how would YOU turn this into a coop

[sue121507]

So in a few weeks I will be moving to a place where I can have some chickens. At my new place a swing set will be left behind and I thought it would be perfect to turn into a coop. I am looking for some ideas on how I should convert it. I only want 4-5 chickens so i believe it will be the perfect size. It is about 5 feet wide, 6 feet tall, and 8-10 feet long (I don't know the exact measurements, but I believe this is close). At first I thought about turning the area under the slide into the coop part and making the swing area a run (they will also be free ranging), but then I saw plans for an A frame coop where the coop was on top and the run on bottom. I am worried that having it that way would be more difficult to clean though. How would you personally build it? Pictures and ideas would be great, I have a month or so before I can start building.

Thanks everyone!

 

[21hens-incharge]

OH what a good treasure there!
I would make the where the slide is attached the coop and the swing side the run. SUPER easy that way.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/swing-set-chicken-coop

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/steadfasts-chicken-coop

http://www.chickencoopsruns.org/tag/swing-set-chicken-coop

Just a couple that I found with a quick search. I think there are awesome possibilities for you.

 

[sue121507]

Awesome, thanks. I never even thought to look up other swing set coops.

OH what a good treasure there!
I would make the where the slide is attached the coop and the swing side the run. SUPER easy that way.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/swing-set-chicken-coop

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/steadfasts-chicken-coop

http://www.chickencoopsruns.org/tag/swing-set-chicken-coop

Just a couple that I found with a quick search. I think there are awesome possibilities for you.

 

[21hens-incharge]

WOW I just notice you are all brand new here.

I think you will find a wealth of information here. LOTS of great people sharing advice and information from their experience certainly helped me with my flock.

I think you have good bones in the swingset. You will certainly make a super coop out of it and save a ton of money in the process.

 

[sue121507]

Yep I am. I'm super excited to be able to get some chickens soon and I can't resist planning and seeing what ideas others have too. I'll be using all recycled wood so hopefully I'll have very minimal cost too.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think your biggest cost will end up being the wire. Many use hardware cloth 1/2 inch for the runs to keep predators out. Large dogs should be considered a predator. I know mine would gladly rid the yard of poultry given a chance. Hardware cloth cannot stop my 120 pound dogs so I went with chain link for mine.

I would, for the style of yours, use hardware cloth. The home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowes will not be the best priced on it. Look into the farm supply stores. I found some I used for the windows and for a brooder at half the cost of the big home improvement stores.
Please also read the learning center pages about ventilation and mud etc. So very much great information there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

I go back a lot and read more and more.

 

[sue121507]

Ya, I have been doing a lot of reading. Definitely will be using hardware cloth, I already have some, I'm sure will need a lot more though.

 

[aart]

I wouldn't.....
A-frames seem fine for a coop at the foot print, but get smaller and smaller the higher you go,
once you get to the roosts the chickens are banging their heads and sitting in a ventilation draft.

Might make a good run framework (5x10 would be good for 4-5 chickens) but I'd build a nice sized walk in coop attached to it,
for the health of your birds and the ease of cleaning for the keeper.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hiya Aart,
On the pics in post one there is a flat part where the slide attaches. Not sure how big it is but you are right about the narrowness of the a-frame at the top.
Do you think the flat part would work as a base for a coop? That is the area I was looking at when I was thinking this would be a neat coop for the OP.

 

[sue121507]

The frame is about 7' tall ( I know i said 6' in the OP, but my boyfriend said it was taller than him and he is about 6') so I feel that would be plenty of room. I did a quick 3D sketch of what I was thinking I would do. The run would be 3' tall and the coop 4' at the highest point. I am still working on what to do for the roost, but I was thinking it should be at least 2' from the highest point of the coop. I have 3 nesting boxes shown, but I might only do the bottom two so I don't have to worry about them trying to roost in the top box. Behind the boxes will be a door to collect the eggs. The rectangle box (where the slide used to be) is for storing feed/bedding/etc. I plan to have the entire front be able to be opened so the coop part will be able to fold down and the run part be able to fold up (not at the same time), I hope that makes sense. There will be a couple windows on the back and door of the coop, 3-4 total I think, they will be able to be open in the summer and closed in the winter. The top half will be enclosed and the bottom will be all mesh. What do you think?