Help me modify my prefab coop?

[MagistraTn]

What does the whole coop look like from the outside? Can you post a pic of it from the TSC website if you don’t have a pic already? Your barred rock is so cute! I have 3 and they are my favorite breed (so far…trying out a few new ones this year!)

thanks, I was thinking i have a couple of Roos, but now I’m not so sure, they are really feathering out and getting big at 2 weeks! I’m ready to get them outside. My husband is going to start sneezing in the garage!

@rosemarythyme its more like 24sq ft total footprint. The “run” area with the ramp is 9 sq ft, sorry if I was unclear…I am constantly feeling like I’m in the Tower of Babel these days!

 

[Iluveggers]

Ok my suggestions for modifying. Use the entire run as the coop. If you extend the floor all the way across the run, it would be about 24 sq ft of space which is ok for 6 chickens (I think it would be ok for your 7 but don’t add any more). Take the wall off where the ramp is, and move it to the outside wall, use that as an entrance to the coop. Then enclose the rest of the screen around the top section of the coop. I would reinforce the new bottom with extra wood & possible hardware cloth to keep animals out. You could keep the top pointy part uncovered to add ventilation.

Blue: where to add flooring & enforce w hardware cloth
Green: where to add walls (keep the door but enclose the top), and move the ramp out
Red: ventilation on both sides of top
Eventually you will probably need to reinforce the roof but if you add a covered run over it, the coop will last much longer.

I hope this makes sense.

 

[MagistraTn]

Ok my suggestions for modifying. Use the entire run as the coop. If you extend the floor all the way across the run, it would be about 24 sq ft of space which is ok for 6 chickens (I think it would be ok for your 7 but don’t add any more). Take the wall off where the ramp is, and move it to the outside wall, use that as an entrance to the coop. Then enclose the rest of the screen around the top section of the coop. I would reinforce the new bottom with extra wood & possible hardware cloth to keep animals out. You could keep the top pointy part uncovered to add ventilation.

Blue: where to add flooring & enforce w hardware cloth
Green: where to add walls (keep the door but enclose the top), and move the ramp out
Red: ventilation on both sides of top
Eventually you will probably need to reinforce the roof but if you add a covered run over it, the coop will last much longer.

I hope this makes sense.
View attachment 3012170

You make perfect sense and your markup is extremely helpful, thank you! I think I can maintain the door (under the gable, your green scribble to the left) for mucking out. Do I put food and water underneath, so they can access when they are “out”? Or do they need access 24/7? (Sorry for dumb question, I get the feeling they should have 24/7 access to water, probably food, too)

 

[Iluveggers]

You make perfect sense and your markup is extremely helpful, thank you! I think I can maintain the door (under the gable, your green scribble to the left) for mucking out. Do I put food and water underneath, so they can access when they are “out”? Or do they need access 24/7? (Sorry for dumb question, I get the feeling they should have 24/7 access to water, probably food, too)

I would put them both under. I like my girls to come out and get fresh air in all weather! If they are sleeping they won’t need food & water, & it would give them more floor space if it’s not in the coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

Here's how another member modified her prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

 

[rosemarythyme]

@rosemarythyme its more like 24sq ft total footprint. The “run” area with the ramp is 9 sq ft, sorry if I was unclear…I am constantly feeling like I’m in the Tower of Babel these days!

View attachment 3012129

If it's 24 sq ft footprint (NOT coop + run, strictly the ground floor footprint) then yes I'd look into altering the entire thing into a coop like others have mentioned. My write up:

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do I put food and water underneath, so they can access when they are “out”? Or do they need access 24/7? (Sorry for dumb question, I get the feeling they should have 24/7 access to water, probably food, too)

You will not have space inside for food and water, so plan on having those outside. They do not need 24/7 access to either, only during day time when they're awake and active.

 

[3KillerBs]

You will not have space inside for food and water, so plan on having those outside. They do not need 24/7 access to either, only during day time when they're awake and active.

Something like this might come in handy: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/an-outdoor-shelter-for-the-feeder-and-waterer.76487/

 

[rosemarythyme]

Something like this might come in handy: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/an-outdoor-shelter-for-the-feeder-and-waterer.76487/

Yes, definitely. Or if you aren't so handy, I keep an eye out for free junk on the curb, if folks in your area are inclined to put some out... might be able to find something like a small table or something similar which would do just as well as a food shelter.

 

[MagistraTn]

If it's 24 sq ft footprint (NOT coop + run, strictly the ground floor footprint) then yes I'd look into altering the entire thing into a coop like others have mentioned. My write up:

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

That was an excellent write up and modification, thank you! it seems the easiest and most spacious so far. I just need to board up some walls, remove some insides & relocate the ramp & roosts. Maybe it’s not easy as pie, but seems doable and I’m excited to right my mistake. Do you think I can leave it as a dirt floor? id love that because deep bed method seems like the way to go. It will be inside a predator proof run. I could even pick it up and move it to another spot in the run.