Leanto Coop? (Maine)

[TheHealingIdea]

Hello all!

Looking to turn this leanto into a coop!
Babies still have a month+ depending on which batch, so I have time, but I am STUMPED on how to design it!

I know all about ventilation; avoiding direct elements; nesting boxes; roosts; protection from predators (-maybe- raccoons, about it around here); etc.
Just having a hard time picturing/deciding how to set it up!

Concrete pad/floor, wood on top is just what I have on hand atm, obviously lots of hardware cloth/mesh.
Lowest part of the leanto is about 6' tall, tallest is 8.5' I think. It's also about 6.5' wide, and about 9' deep.

Any creative people that can help me figure out the best way to make use of this space?!
THAAAAANKS!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I would implore @aart to assist you with this.

 

[aart]

I know all about ventilation; avoiding direct elements; nesting boxes; roosts;

Sounds like you've got it licked then, eh?
So what are your plans for ventilation?

-maybe- raccoons, about it around here

I would think you have more than just raccoons in Maine.
Weasel, mink, bobcat, bear.
You just maybe haven't seen them, yet.

First thing that I see is that under that wood floor is the perfect place for rodents to take up residence.
Does the area flood at all?
Chicken need 'dry' above all else.

Second is the chain link 'wall' in back...any plans for that?
What is on the other side of that chainlink?

What about a front wall, any ideas there?

I would suggest you get some graph paper(for scale) and start sketching.
Have you browsed thru the coop section for some ideas?

 

[TheHealingIdea]

Sounds like you've got it licked then, eh?
So what are your plans for ventilation?


I would think you have more than just raccoons in Maine.
Weasel, mink, bobcat, bear.
You just maybe haven't seen them, yet.

First thing that I see is that under that wood floor is the perfect place for rodents to take up residence.
Does the area flood at all?
Chicken need 'dry' above all else.

Second is the chain link 'wall' in back...any plans for that?
What is on the other side of that chainlink?

What about a front wall, any ideas there?

I would suggest you get some graph paper(for scale) and start sketching.
Have you browsed thru the coop section for some ideas?

Just because I know what my babies need, doesn't mean I'm a master designer. I have the knowledge, but no experience doing this, so I figured I'd ask for ideas. PLUS, someone might have a better way of doing it that suits my babies better than anything I could think of.
Ventilation is the entire back wall, plus the front wall will have plenty of hardware cloth/mesh, I'm sure.

I've lived in Maine my whole life. While yes, in this STATE we have those animals, (though I've never come across them, even when I was growing up by the woods) in my AREA, we do not.

There is no wood floor. As stated in my description, it's a concrete pad, with the wood I currently have sitting on top of it.
No flooding, in my area or that spot of my yard in particular. I wouldn't plan to coop my babies in a flood area. In Maine its more snow, than floods. lol

Back wall was going to be reinforced with the cloth/mesh where needed. The other side of the fence is the neighbor's parking lot, just a little up the hill, so it's above us. But again, no flooding.

Front wall I figured either mostly cloth/mesh with a hard door in it, or potentially a hard bottom half wall (with the c/m on the inside) with a door, the top part being mesh/cloth.

I have looked through the coop section a bit, and google, for days, but I'm not artsy. I didn't see anything that struck me. Sadly, I can't sketch anything to save my life.

Thanks for the response! Even though it sounded like it had a bit of a tone to it.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Just because I know what my babies need, doesn't mean I'm a master designer. I have the knowledge, but no experience doing this, so I figured I'd ask for ideas. PLUS, someone might have a better way of doing it that suits my babies better than anything I could think of.
Ventilation is the entire back wall, plus the front wall will have plenty of hardware cloth/mesh, I'm sure.

I've lived in Maine my whole life. While yes, in this STATE we have those animals, (though I've never come across them, even when I was growing up by the woods) in my AREA, we do not.

There is no wood floor. As stated in my description, it's a concrete pad, with the wood I currently have sitting on top of it.
No flooding, in my area or that spot of my yard in particular. I wouldn't plan to coop my babies in a flood area. In Maine its more snow, than floods. lol

Back wall was going to be reinforced with the cloth/mesh where needed. The other side of the fence is the neighbor's parking lot, just a little up the hill, so it's above us. But again, no flooding.

Front wall I figured either mostly cloth/mesh with a hard door in it, or potentially a hard bottom half wall (with the c/m on the inside) with a door, the top part being mesh/cloth.

I have looked through the coop section a bit, and google, for days, but I'm not artsy. I didn't see anything that struck me. Sadly, I can't sketch anything to save my life.

Thanks for the response! Even though it sounded like it had a bit of a tone to it.

I think you must of misunderstood. @aart is one of the most knowledgeable people on this site regarding coop building. We need information to determine how to best advise you. I would suggest reviewing the coop building thread thoroughly to get a better understanding of the process. IMHO you need to bulk up the existing lean-to to create an actual structure. A wall of chain link fence is not a real wall especially for your climate.

 

[TheHealingIdea]

Maybe I did, but my original message was misread and seemingly doubted. So it came across with a bit of a patronizing tone.
I don’t believe any questions they asked revealed any new info, aside from my nonexistent plans. And the bit about flooding, which wasn’t -really- needed when I said I’d done my reasearch and common sense would say that I knew chickens wouldn’t wanna be flooded.
As previously stated, I have been through the coop thread. And google. Even reddit actually! I’ve spent over a week now trying to come up with the best design.
The lean to is quite sturdy already, it’s been there through some lovely snow storms the last few years. Maybe some winterizing on the back wall, but it shouldn’t need much as the bottom is partially blocked already and that privacy stuff really blocks a lot.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Maybe I did, but my original message was misread and seemingly doubted. So it came across with a bit of a patronizing tone.
I don’t believe any questions they asked revealed any new info, aside from my nonexistent plans. And the bit about flooding, which wasn’t -really- needed when I said I’d done my reasearch and common sense would say that I knew chickens wouldn’t wanna be flooded.
As previously stated, I have been through the coop thread. And google. Even reddit actually! I’ve spent over a week now trying to come up with the best design.
The lean to is quite sturdy already, it’s been there through some lovely snow storms the last few years. Maybe some winterizing on the back wall, but it shouldn’t need much as the bottom is partially blocked already and that privacy stuff really blocks a lot.

I’m sorry but I can’t help you. If the designs on the coop thread don’t give you ideas to turn that lean-to into a coop (which I think is not a great idea) then see if you have some one near you that could give you a hand. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck.

 

[aart]

I know all about ventilation; avoiding direct elements; nesting boxes; roosts; protection from predators

Sounds like you've got it licked then, eh?

Even though it sounded like it had a bit of a tone to it.

Yep, I was being bit of smartbutt because you sounded like you already knew everything already, why I added the wink to show I was joshin' ya.
I tried to point out some areas of concern, which you have rebutted as unnecessary for discussion. So I'm not sure exactly what it is you're asking for, in which case I can't help.

 

[TheHealingIdea]

I’ve done exstensive research, that’s all I said. Came asking for coop ideas, not chicken care tips (like keeping them dry), so I figured I’d make that clear upfront. But all it did was make you somehow think I was being a pain, so awesome.
You talked about a wood floor, when my post said concrete, so I had a feeling you weren’t really reading it, just kinda assuming.
You also brought up Maine animals, as if I didn’t know, or like you knew better.
And you asked about flooding, but that seems pretty common sense to me? Who would put animals in a flood area?
So I’m not sure how I rebutted constructive concerns there...

I just came looking for design ideas for my specific space, as I said. Trying to figure out the best way of constructing it and I can’t draw to save my life, ergo, I posted here.
Didn’t expect to be patronized or have my knowledge of my own backyard questioned though... so whee!

Guess I’m on my own. Have a good one!

 

[aart]

You talked about a wood floor, when my post said concrete

I saw the concrete and what looks like a wood floor. <shrugs> Sorry.
Best of cLuck!