Help us remodel our coop

[Fluggefarmstead]

Looking for recommendations/suggestions.
We bought our farmstead 2 years ago. It was pretty run down and we’ve put an incredible amount of sweat equity into it thus far. Disclosure we are in very north iowa. Stones throw from minnesota for climate

On our docket for 2023 is to redo our poultry building. It is 30x50 and I believe at one time was a commercial poultry building originally built in the early 1950s. It’s structurally in good condition (as good as a 70+ yr old building can be). We currently have a flock of around 100 birds (90% laying hens) give or take a few.

Current thoughts:
- We are looking to put steel on the exterior to preserve it further.
- adding two automatic chicken doors (one purchased - omlet brand)
- old wooden windows were already replaced with vinyl ones
- rebuilding/adding walk through door on pen side or/and end without a door
- running new electrical throughout on inside

Current thoughts for feedback/suggestions:
- while we are at it, I want to build a permanent run. A nice one that we don’t have to keep “cobbling” together. Anyone love theirs and is it of this size? (Our pen is also about 50x30). Our ladies free range when we are home but when we are not they are contained to their run.
- one of my current peeves about our building is the dust/cobwebs. It’s terrible. All the netting/pen configuration is gross. Is there a proper way to help with the chicken dust building up? Exhaust fans/vents/etc?
- we currently just operate as a backyard laying flock. I’d like to get into more of a small farm operation with eggs or perhaps breeding desired birds in the future (looking to turn more profit).
- while my goal is to make the building look nicer and function for our ladies, I also am looking to add equity to our land in this process. (We already made improvements to our barn in 2022 and our house needs to be removed in the next decade as it is not structurally sound - so for all things related to building a new home - I need any equity I can get.
- any other must haves for your poultry building??

Tia

(Ps. Please excuse our mess/crap laying around)

 

[Cool_Catrules456]

Maybe plant some fruit trees next to it (that way if you dont pick the fruit in time it falls right into the chicken pen. Plus it gives them some shade. Chickens love places to perch outside. Maybe give them a couple of perches out there. Thats all I can think of. But shade is the must out of all of them.

 

[3KillerBs]

You might want to consult your local Ag agent about dealing with a building of this size and vintage.

The louvers in the first picture look like they *ought* to have had a fan behind them. Any signs of an old mounting bracket, etc?

 

[Krugerrand]

- we currently just operate as a backyard laying flock. I’d like to get into more of a small farm operation with eggs or perhaps breeding desired birds in the future (looking to turn more profit).

@U_Stormcrow can be a great resource for this project. I remember he had a thread about dealing with inspectors doing routine checks on his flock. If you're redoing things, I could see wanting to take chicken processing through inspections into design consideration.

Your state's thread can be a great resource for things specific to Iowa. (BTW, you can add a general location to your profile to help those offering advice.)

One thought that came to my mind was something to catch rain water.

 

[mufflerchick]

I am in central MN so I think climate is similar. I think that the dust and cobwebs are just a part of chickens. I have a small hand wisk broom (my coop is conciderably smaller than yours) the I use to knock down the cobwebs when I'm in cleaning and changing out bedding. Definaltely having a small fan up in the peak of your coop to move air will help. I also agree that planting some fruit trees or shade trees near you coop is good. They will love scratchin through the leaves in the fall and shade is a MUST!! Having a few random perches will help to entertain them also.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Sweat equity is something I know - I'm drenched (digging 100' of trench, 30" deep to set electrical and water lines to my... BARN. Damn, but I hate digging clay. One trenching shovel "lifetime warranty my @$$" returned already).

I don't have a good run design, mine free range constantly, I'm looking to repurpose the livestock fencing I used originally as the posts rot out.

My barn is about 14 x 42, plus a big overhang in the front (another 4+ foot), with eaves of about 20" on either side.

Once you get the power out there (consider running water, too - so you can provide liquid in the winters without having to haul it, and where the birds, the structure, and the ground all protect it from freezing) - once you get power - a big fan which draws air IN near the roof line will both ensure good ventilation and help to minimize the problems exhaust fans have with dust/feather dander/etc. Possibly where the existing vent is, between the two windows? A simple fixed awning design will offer it weather protection.

And yes, the value of doors that allow straight access in/between pens/etc can't be overstated. If you want to configure for breeding, you will need a way to seperate flocks. I don't know what your floor is, but if its concrete, you can use flanges to secure posts for chain link then reconfigure as needed. I like "off the shelf" solutions, and chain link is available everywhere (though only good for adult birds, if you are trying to contain them).


If your floor is dirt, gravel, or recycled concrete base you are better off using a 4x4 post base, anchored to the ground with a stake. Same concept, light frame timber internal pony walls to set areas apart from one another - and when you need to reconfiger, remove a few screws or brackets, mount in the next desired location...

Like anyhting else in building, setting them at multpiles of 4' on center makes things easiest.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Oh, last tip. Depending on your floor material, one of the best things you can do is empty the thing out, and get good dimensions. Lay things out on graph paper, including doors and windows, so you are comfortable with the plan. Then transfer those plans to the floor of your barn using mason's string, spray paint, sidewalk chalk, whatever. Now walk thru it. Walk thru it with a rake, a wheelbarrow. If you are still happy, start building.

If not, you know what to fix. and I would not make a corridor more narrow than 3'. Since you are laying out 4' oc, that's a better plan - it feels roomy, and its easier to navigate corners with large or bulky objects.

 

[Brooks_]

Oh, last tip. Depending on your floor material, one of the best things you can do is empty the thing out, and get good dimensions. Lay things out on graph paper, including doors and windows, so you are comfortable with the plan. Then transfer those plans to the floor of your barn using mason's string, spray paint, sidewalk chalk, whatever. Now walk thru it. Walk thru it with a rake, a wheelbarrow. If you are still happy, start building.

If not, you know what to fix. and I would not make a corridor more narrow than 3'. Since you are laying out 4' oc, that's a better plan - it feels roomy, and its easier to navigate corners with large or bulky objects.

Post of the week. Yes, walk through like birds are in there,

 

[Fluggefarmstead]

You might want to consult your local Ag agent about dealing with a building of this size and vintage.

The louvers in the first picture look like they *ought* to have had a fan behind them. Any signs of an old mounting bracket, etc?

That’s kinda what I was thinking but we don’t see anything! We want to put vents/fans in though!

 

[Fluggefarmstead]

Sweat equity is something I know - I'm drenched (digging 100' of trench, 30" deep to set electrical and water lines to my... BARN. Damn, but I hate digging clay. One trenching shovel "lifetime warranty my @$$" returned already).

I don't have a good run design, mine free range constantly, I'm looking to repurpose the livestock fencing I used originally as the posts rot out.

My barn is about 14 x 42, plus a big overhang in the front (another 4+ foot), with eaves of about 20" on either side.

Once you get the power out there (consider running water, too - so you can provide liquid in the winters without having to haul it, and where the birds, the structure, and the ground all protect it from freezing) - once you get power - a big fan which draws air IN near the roof line will both ensure good ventilation and help to minimize the problems exhaust fans have with dust/feather dander/etc. Possibly where the existing vent is, between the two windows? A simple fixed awning design will offer it weather protection.

And yes, the value of doors that allow straight access in/between pens/etc can't be overstated. If you want to configure for breeding, you will need a way to seperate flocks. I don't know what your floor is, but if its concrete, you can use flanges to secure posts for chain link then reconfigure as needed. I like "off the shelf" solutions, and chain link is available everywhere (though only good for adult birds, if you are trying to contain them).
View attachment 3244871

If your floor is dirt, gravel, or recycled concrete base you are better off using a 4x4 post base, anchored to the ground with a stake. Same concept, light frame timber internal pony walls to set areas apart from one another - and when you need to reconfiger, remove a few screws or brackets, mount in the next desired location...

View attachment 3244885
Like anyhting else in building, setting them at multpiles of 4' on center makes things easiest.

We have power a water line was once there but has since been shut off and we had it quoted to re-attach and it was 4K so we are skipping that for now
We already have breed pens designed. Inside the coop there is 8 pens about 10x8. Appx