Is there anything I’m missing? (Shed to poultry barn conversion)

[TwistedTayy]

The shed is 10x25ft metal siding, with electrical run to it. And windows but I will be adding additional ventilation in addition to security doors on either end.

I missed a human door from the interior into the goose stall but basically aside from the second+ stories on the stacked pens, I want everything to be able to have access through the aisle. The pen on the left will be for the existing duck flock and the grow out breeding pens will not be permanent housing. The pop door on the right will be for the barn cats to come in for shelter as needed but have no access to any birds.

This is being done by a contractor so I want to be sure I’ve thought of everything before I pass it along. Runs will be covered. My chickens are bantam/light fowl with the largest being 5lbs. Geese are cotton patch so also small and ducks are welsh harlequin (also a light breed).


Inspiration pics:

 

[TwistedTayy]

I just took some pictures of the shed to add.

Please excuse the mess. The interior crappy wood siding will be removed bc rats are living in it and holes/ingress will be filled. Floor is clay and it’s on a brick foundation. Roof will be replaced with tinted dark panels for some natural light. All shelves will obvs be removed… everything down to the studs. Not sure how to predator proof the windows to where I can still open them so any ideas are welcome. They just have screens on them so I can’t open wide enough rn for proper ventilation with out making it insecure (in case I forget to close at night).

 

[3KillerBs]

Love the big, well-organized space!

Roof will be replaced with tinted dark panels for some natural light.

In Georgia even tinted translucent panels are likely to turn the shed into a rotisserie.

You might want to consider pulling a great deal of siding off to create an entire vent wall.

Not sure how to predator proof the windows to where I can still open them so any ideas are welcome. They just have screens on them so I can’t open wide enough rn for proper ventilation with out making it insecure (in case I forget to close at night).

You could take the windows out of their frames and replace them with hardware cloth and top-hinged covers.

 

[TwistedTayy]

Love the big, well-organized space!



In Georgia even tinted translucent panels are likely to turn the shed into a rotisserie.

You might want to consider pulling a great deal of siding off to create an entire vent wall.



You could take the windows out of their frames and replace them with hardware cloth and top-hinged covers.

I’ve been seriously considering an open coop. It’s already a rotisserie. I had decided against it because we have driving heavy rain and winds on occasion but as I was typing I realized that I’m going to have covered runs on either side! I feel so silly. I probably will still go with tinted roof but now I realized it’ll be covered I will probably end up taking out sections. I’m sure I would have realized eventually lol but at least I’m not worried about that.

 

[3KillerBs]

I’ve been seriously considering an open coop. It’s already a rotisserie. I had decided against it because we have driving heavy rain and winds on occasion but as I was typing I realized that I’m going to have covered runs on either side! I feel so silly. I probably will still go with tinted roof but now I realized it’ll be covered I will probably end up taking out sections. I’m sure I would have realized eventually lol but at least I’m not worried about that.

I am a tremendous fan of open air style coops -- especially for us here in the Steamy Southeast.

I haven't completed the coop article yet (I wanted to use it for a year first), but this is my build thread for my own open air coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/large-open-air-coop-in-central-nc.1443812/

You can see more photos of it in this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

I need to divide it to separate breeding groups.

A thought -- when you make your covered runs you might duplicate my clerestory offset for the rooflines to enhance airflow.

 

[TwistedTayy]

I am a tremendous fan of open air style coops -- especially for us here in the Steamy Southeast.

I haven't completed the coop article yet (I wanted to use it for a year first), but this is my build thread for my own open air coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/large-open-air-coop-in-central-nc.1443812/

You can see more photos of it in this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

I need to divide it to separate breeding groups.

A thought -- when you make your covered runs you might duplicate my clerestory offset for the rooflines to enhance airflow.

If I was building from scratch that’s probably exactly what I would do.

The shed is a lean-to style already so my plan is to slope the run roofs away from the shed (obviously). The overhang of the existing roof isn’t much so I’ll have to see what we can do when we start taking pieces off. The lack of overhang makes me feel like the vents will have to do below the run roof so it gets vented into the run unless I can figure something out. We have periods of drought followed by HEAVY rains sometimes over 6” in a day and sometimes driving so I don’t want water infiltration at all. I already have a fan set up on a thermostatic switch but it doesn’t do much to make it comfortable in there during the day (the ducks are the only ones living in there atm and they much prefer to be out free ranging). Winter and broodies are about the only times I can see anyone using it during the day but I can’t even stand to be in there very long, not to mention the flies and rats.

 

[3KillerBs]

It's kind of redneck (well, maybe a lot redneck ), but I used scrap metal siding to make the awnings for the vents on my brooder.

Maybe you can repurpose some of the siding you take off as vent awnings? I found it amazingly easy to work that metal with a hammer, some chunks of 2x4, a couple different kinds of pliers, and the edge of a heavy outdoor table.

 

[TwistedTayy]

So we have finally begun construction (ok, it started a month ago). Estimate from contractor began at 8k and is now 10k. Not happy but apparently the general contractor did not understand my blueprints. Includes 3’ x 700’ fence.

That’s where the project stands as of today. We only contacted them to do framing and then we would cover the HC.

 

[springvalley123]

Nice! what is the 3 foot tall fence supposed to keep in/out?

 

[TwistedTayy]

Nice! what is the 3 foot tall fence supposed to keep in/out?

Lol keep in ducks/geese. I don’t expect it to keep anything out but I decided that if predators can get over a 6ft fence then we may as well save the money. I’ve been using a 3 ft plastic fence for the last year and it’s done well but the rabbits are chewing holes that the ducks take advantage of.