Making use of what I have

[McCulloch610]

We are looking to establish our flock this spring. Recently we moved to a property where the previous owner once raised a few sheep. There was a small sheep barn 16' x 32' with a pen fenced with a combination of hog panel type wire fence and rail fence with a bunch of pre-fab steel gates, etc... The barn was torn down but the concrete block foundation and slab remains, and it has two 15 amp circuits running to it. My idea was to build a coop over a small part (the rest I'll eventually use as an equipment shed) of the old sheep barn foundation that opened out into a large fenced run. I figure with the concrete block foundation and floor it will be a secure way to guard against predators getting into the coop itself, at least from under the ground. For the run I'll take down some of the old fencing and lay some old chicken wire on the ground then the hog panels on top and bury them. That way I won't get any foxes or coyotes coming in Bugs Bunny style.

I'm just not sure how large to size the coop or the run. They won't be confined to the run all of the time, just when we can't be out there with them. That said, I think we only really need about four to six hens as we're just looking for enough eggs for a family of four. Lots of folks around us have chickens so it can be hard to sell eggs or even give them away, so we don't want to have too many. We probably will also keep a rooster and maybe a guinea as we're fairly isolated and don't need to be worried about noise. I'll be looking around for ideas but figured I'd ask about repurposing what I have first.

 

[17 chickens]

I really like your idea about burying it in the ground!

 

[Welshies]

Chicken wire is not predator proof... only thing I have to say. Otherwise, it sounds great

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Figure 4 sq ft per bird for coop space, 10 ft per bird for run space. Always overestimate you coop size, however, because there may be a time you'll want or need more chickens.

There's no need to bury the fencing. We wrapped our run in hardware cloth, and draped the cloth about 6 inches outwards on top of the ground. Good luck!

 

[Welshies]

Figure 4 sq ft per bird for coop space, 10 ft per bird for run space. Always overestimate you coop size, however, because there may be a time you'll want or need more chickens.

There's no need to bury the fencing. We wrapped our run in hardware cloth, and draped the cloth about 6 inches outwards on top of the ground. Good luck!

I agree. Very good points on the coop size and not needing to bury the wire.
I would highly suggest, though, with due respect to Smuvers, that if you want your runs to have grass permanently, try for 100 sq ft of space per bird. Anywhere below 50 sq ft of space per bird and it'll be dirt within months.

 

[aart]

My idea was to build a coop over a small part (the rest I'll eventually use as an equipment shed) of the old sheep barn foundation that opened out into a large fenced run.

How far off is the equipment shed build going to happen?
Might want to bite the bullet build a 16x32 shed and make part of it a coop.
I'd use 8x16 for the coop, could plan on temporarily partitioning off part of that to add new chicks and/or keep supplies.

The 4/10 rule is a bare minimum IMO, especially if you live in a cold climate.
Adding new birds, which you will eventually do, takes extra separate but adjacent space, so plan on that.
There is no sqft number for keeping things growing in a run, too much depends on climate and vegetation present, most use some kind of bedding to ameliorate waste odors.

There are a plethora of ways to build a coop and run, take a look around to start gathering ideas.
Much can depend on your climate, so adding your location to your profile will help with suggestions for folks who bother to look.

Don't bury wire for the run against diggers, use aprons instead.
Good examples of installation, tho I'd not recommend 1/2" HC...go with 14ga 1x2 or 1x1, will hold up much longer and is easier to lay flat.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

Here's some tips for coop heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

 

[lazy gardener]

I like aart's thinking! If you're gonna do it, do it right the first time. Of course, finances also need to figure into the picture. So, if it's a matter of having to wait until you can build the 16 x 32 vs. building small now... I'd go small so you can get your flock going instead waiting for "some day". Some times "some day" never happens.

Plan on at least 4 s.f./bird in coop and 10 s.f. in run per bird. I'd double that space b/c eventually, you'll need to replace part of your flock. Ideally, if you want a steady supply of eggs, you should bring in a couple new birds every year (or two)

When you do build, build it with the idea of future expansion in mind. That will make "some day" easier to work with!

 

[McCulloch610]

Here is the foundation-facing east:

Facing west:

Facing north:

Facing south:

This is the Woods 16' x 10' design-the foundation is 16' wide from north to south:

 

[McCulloch610]

Well here I am nearly a year later and still no chicken coop, but lots of progress. Winter 2018 slowed us down big time with the four Nor'Easters that clobbered us in March and April. We had a tree fall on our barn and our old apple tree was pushed over by heavy snow. Then it seemed like constant rain through May, June, July, and August... That said, I've been trying to take advantage of the good weather in September and October and have gotten a lot accomplished during that time including spending a lot of time in the old sheep pen, working on a design, and clearing brush:

Plenty of old hog panels and gates to store for later use:

This is what I'm thinking for a coop, enclosed run, and "chicken yard."

Again, the coop will be 10' x 16' which will fit perfectly on the foundation. Off of the front of the coop I'll build an enclosed run 20' long by 10' wide by 6' high. Basically I'm thinking three levels of security, the coop being the "vault" with a concrete block foundation, wire cloth windows, and secure doors. The run would be "semi guarded with wire fencing all around (including topside for hawk protection and floor protection for diggers), and the remainder of the 32' x 32' pen not taken up by the run would be "free range."

 

[aart]

Looks like a good plan to me!