Hi!, new to chikens looking for advice on coop style

[Logar]

How would you divide it? like Left half right half or front and back?

It can be divided any way you want to as long as the chickens would have adequate space.

 

[avjudge]

How would you divide it? like Left half right half or front and back?

That really depends on its dimensions and your planned use. When you have more time on the property you could jot down dimensions and a bigger variety of pictures if possible, then post them here and I bet you’ll get a lot of thoughts!

The obvious way to divide it if it is significantly larger than the chickens need would be a solid wall across the middle (possibly with a door in it) and add a second exterior door so there is one in each end. That way you have a storage shed separated from the chicken dust. Done simply, with a wall from floor to roof, that would interfere with cross ventilation from gable vents, though. There are ways around that, either by building a small “attic“ through which air can pass if you want the storage area to be dust free (you would effectively be building a ceiling to your storage area), or by not worrying about dust in the storage area and just making the wall all or part of screen/hardware cloth.

On the other hand, my 6 chickens (here in Northern New Hampshire, a little south of you but less ocean effect) spent the days during two winters in a horse stall (12’x12’) in my barn. They loved that, and to this day if the barn doors are open (chickens free ranging) I have to keep the stall door closed or they will go in there to scratch in the bedding. I built a hoop run last fall, very similar square footage, covered half with a tarp and the other half with clear plastic, and they are really not fans. So if you don’t feel a need for storage, your chickens may enjoy the extra indoor space during inclement winter weather and you wouldn’t have to make your run as weatherproof. You could just put a cabinet in a corner to hold feed, calcium, grit, extra feeders, etc. if you need a place for that.

Those are just some thoughts off the top of my head, not specifically recommending any particular course of action.