Existing shelter question (for coop)

[newchik715]

I have a small playhouse type building with no windows or door and i also have an eight by five structure that has no roof and all open sides with a door. The sides are surrounded with something like chicken wire. Hubby wanted to convert the eight by five but without adding real walls so the chickens would be exposed all year long. I think we should convert the playhouse so the chickens have ventilation but are safe from weather and predators....i am right aren't I? I mean you can't just leave them exposed like that can you? Any thoughts and advice on conversion much appreciated!

 

[kelseygirl707]

Why not combine them, then the chickens get the best of both worlds!

 

[newchik715]

yeah, that is what i asked but hubby says neither structure is good for moving. They are on completely separate sides of the yard from one another. Moving the run would be difficult bc it is cemented in and has a cement floor. The playhouse is fairly solid as well and would take more work then it is worth to move across the yard.

So, is building a coop easier/cheaper? Or is building a run easier/cheaper? Seems to me the run would be easier and cheaper to make then the coop itself? Am I right?

 

[patandchickens]

Where do you live? Some places they'd be fine in a fairly-open shelter; other places they'd be dead. So location is going to make a HUGE difference.

Pat

 

[newchik715]

I live in Burlington Washington, which, for those of you that don't know, is far north. very near the canadian border and right near the coast. I think I will convert the playhouse for a coop for now. I started painting it today. The chicks should move in by the end of April but i worry they will still be too small and while the weather is nice in the day we still have frost at night. I think when summmer comes i will let them hang in the open area building and then move them for the winter.....will chickens change houses like that?

 

[kota1369]

How old will your chicks be when you get them? As you need to remember the first month they need to be very warm. I would want to have a good enclosure for them if I was you as all 4 sides open is just to cold and windy for them IMO.
The chickens will change houses but mine use both if the doors are open. I have 2 also and I have to shut the unused one up or I will find them in it laying eggs. When I first moved them and it was egg laying time, there was lots of noice outside and I let them out "not sure what was going on" and they ran to their other coop in a panick like they were gonna pee their pants. It was quite funny. But, they were fine after a week or so.
Have fun with your project.


The lady with 4 dogs and 4 city chickens

 

[teach1rusl]

I'd go with the solid structure (which sounds like the choice you've made). A run is cheaper and easier to build than the coop/henhouse itself. And doors/ventilation/possibly windows are fairly simply modifications to existing structures. And as Kota reminded you, the chicks will need to be kept very warm for the first few weeks... Good luck!

 

[snowflake]

I picked a window for our coop at a Pella show room, for free it was one they had taken out of a house they put replacements in. If you look around or talk to builders that are replacing windows you can get them quite easy and it provides good ventilation for summer. the chickens love looking out when the weather is bad...We live in MI. having some bad wind and snow today. door is open but they don't go out much.Good luck with your coop,give them a good run and they will be happy

 

[newchik715]

i have my chicks now and they are one week old. they live in my tv room and will continue to until i get the courage to move them outside or they start running the whole house and hubby says they have to move....whichever comes first...lol. and yes, i think i have decided on the existing building. i am too worried my birdies will freeze to death in the other one. I do not even let my dogs sleep outside so how could i put chickens in a building with no way to maintain warmth? I am just a worrier.

 

[Penturner]

I just got through building an Aviary, it is basically a walk in cage so is of the wide open example you ask about. I enclosed the bottom two feet in 2X8's which make pretty expensive wall material. When I got to pricing the wire to inclose the rest of it I actually figured out what was cheaper. covering the whole frame in wire or in wood. The difference in price of making a wood (enclosed ) or a wire (Wide open) cage was $20 for a cage measuring 10 by 11 feet. You could actually by materials to cover walls that are much cheaper than 2X8's so my vote is an enclosed coop would be lower cost to build. If you go really premo like I did it is a wash.