shed (in the photo), by using 2/3 of it (keeping the far right side - which is mostly not pictured - for storage). I think the size is adequate (about 14' wide x 10' deep). I was thinking about putting the henhouse in the back left corner (raised) at maybe 7' x 4'...?

I have LOTS of questions, so will try to limit it to start

As you can see, most walls are already corrugated metal. If I were to leave these as is (but add some hardware cloth where there are gaps for pest/predator control) and then have the whole front of the coop open-air (with hardware cloth), would this be enough ventilation? Or should I be taking down some of (or all of?) the corrugated sides? I would want to at least create a window at the back left into the henhouse, but would that be enough?

The bottom is just dirt - does that work fine, or should I put another medium down?

Lastly, I think a big concern for me will be controlling for pests/predators (living in the Colorado rockies). What is the best approach for the ground? I have read a bit about going down and/or out with some hardware cloth? Could anyone suggest a more detailed/step-by-step article on this, or explain this? And are electric fences a popular choice for increased control (I don't have power out there)?

Thank you thank you for any and all of your help/suggestions!!!

 

[Eilsel]

A 7’x4’ “hen house” would give you enough room for 7 chickens, generally speaking. And a 10x14 Run is enough space for 14 chickens, going. Y the rule of thumb. I think 8-10 chickens would have a happy life in that space if they had access to the run 24-7. I think what you’re calling the hen house most of us here at BYC would call the coop, and then the open shed area would be the run.

Your plan sounds pretty good, I would recommend using 1”x2” welded wire for your apron, pin it flat on the ground all around the outside of your chicken area. You can also use this for the walls of your run, although it will let small predators like mink (I don’t have those, not sure if CO does) and pests like mice through, so that’s why the smaller holes on hardware cloth are popular.

Two questions that would help with your planning:
1. Which direction does the shed face and what is around it? IOW how much sunlight/wind block does it provide?
2. Are you planning to uscome the rest of the shed for anything else? If not... why not make the whole thing available for your chickens?

 

[HappyHensFarms]

If the whole front of the coop was open air there would definitely be enough ventilation. I think that size coop would easily accomodate 10-12 chickens but no more. They can get really messy if not given a lot of space! One thing that really matters is if they will ne in the coop 24/7 or if they will be allowed out from time to time? For the first few months my chickens were solely in the coop, but now i let tyem out during the day and they go in on their own at the edge of dark. My only concern with your coop design is the amount of sunlight they will be getting. Sunlight is imortant for many reasons:
1. It drys out the coop and helps keep mud/smell down
2. It give the chickens vitamin d
3. It promotes bright healthy feathers.
A dirt floor in the coop is ideal because they can have access to small rocks/gravel for grit (to digest food) and can dust bath (until it gets muddy of course) when my coop gets muddy i use a heavy coating of straw. You main concern with predators will be probably digging in under your fence. We buriedd ours 6 inches and lined the outside of the walls with cinder blocks to prevent digging.

 

[SueT]

Hi, we converted an old 3 sided metal shed like that into a coop. We put in a wooden floor made from old fence boards. The front is made from fence pickets. This pic is when almost finished. There are now 2 pop doors, one in the 'people' door and one in the left side....it has been fine ventilation wise for 3 yrs. Note the opening all along under the roof...it's filled w hardware cloth.

 

[True Patriot]

Sounds like a good plan. What was the shed used for before this? If there's the chance of oil or other chemical contamination in the soil it may be good to dig some out and replace with fresh. Good luck.

 

[emb]

A 7’x4’ “hen house” would give you enough room for 7 chickens, generally speaking. And a 10x14 Run is enough space for 14 chickens, going. Y the rule of thumb. I think 8-10 chickens would have a happy life in that space if they had access to the run 24-7. I think what you’re calling the hen house most of us here at BYC would call the coop, and then the open shed area would be the run.

Your plan sounds pretty good, I would recommend using 1”x2” welded wire for your apron, pin it flat on the ground all around the outside of your chicken area. You can also use this for the walls of your run, although it will let small predators like mink (I don’t have those, not sure if CO does) and pests like mice through, so that’s why the smaller holes on hardware cloth are popular.

Two questions that would help with your planning:
1. Which direction does the shed face and what is around it? IOW how much sunlight/wind block does it provide?
2. Are you planning to uscome the rest of the shed for anything else? If not... why not make the whole thing available for your chickens?

Thank you Eilsel! So helpful! I did want to keep the far side available for storage (lack of that otherwise at my house ) but thought if I get more experience and more chickens I could always extend it down the road!!??

I actually have some 1x2 welded wire, I could use! But another question: could I do the same thing you've mentioned with the hardware cloth, to keep those small predators out too? And when I lay it out as an apron, is it advised to also dig down with it (to stop digging critters)?

The shed faces east, so its not great for sunlight; wind is predominantly from the west here, so that's good I guess?! IYO, would taking off some of the corrugated metal be a good bet for more sun exposure? I dont think it will be that hard to do (as it is actually multiple individual pieces fastened on there). I was also thinking about creating even more of a run out in front of the structure that is pictured, that would be open to the sunlight... but maybe that is a lofty idea at this point?

Thanks so much for your insight!!!

 

[emb]

Hi, we converted an old 3 sided metal shed like that into a coop. We put in a wooden floor made from old fence boards. The front is made from fence pickets. This pic is when almost finished. There are now 2 pop doors, one in the 'people' door and one in the left side....it has been fine ventilation wise for 3 yrs. Note the opening all along under the roof...it's filled w hardware cloth.
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View attachment 1416081

This looks great, SueT! Thanks for the pictures; good to see your design and that the upper 'ventilation' you covered in with hardware cloth.. that is exactly what I'm thinking!

 

[emb]

If the whole front of the coop was open air there would definitely be enough ventilation. I think that size coop would easily accomodate 10-12 chickens but no more. They can get really messy if not given a lot of space! One thing that really matters is if they will ne in the coop 24/7 or if they will be allowed out from time to time? For the first few months my chickens were solely in the coop, but now i let tyem out during the day and they go in on their own at the edge of dark. My only concern with your coop design is the amount of sunlight they will be getting. Sunlight is imortant for many reasons:
1. It drys out the coop and helps keep mud/smell down
2. It give the chickens vitamin d
3. It promotes bright healthy feathers.
A dirt floor in the coop is ideal because they can have access to small rocks/gravel for grit (to digest food) and can dust bath (until it gets muddy of course) when my coop gets muddy i use a heavy coating of straw. You main concern with predators will be probably digging in under your fence. We buriedd ours 6 inches and lined the outside of the walls with cinder blocks to prevent digging.

Thanks so much for all these helpful tips! I will definitely think more about access to sunlight - whether I tear down some corrugated metal, or maybe add an additional outside run in front of this structure? When you let them out during the day, is it in an enclosed area?

And then the burying the fence / cinder block combination seems interesting to me. Would you suggest just going DOWN with the fencing (and something small - like hardware cloth)? Or also aproning out a ways? and then cinder blocks on top of that...?

Thanks, HappyHensFarms!!!

 

[emb]

Sounds like a good plan. What was the shed used for before this? If there's the chance of oil or other chemical contamination in the soil it may be good to dig some out and replace with fresh. Good luck.

Good call, True Patriot; I can't say for sure what was stored in there before we owned the house, but there was a fair amount of layers of wood planks + plywood that I have since dug out!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I actually have some 1x2 welded wire, I could use! But another question: could I do the same thing you've mentioned with the hardware cloth, to keep those small predators out too? And when I lay it out as an apron, is it advised to also dig down with it (to stop digging critters)?

The shed faces east, so its not great for sunlight; wind is predominantly from the west here, so that's good I guess?! IYO, would taking off some of the corrugated metal be a good bet for more sun exposure? I dont think it will be that hard to do (as it is actually multiple individual pieces fastened on there). I was also thinking about creating even more of a run out in front of the structure that is pictured, that would be open to the sunlight

You can use hardware cloth or welded wire for the apron - and you can lay it flat on the ground or dig it down into the ground. If you think mice and rats will be an issue (which is it for a lot of us) then hardware cloth 1/2" or smaller should be enough to keep those out. Usual problem with digging and burying it is that it's a lot of extra work, and you have to bury a good amount of it, probably at least a foot or more. So I feel aproning out and pinning down the ends with landscape staples is far easier and still gives good protection.

Don't worry too much about the sunlight... as long as the area gets some natural light the chickens will be fine. My chickens usually gravitate towards the shadier spots in my run. Or if you do choose to expand the run space so it gets sun and shade, then that's the best of both worlds so the chickens can choose what they prefer.