coop inside a barn

[lorihadams]

We are getting some property soon and want to build a barn for our goats and we are thinking of incorporating a stall into a coop. We are thinking of space for 20ish chickens eventually. How would you do that? We are building from scratch so any suggestions would be welcome. What size? Ventilation issues, pop door, they will have access to outside pasture with the goats. We want to do a locking feed room inside the barn and milking parlor as well. Thanks!

 

[TcherDawn]

My corner coop inside the barn page shows how we put a coop in the back corner of our barn/garage. It has lots of pictures and descriptions. We love it, as do our hens.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=22059-corner-coop-inside-barn-garage

 

[LynneP]

We did that too- made a coop from a former horse stall. We documented the build, you can see it from the links below, and under the avatar...just remember to partition in such a way that you contain the dust from the birds and to have natural light from a window in there and to have an electric outlet for light and possibly for a heated waterer such as an electric dog bowl.

 

[patandchickens]

The biggest two issues are predatorproofing and dust.

All things being equal it is usually easier to predatorproof a freestanding coop than a section of a barn. Of course it can be done, I just mean you have to be extra careful about it

Do not neglect the rat issue, nor spaces up near the rafters, nor wee gaps that rats can chew through or weasels can, er, weasel through. (Weasels are most places in the continental US, even if you have not SEEN any)

As far as dust goes, I do not know how sensitive goats are, and of course the more open-air your structure is, the less dust there will be. But if this is basically an enclosed barn, it would be smart to at least have a good plan B in mind in case you discover you really need to close off the chicken area from the rest of the barn (goats, hay storage, etc). In particular you prolly want the chickens as far as possible from the milking area. It is great to be able to ventilate the coop into the rest of the barn as well as to the outdoors, just make sure it can be closed down or off, you know?

Good luck, have fun,

Pat, who really really wants goats but has no practical justification for them so is just waiting til the kids reach 4H age... LOL

 

[2txmedics]

Tcherdawn what did u use to cover your feed bucket? the dome??? I need some of those!!!! keep the rain out...our coops are outside...awesome idea on ur coops

 

[Casey3043]

I found that one of those very cheap (79 cents) clear plastic plant saucers in the 10 inch size works beautifully for keeping the feed dry and clean. I took a regular paper punch and punched two holes in it on the sides for the handle. It comes off easily and slides back down tightly (upside down, like a cap) over the top of the feeder.

Best of all, when it wears out, it can be recycled and a new one put on. I buy them in bunches at Walmart

Much cheaper than the squirrel baffle or dome lid.

 

[RockyPhoenix]

i made 4 pens 2: 5x8 and 2: 5x4 from old calf stalls...they work great! especially since they already had low ceilings to keep natural heat in the winter!