Existing horse stall, how to make it a coop

[SarahBethsMommy]

Hi all! I'm new and I'm interested in getting some chickens. I have a large workshop in our backyard that has what was once a horse stall at the back of it. I am thinking of converting this into a chicken coop and allowing the chickens to roam free outside the stall in the very backyard. I plan to enclose about a 10X10 space for them to roam outside to keep dogs and foxes out. I was thinking we'd house 6 chickens to start and I am wondering a few things.

First, have any of you converted existing space to a coop? How did you make it?
Second, do you think this space would be adequate for 6 chickens? (I only plan to have hens at this time.)
Third, we live in northern Alabama, so it does get cold here about 3-4 months a year, but only down to around freezing or just under. Would I need to have a heat source out there too?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[12chickenlover3]

would you be able to put a picture on here. I live way up north, trust me! I do not use a heat lamp. But I do use a light when days are shorter. You could also pick chickens that are heat and cold hardy. Most likely this space is good for 6 hens, but just to be sure I would need to see a picture. I have never converted an existing space into a coop.

Hope this helped,
Alexandra

 

[SarahBethsMommy]

This is looking into the stall from the backyard. I'd enclose where you see the 2X4s with chicken wire and make a door.

Right now you can see there is just a bunch of junk in there stored.



This looks out into the very back where I'd make the 10X10 space for them to roam.



This is one wall where I thought I would build the nesting area.



This is standing inside the stall looking back into the rest of the storage space and backyard.



Total size of the stall is 8X8 or somewhere right in there.