On the back of my barn/workshop, I have an enclosed 15' by 10' room, roughly 9' ceiling. 3 sides are plywood walls, covered in aluminum/tin on the outside, one side is connected to the inside of my workshop. There's a door on the workshop wall, and a small door (narrow, normal height) on one of the end walls. No windows, cement floor. Can cut windows into the 3 exterior walls.
Hubby says I can convert it to a chicken coop, right now we have our "high value" power tools in there. The exterior door opens into a covered area with a dirt floor. He wants to turn that area (it's probably 50' or so long by 20' wide, all covered, leading toward my wooded area) into my barn/stable for the chickies, pigs, goats, or maybe mini cows. Thoughts? Suggestions? I'll try to remember to go take pics tomorrow. I'd like to do it soon, as I have 2 week old standard chick in the brooder, and I just bought 5 Silkie hens from a neighbor today, they're in my tractor
What would you do to make this area home for chickens? I'm leaning toward DLM, but haven't decided, I need to find out if I can get DE locally. How much ventilation (sq ft) do I need to for a 150 sq ft coop? We're in SE Alabama, mild winters, HOT summers. I doubt I can put vent fans in the roof, I'm not sure I trust it to support anyone's weight to install them. I can't cut into one long wall, as it leads into the workshop.
Help me make my dream coop! I don't have access to much stuff to recycle, but I would like to keep costs down. I figure with already having the exterior done, it shouldn't cost too, too much to make it ready for chickies.
Post 3 has the before pics! A huge thank you to Pat for her all help in PMs, we decided to just use the outside area for chickens and the room for storing feed and such. Heading out of state for a day tomorrow, so probably won't get the nest boxes built until after Thanksgiving, and will build some roosts then, as well.
Here is after, ugly, but awesome! Will be using nipple waterers as soon as they arrive
Hubby says I can convert it to a chicken coop, right now we have our "high value" power tools in there. The exterior door opens into a covered area with a dirt floor. He wants to turn that area (it's probably 50' or so long by 20' wide, all covered, leading toward my wooded area) into my barn/stable for the chickies, pigs, goats, or maybe mini cows. Thoughts? Suggestions? I'll try to remember to go take pics tomorrow. I'd like to do it soon, as I have 2 week old standard chick in the brooder, and I just bought 5 Silkie hens from a neighbor today, they're in my tractor
What would you do to make this area home for chickens? I'm leaning toward DLM, but haven't decided, I need to find out if I can get DE locally. How much ventilation (sq ft) do I need to for a 150 sq ft coop? We're in SE Alabama, mild winters, HOT summers. I doubt I can put vent fans in the roof, I'm not sure I trust it to support anyone's weight to install them. I can't cut into one long wall, as it leads into the workshop.
Help me make my dream coop! I don't have access to much stuff to recycle, but I would like to keep costs down. I figure with already having the exterior done, it shouldn't cost too, too much to make it ready for chickies.
Post 3 has the before pics! A huge thank you to Pat for her all help in PMs, we decided to just use the outside area for chickens and the room for storing feed and such. Heading out of state for a day tomorrow, so probably won't get the nest boxes built until after Thanksgiving, and will build some roosts then, as well.
Here is after, ugly, but awesome! Will be using nipple waterers as soon as they arrive
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