Help Needed

[3KillerBs]

Thank you!

I go away for a maximum of 4 days at a time and think my best option could be to keep the girls inside their coop during this time, what sort of size would we be talking for this?

I couldn't say.

All my facilities are oversized except for one coop that I don't use much (it needs a new roost and to be relocated).

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

I couldn't say.

All my facilities are oversized except for one coop that I don't use much (it needs a new roost and to be relocated).

Okay, I understand. This gives me some stuff to think about thank you.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

I couldn't say.

All my facilities are oversized except for one coop that I don't use much (it needs a new roost and to be relocated).

What would you say about using one of those metal garden sheds? Sometimes see them for like £150, would be 6x4 foot most likely.

 

[3KillerBs]

What would you say about using one of those metal garden sheds? Sometimes see them for like £150, would be 6x4 foot most likely.

I've wanted to try my hand at converting one of those. The key would be to get them sufficiently well-ventilated without letting any rain in.

One suggestion I've seen -- and no guarantee that this would work -- would be to cut the vents in the metal then bend it out to form it's own cover. With hardware cloth over the vents to keep predators out, of course.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

I've wanted to try my hand at converting one of those. The key would be to get them sufficiently well-ventilated without letting any rain in.

One suggestion I've seen -- and no guarantee that this would work -- would be to cut the vents in the metal then bend it out to form it's own cover. With hardware cloth over the vents to keep predators out, of course.

6x4 metal shed grabbed on a quick sale for £120, should come Thursday so will begin possibly Sunday.. busy few weeks! Gonna have to figure out how to do the floor and everything. Roosts and nest boxes will be easy, so will ventilation. The chicken door maybe hard to, will see if I can find any guides

 

[Rose Quartz]

If you put the human door inside the run then you don't need a chicken door. Just need a way to keep the door open during the day.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

If you put the human door inside the run then you don't need a chicken door. Just need a way to keep the door open during the day.

Very true, however you're forgetting I'm not very intelligent

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

Do I want the floor to be completely sealed? If I screw the shed down onto a very thick sheet of OSB wood, then use external sealant around the edges that'd seal up nicely. Will be able to raise it then or keep it on the floor since it's on bricks anyway

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

Most these metal shed builds use insulation boards on the walls but I'm not sure that's necessary for me as down here rarely gets below freezing for more than a couple of days at a time, I didn't get condensation on my quail shed (also metal) last year either.

 

[3KillerBs]

Do I want the floor to be completely sealed? If I screw the shed down onto a very thick sheet of OSB wood, then use external sealant around the edges that'd seal up nicely. Will be able to raise it then or keep it on the floor since it's on bricks anyway

I think that's a personal preference thing. I'm loving my dirt-floored coops for the ease of using Deep Litter, but I had to add a floor to the brooder after losing 7 out of 12 chicks to snakes even after I'd *thought* I'd blocked all the possible gaps.

Most these metal shed builds use insulation boards on the walls but I'm not sure that's necessary for me as down here rarely gets below freezing for more than a couple of days at a time, I didn't get condensation on my quail shed (also metal) last year either.

If it's working in the quail shed it ought to work for the chickens -- assuming adequate ventilation.

Metal's a wonderful material for people keeping animals in mild climates.