How to turn an semi truck trailer into a chicken coop for 29(need soon

[chickenman33]

THANKS verry god idea, think i might roll with that

 

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

I would put some sort of siding on it so it looks nice too

 

[CARS]

My first concern would be heat. Ever spent a day in a steel box? If it is an insulated reefer trailer you may get away with it. If that is the case and the refrigeration unit is still attached... A//C!!!

Other than that, you will need to build stairs and possibly a ramp to get into the trailer easily. Think of a deck type of landing on the top to make your life easier/safer. Then just leave yourself a hallway on one side and start building walls. Try to position your side walls to where they line up with the "studs" of the trailer sides. This will give you more strength than just screwing your studs into the skin of the trailer. Anchor the bottom real good too, the top doesn't need to be as strong but you better screw the studs to something. Just look at a few pics of a newly constructed house and you will get an idea of how to build the walls. Just instead of sheetrock, use wire.

You are going to have to add ventilation. On the roof you can add camper style vents, or even a copula! Read Pat's article on ventilation. Good stuff in there.

Do you have the dimensions of the trailer? Just draw out a few ideas before you start building.

Good luck with your project!

 

[patandchickens]

You will need a whooooole lotta ventilation, if it's anything like the shipping containers I've known being used for hay/bedding storage or as (really not good at all) horse shelters. Like, a WHOOOOLLLLE BIG LOT of ventilation. Get out the drill and Sawzall. Seriously. At the very least (it's not sufficient, but it would be helpful and possibly necessary) don't run the pens too close to the open end of the container, so you can leave the end permanently open. That plus a buncha 'window' type vents might be sort of sufficient.

Second, if this container is not insulated then you are eventually going to need insulation on the ceiling and possibly walls too, because in the North you will get major condensation problems with nekkid metal walls like that.

Shipping containers really aren't great for housing livestock (or hay either, come to that)... you can *do* it, but IME not usually very gracefully.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

My barn owner is planning on doing something similar with the old truck back I was using for storage(I rough board)
I think her plan is to put the back door down permanently and then cut/put a person sized door into that.
Then build individual coops into that and of course cut pop doors out to runs. And other windows and such for light and ventilation.
The interior is lined with wood except the ceiling, which is metal.

I used it for two winters for storage of hay and grain and had no issues. The roll up door finally got the best of us and I now have my stuff in a "extra" horse trailer.

My coop is a metal shed. All metal. This spring/summer it is being reworked. Interior will be lined with plywood and insulation put in. Pop door changed. Front doors(sliders) will be kept but a outer screen door built for the warmer months. And some more windows will be cut.

Gonna be a busy spring and summer here! Plus I am determined to at least lunge my horse this summer. Give his brain something. Maybe get him a pasture toy as well.

 

[chickenman33]

thank you all for your help