Dog house converted to coop

[ArchersMom]

I decided to convert an old dog house into a second small coop. I'm hoping to fit 3-4 free range hens and maybe 1 rooster. I'll also be converting a 5' x 10' chain link dog kennel into a run. This is my first attempt to build anything as I'm not very handy when it comes to power tools, so I kept everything as simple as I could.

All that's left for the coop itself is the nesting boxes. I'm keeping them in the house itself since the run won't be covered and I need it to be very rainproof. I chose to place the roost bars parallel to the door so that I could place the boxes in the back corner. The roof hinges up for cleaning and collecting eggs, so I should be able to harvest the eggs fairly easily. I put less than $100 into the coop itself so I'm very happy with that aspect.

I still have to build the base to get it high enough off the ground to keep the feed and water containers out of the elements; and finish wrapping the run in hardware cloth.

 

[cavemanrich]

All looks good. You are not finished yet so consider some necessities.
You do need to read up on ventilation. What you have at present is a sauna in summer, and a humidity trap during winter. Not to mention, an ammonia generator.
Ventilation is probably the most important thing about coops.
You can house your chickens in a secure run with some protection from above from the weather elements. (some on sides as well from prevailing wind directions)
In a closed box they will not do very well for very long. @aart has some good links in posting about ventilation. Lot easier to just study those than have me write all those all over again.
WISHING YOU BEST.......

 

[aart]

Maybe I'll stick with just the 3 then. I'm in the Pacific Northwest. So it's pretty mild, just wet.

I'd seriously consider covering the run for rain protection...then you could have an external nest

 

[jthornton]

If you can make them come to you it's better IMHO.

My first group were very afraid of me and I used to reach in the top of the brooder.

I modified the brooder for front entry and well the video shows the result of that.

JT

 

[ChickNanny13]

Don't forget the "poop board" ... Read about it after DH constructed my enclosure but we added it and I would never build a Coop without it. Add PDZ and makes cleaning a snap!

 

[aart]

@aart has some good links in posting about ventilation.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

 

[jthornton]

All that's left for the coop itself is the nesting boxes. I'm keeping them in the house itself since the run won't be covered and I need it to be very rainproof. I chose to place the roost bars parallel to the door so that I could place the boxes in the back corner. The roof hinges up for cleaning and collecting eggs, so I should be able to harvest the eggs fairly easily

For 3-4 hens you only need one nest box. Also for 4 chickens 4' of roost is plenty. The roost should be at least 12" from the wall. Chicken poop will fall 12" from the roost location so don't put a nest box too close or it will fill up with poop at night. A simple box made with 1x4's would do fine as a nest box.

What are the dimensions of the box?

JT

 

[ArchersMom]

And we're on 3/4 of an acre for them to forage, but I can't build a big permanent coop. We'll move again in 2-3 years and I'll have to be able to move it or take it apart.

 

[ArchersMom]

You can kind of see the gap between the floor and the wall there. For now, my little pullets are just hanging out in the garage with the roof propped up like so. My other issue is that while I have their feed and water in the coop they won't stop pooping and getting their bedding in it! I'm thinking I should build a small platform.

 

[aart]

I'm thinking I should build a small platform.

Feed and water should definitely be raised off ground after the first week.
I use bricks and/or blocks of wood.