Garden shed

[peafowl_Lover]

Hi,
My old chicken coop is starting to rot I refurbished a 20 year old wooden shed onto their coop, soon I'm getting a new shed as theirs is rotten and my neighbours have seen lots of pinemartens and I want to keep my girls safe, the shed is 8 x 6, I want it to look homely and cosy, any ideas much appreciated. Here are some pics for inspiration

 

[DobieLover]

Can you post pictures of the shed you are converting?
Will you be attaching a fully predator proof run to it?
All that cutesie stuff inside a shed is a waste IMO as it will quickly be coated in a thick layer of dust.
If you are going for curtains, cut up and use a vinyl table cloth for curtains as they shed the dust quicker. On the flip side of that coin, when the chickens start pecking at it (and they will) it will shred easier than fabric. 6 one, half dozen the other.

If you want cozy and homey, all of that should be on the outside of the coop and if you do, never the chickens at it. They will destroy it if possible.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

Yes they are quite dusty so maybe not too cosy, the run isn't predator proof but my dog is always there, it's the night time I'm most worried about.
Thanks

 

[aart]

Can you post pictures of the shed you are converting?

Ditto Dat.

 

[Penpal]

Our coop years ago was built so it fit directly over a bale of straw, plus 2 feet for the entrance. DH would just lift the coop up off the bale of straw and place it over another bale of straw. They only slept in there or laid eggs in the nests that hung over the side. Very simple, easy. Might be more basic than what you want.

Those open doors in your first photo would make clean out pretty easy. The floor looks like vinyl, easy to clean. I would still put hardware cloth situated to form a barrier at the bottom. I prefer nest boxes to be accessible from the outside. A large overhang to the roof just in case it rains in Ireland.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

Yes I might make an over hang but I think I'll have to nestboxes inside the coop because it might rot faster if I make holes in the shed, yes I considered it but I just want the coop to last as it will be quite expensive. The floor is wooden and I'll put vinyl on top of it for easy cleaning, I'll have a small door for the hens and a big door for me. I might make a lean to with clear tarp so the hens can shelter under it or they can go to the coop.

 

[Penpal]

The tarp or some extra roof is a good idea. One of my birds prefers to sit on the ground under the over hang of a shed instead of going inside his bachelor pad. Even in rain, snow, or hail. My current new crop prefers being under a big bush.