Little Tikes Playhouse to Coop in NW IN?

[pawsplus]

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That does look like a neat job! Maybe figure out a way to have plexi that you can slide into place in the wintertime.

I would probably cover the floor w/ hardware cloth as well (i.e., turn over and bolt hardware cloth in to cover the entire bottom). This is a lightweight playhouse and it wouldn't take much for a 'coon to overturn it. Having it inside the dog run (covered) is good, of course, but added precautions are never amiss!

 

[gryeyes]

One of my coops is a transmorgrified Little Tikes playhouse. It was a grow-out coop for four pullets, but now Two HUGE JG Roos and an EE hen use it at night. I put a roost bar from one window to the other and secured it with lots of wire. There are two, stacked milk crates in one corner for nest boxes. Hardware cloth is held in place by long, self-tapping stews and flat, fender washers.

I put it on a 4x4 sheet of plywood, over a pallet, on top of stacked concrete blocks so it's about two feet off the ground. I didn't go the route with spray-in foam for insulation, because winters are mild here. When I move up to 2,000 feet elevation, I will add the insulation before winter, even though that coop probably will not be used on a daily basis any more. (old garage, 17 by 22 feet, is going to be the new coop for my whole flock...)

But these plastic playhouses make perfectly fine, small coops! Cute, too.

 

[teach1rusl]

Can you find a way to cover at least part of the dog run?? I know that unless I shovel clearings, my birds don't like to venture outside into snow (we're in southern IN), and that would be pretty cramped for four grown birds (will seem quite roomy when they're chicks)...
You would definitely need to screw plexiglass over any window openings (in winter), w/hardware cloth all season. And you would need to find a way to latch that door very securely.
*Will the run be covered/roofed with at least wire???

 

[Smittenroade]

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It sounds like the OP is using a dog run which could probably be fully enclosed and predator proofed. So if the coop is inside that, it shouldn't have to be as secure.

x2

 

[TheBrumstead]

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Yes, I have a few large, heavy duty tarps from a Clear-Span type lean-to that was destroyed in a wind storm, along with some tubing. I can also do hardware cloth on top.

 

[pawsplus]

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Just a warning . . . as I learned to my detriment, you can't just put a tarp over the top of a flat surface. What happens is that water (or snow) accumulates (fast!) in the tarp, which then collapses the wire (no matter how you attach it), flooding the pen and potentially hurting your chix. Mine were all OK, thank goodness, b/c I saw what was happening and slashed the tarp to let water out slowly b/f it brought the whole thing crashing down.

See my BYC page (in sig) for my solution--if you have a 10x10 dog run, as I do, this might be a good option for you. It looks great and prevents snow/rain buildup.

In re-reading, it looks as if you plan to make a hooped top? That would do it, too. I find, though, that often trying to jerry-rig things ends up costing more than just buying them ready-made.

 

[azmotogirl]

We started with a playhouse and used it for the chickens..... then we found another one and my husband expanded into a duplex.... here are some pictures...... the roost runs through both houses and sits on the outside window sills.

 

[TheBrumstead]

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Just a warning . . . as I learned to my detriment, you can't just put a tarp over the top of a flat surface. What happens is that water (or snow) accumulates (fast!) in the tarp, which then collapses the wire (no matter how you attach it), flooding the pen and potentially hurting your chix. ...
In re-reading, it looks as if you plan to make a hooped top? That would do it, too. I find, though, that often trying to jerry-rig things ends up costing more than just buying them ready-made.

Tarps also become wind-sails if not properly anchored. We learned that all too well. Thank God my horses weren't hurt when this happened to our shelter:

It wasn't properly anchored and flew about 200 ft in a wind storm. We still have the metal and the tarps. I should be able to use the top metal pieces to make a roof and use the tarps over it. At least now we know that the anchors they sent us are actually for a dog kennel. We never used them because they wouldn't work right with this shelter, so I have them available for use now

The dog kennel is 12x7, I haven't been able to find a roof attachment for it like yours, only a shade cloth for that size.

 

[TheBrumstead]

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Too cute! I love how it's the same house, but different color roof and shutters

 

[Heathero617]

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This is too cool!!! I have one i was getting ready to sell, although its not one with a roof or door, its more like a castle with a slide off of it. I might be able to do something like this and take the slide off and put in a ramp instead for the little nuggets!!! Ohhh the inspiration i get from you guys is endless!


"SORRY KIDS, MAMA'S TAKING THE PLAYHOUSE!!!"