Grain Bin Coop

[Yeldarb]

Has anyone used a converted grain bin for chickens in colder climates? We have converted an 18' diameter bin into a coop, but I am not sure how it will hold heat during cold Midwest winters.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Awesome job!! It looks wonderful!! I’d never heard of it until this... wow, so cool!

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

That is so cool looking. I know I've seen others do this before, but no personal experience.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You don't want your coop to hold heat. It needs good ventilation as you don't want moisture building up. Chickens put out a lot of moisture. You chickens will keep themselves warm.

Plenty of people keep chickens in tin sheds, my shed used to be tin. Your chickens will be fine as long as there's no drafts but it's ventilated.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Very cool! I've seen a house built into a grain bin before, but a coop is a great idea. Nice work.

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! That's a great innovation!

 

[aart]

Has anyone used a converted grain bin for chickens in colder climates?

That looks pretty cool!
How did you install door and window to shed water at top??

Is that a vent at top?
Is it vented around bottom edge of roof?
Height might help moist ammonia laden air rise up above birds,
but metal might create condensate on inner surfaces.

You don't want your coop to hold heat. It needs good ventilation as you don't want moisture building up. Chickens put out a lot of moisture. You chickens will keep themselves warm.

Ditto Dat!!!^^^

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That looks pretty cool!
How did you install door and window to shed water at top??

Is that a vent at top?
Is it vented around bottom edge of roof?
Height might help moist ammonia laden air rise up above birds,
but metal might create condensate on inner surfaces.


Ditto Dat!!!^^^

We converted my tin shed over to wood siding. It would condensate sometimes, but not as much as my turkey shed that has a lower roof. That is definitely worse on winter days when it's really cold at night, than the sun comes out. Than it can drip a bit.

My shed also got really hot in summer as tin can heat up like an oven. I would expect more problems in the warmer weather because of that.

 

[aart]

That is definitely worse on winter days when it's really cold at night, than the sun comes out. Than it can drip a bit.

Even my wood and asphalt shingled shed roof
(north side with a foot of snow)
condenses to dripping during a thaw.

 

[chickens really]

I've seen grain bins used as a pig house and one for goats..I don't know how it will work for Chickens though? Definitely worth trying though..