Help me change this into a coop

[Pharm Girl]

I had this thought too. It would look very Telletubbies - in a good way. What a job though!

If it is a bomb shelter and intended to be in the ground, then maybe you could pile soil on it to make a hill over it, and plant grass and wild flowers on it. That would keep it cooler, and take care of the open bottom edges. You could cover the dirt with chicken wire to help hold it in place. You could still have a cupola sticking out at the top of it. You'd have to water it a lot in the summer. But I think, that would look fantastic. It's not to close to other buildings is it?

 

[LIsaajb]

ITS NOT A BOMB SHELTER!! It's a quonset hut. And there's no way I'm going to even try and cut into those side walls. The back wall, however, is not corrugated, and I'm confident my husband and his torch will be able to cut into the back wall just fine to add the vent. And I think planting ivy will be enough decoration. I'm a minamalist. I really don't care how the structure looks when it's finished. This is about giving my family nutritious fresh eggs, not about having the cutest coop in the neighborhood.

 

[omartorres]

that will make a great chicken coop just atach a run to it put some nesting boxes and put a roost through the middle

 

[ipie68]

i was going to say it looks like an adapted bear trap, but its a um.....um... whatchyamacallit hut

 

[wolftracks]

OK I'll try a little. I haven't read all the posts since I last posted, so maybe someone else had the same ideas. Now if I could remember what I posted before. LOL

Obviously you're going to need ventalation, but I see you're husband is going to torch it, which with those huts is the only way I would think it could be done.

Self standing roosts and I'd suggest making them all one height so they don't fight over the top roost. I use 2x4's, but I'm working on additional coops and I let a stump grow out and have think enough branches now that I'm going to use instead. Maybe a row or individual nesting boxes would work, on the ground or maybe use a pallet to bring them up. You could also use pallets for building a front wall and door frame. I do know I mentioned hay. You can place a couple of bails to block off wind and add insulation and they will also snack on it. I like sand floors, but hay will add heat.

It's nice that those huts are strong enough where you can hang waterers or feeders.

Other than the vents and closing it in, if you aren't looking to do anything fancy, that's your right, just do what you need in order to help provide those eggs and meat. I have nothing fancy, although I have had and wish I did now, but the main thing is making the birds comfortable and safe.

I have hoop runs. You could add those very easily and cheaply.

I know I'm missing something, but I also don't want to over do it, because sometimes it seems you want or need so much more, when chicken keeping shouldn't cost an arm and a leg.As long as they're warm in winter, cool in summer, fed and watered and cleaned up behind, they should be fine.

Truthfully though, I wish I had that hut. My husband would have been juiced if we had had one. Trust me I would have had to deal with him painting it camo and making cots for the birds for me. LOL I can think of so much to do in there and on the outside.

BTW.... I wouldn't even plant ivy. If you are going for sustainability, I'd grow climbing fruits or veggies. You can use them for your gamily and be able to have some for the birds as well. You can even grow in winter with it covered with plastic. Just a thought.

 

[LIsaajb]

I will Accept bear trap. =D

If I plant climbing veggies, I'm thinking squash, cucs and such, won't the chickens just eat all of them before we can harvest?

 

[wolftracks]

I will Accept bear trap.

If I plant climbing veggies, I'm thinking squash, cucs and such, won't the chickens just eat all of them before we can harvest?

You can net them and if you have a run built off of the coop they won't have a whole lot of time during free ranging depending on how long they are out. There are ways to do it.

 

[Mattemma]

I cut holes in our chicken shed which is just an old metal shed. I probably have pictures in my links. I duct taped plexi glass to the holes. The RSL and easter eggers I have have tolerated the cold well in the metal shed.

My chickens will take a taste of ALL vegetation to see if it is worth eating more.Nothing is safe if it tastes good to them.Worth a try though!

If it were mine I would cut out a wood door for the openning.Add hinges(sp) and a lock.Probably jigsaw a hole in the door and plexiglass that.

 

[judyki2004]

Interesting structure, and I'm sure will last forever! I would like to know how big is it...i understand you plan on a small flock, so maybe you can make a wood wall, in the middle, with a human door/window combination and a chicken door, in the enclosed area put some 'free stand nests" and free stand roosts". if is possible to ad a vent in the top, that would be great. You may put some roost in the open half too, so if is specially hot they can sleep there. Add a pen/run in the front same height of the building, with a door for humans get inside. Cover the gaps in the down part as maybe concrete or just fine gravel. Beautify it with some landscaping,maybe not only around but even inside the pen (depending on it's size). I'm subscribing cause I would like to see how it turns out! Blessings :O)

 

[gg706]

First of all I will say I am from Iowa so I know how the weather is.....BRUTAL in EVERY season with wind EVERYDAY! I would really not bother with leveling the building. I would contact someone who paints cars and ask if you could paint it with automotive paint. I would paint it a soft light color to try and brighten it up inside and out.. It looks like the back is a thin sheet metal you could probably cut into it and install a window. I would just frame out a square wooden window with hardware cloth and a door on the outside so you can close it. Or a framed groove the you could slide a plexi glass in to cover the window for winter....or just cover it with heavy duty plastic. I would build a wall in the front with a hardware cloth window and a people door. Then back further i would build another wall that is finished only halfway just leave the framing on the other half. during summer you could leave it open during a really cold winter snap you would have the option to close the other half with heavy plastic or again the groove to install plexiglass to keep it warm. I am concerned about the building not having enough ventilation, chickens put off an incredible amount of humidity. But the chickens wont be able to take any Iowa winter wind. So the two walls would allow for ventilation but hopefully not allow wind to blow in. And you could cover or uncover them as the weather and coop moisture dictates. On the backside of the 1/2 wall you could build the nesting boxes, roosting area etc. To build the walls i dont think i would try to attach anything to the side of the metal building i would probably just put posts in the ground to hold up the walls, and cut the plywood to match the shape of the walls. It would almost be like a "fake" front to the building. you could use cardboard to cut out a template for the plywood after you get it right put it on the plywood and trace it onto the wood then cut it out with a jigsaw. I love the idea of covering it with some kind of ivy or something. I would also plant a deciduous tree in front to shade it in the summer and allow the sunlight in for winter.

This is a "structure" that was on our property when we bought our house. We have about 4/10ths of an acre and I'd love to start 4 Rhode Island Reds this spring. We want to use this building as a coop so we don't have to start from scratch. The structure was previously used as a stall for a dwarf horse. Yes, I do live in the city. Oh, and I have no building skills and would like to do this for as cheap as possible. I don't ask much do I?

The inside back wall

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The bottom taken from the outside. That is daylight shining through those holes. The entire structure is sitting on bricks and is not flush with the ground. Is this good for ventilation or bad for warmth? Last winter, we did have temperatures of negative 20. The garage is right next to the structure, so electricity is not an issue for heating.

Side view.
Also, does anyone even know what this type of building is called? I'm not even sure what to call it when I'm asking for help.