Horse Stall turned Chicken coop

[Cie]

Hi all....Since we are stay at home and the chicks have arrived...I have been working on the conversion of a horse stall to a chicken coop. I have done all the predator guard I can think of and ventilation is good. I have also built the nesting boxes. The girls will we let out free ranging during the day when I go out to deal with the horses.

The stall door is still the chicken door, with a stall guard going in to keep the horses and donkeys out when the door is left open and boards on the bottom that will block the under door gap when the door is shut.

I do have some questions....The exterior wall ( where the light shines thru the slats): it faces west.....Our predominant winds come from the north. There are large barn doors facing north ( where the truck is parked) that I close in winter to shelter the barn...and prevents the wind tunnel effect. Should I cover that exterior west facing wall with plastic, boards? wire?

The stall I used is on the south end of the barn....next to the tack room...there are 2 more stalls on that side of the barn moving north....

The entire ceiling and stall face to the aisle is all wire mesh, ventilation is very good..... Now....for the layout plans. Which wall to hang the nesting boxes on? Suggestions welcome! I'm 61 years young and doing this solo...I am pretty good with tools ( I think) but I want this right....the first time! Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Should I cover that exterior west facing wall with plastic, boards? wire?

The entire ceiling and stall face to the aisle is all wire mesh, ventilation is very good..... Now....for the layout plans. Which wall to hang the nesting boxes on?

What are you covering the wall for? Predator protection? Wind/weather protection? Assuming it's to ward off predators but still allow light and air through, hardware cloth should do it.

Nest boxes can pretty much go anywhere, though you want to install them lower than roost bars. My only other suggestion is don't place them right next to the chicken's access door, to reduce the amount of mud/dirt they track into the boxes.

 

[Cie]

Thanks. I was thinking about next winter....covering with plastic....but in finishing the coop, I think they will be OK. All openings: facing the aisle/ceiling/corners/outside are covered in mesh wire and the big doors are usually closed in winter to prevent the wind tunnel! I put roosting bars in the 3 corners and above, below/in front of the laying boxes....I think I have it all covered!