Metal coop

[jenfletcher]

I have purchased the building in the pic to build as my coop. The plan right now is to modify it however I need to make it work. I dont want have to spend more money for the flooring kit and wood for a floor. So one of the hundred questions is, will this work without a floor? Also what other modifications do I need? Like how many windows and vents and where should I place them? I live in North Alabama. The large door will open into the run so I can leave it open during the day. Run will be 10x12 also. The coop and run will be in my vinyl fenced yard. We have had opossum, raccoons, a hawk or two every once in awhile and once a stray cat get in. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Newchickenguy84]

I am currently in the same process check out https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/10x14-shed.1314222/#post-21420286 what some people told me

 

[jenfletcher]

I am currently in the same process check out https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/10x14-shed.1314222/#post-21420286 what some people told me

Great! Thank you!

 

[Newchickenguy84]

I hope it was as helpful to you as me

 

[Ebony Rose]

Roosts higher than nesting boxes. Roosts NOT directly over nesting boxes unless you plan to have adequate poop boards. Ventilation high on the walls and avoid draftiness. Deep litter method of your choice for flooring providing that the location of the coop isn't in a lake or river during a hard rainfall or snow melt. Strongly suggest adding a hardware cloth 'apron' around the base of the structure to reduce predators digging in. Strongly recommend running electricity to the coop for lighting and heating and perhaps building a small brooding area in it (with electric and a table) to incubate/brood chicks that can be blocked off from the rest of the flock with hardware cloth wall and/or door so that the chicks will be visible to your established flock. This will make integrating your chicks SO much easier, as they'll have had their entire lifetime in a 'look but don't touch' setup. If I had a sweet building such as what you're planning, these are some of the things that I'd love to do with it.

 

[jenfletcher]

Roosts higher than nesting boxes. Roosts NOT directly over nesting boxes unless you plan to have adequate poop boards. Ventilation high on the walls and avoid draftiness. Deep litter method of your choice for flooring providing that the location of the coop isn't in a lake or river during a hard rainfall or snow melt. Strongly suggest adding a hardware cloth 'apron' around the base of the structure to reduce predators digging in. Strongly recommend running electricity to the coop for lighting and heating and perhaps building a small brooding area in it (with electric and a table) to incubate/brood chicks that can be blocked off from the rest of the flock with hardware cloth wall and/or door so that the chicks will be visible to your established flock. This will make integrating your chicks SO much easier, as they'll have had their entire lifetime in a 'look but don't touch' setup. If I had a sweet building such as what you're planning, these are some of the things that I'd love to do with it.

 

[jenfletcher]

Awesome ideas! I have read some that say to put ventilation around lower part of the coop also. What do you think?

 

[paintedChix]

Well.... I would say a lot more ventilation. Maybe my hubby is from a different area of AL, but I remember lots of high heat & humidity even during the winter - similar to what we usually get here in NC (though, yes, the weather seems to be changing lately). Our metal shed like that would cook our current chickens (or cause heat stress and heat stroke) - even during most of the winter. We use our metal shed and our metal shop for storage, not animal containment. Our tin barn at our previous property - the chickens weren't locked up in the steel/tin (?) barn. You NEVER saw them in there during mid day - they always roamed outside and during the hottest summer days, were against the house under various shrubs or under the horse trailers parked next to the barn.

So, personally I'd do a lot more ventilation - and at the bottom, too. Might be worth raising the shed up and using a completely wire bottom all around, not sure, instead of trying to cut the siding for ventilation.

I love dirt floors and use DLM. I even put some nesting boxes directly on the ground/DLM as well.

Going to check that other link now, too! edit to add - Wow! I really like post #7 by RidgeRunner...

 

[Ebony Rose]

Awesome ideas! I have read some that say to put ventilation around lower part of the coop also. What do you think?

I think not. (Not an expert by any means, but here's my thinking on that.) Adding ventilation lower will require some super duper efforts and materials to eliminate critters chewing in, digging in, and brute-forcing their way into your coop while using the ground to leverage their position. I also have nightmares about rainwater / snow melt waltzing into your coop through a ground level opening of some sort. If you really want some 'lower' ventilation options, have you considered cutting a hole or two into the side of the shed and adding some hardware wire & glass windows that you can open and close at will? This would also allow cross ventilation when desired, but allow you to easily 'button down' the hatches when not desired. Windows would also provide free light in the daytime! Since you're in cold country, double paned glass windows would probably work well to insulate too.

 

[jenfletcher]

Well.... I would say a lot more ventilation. Maybe my hubby is from a different area of AL, but I remember lots of high heat & humidity even during the winter - similar to what we usually get here in NC (though, yes, the weather seems to be changing lately). Our metal shed like that would cook our current chickens (or cause heat stress and heat stroke) - even during most of the winter. We use our metal shed and our metal shop for storage, not animal containment. Our tin barn at our previous property - the chickens weren't locked up in the steel/tin (?) barn. You NEVER saw them in there during mid day - they always roamed outside and during the hottest summer days, were against the house under various shrubs or under the horse trailers parked next to the barn.

So, personally I'd do a lot more ventilation - and at the bottom, too. Might be worth raising the shed up and using a completely wire bottom all around, not sure, instead of trying to cut the siding for ventilation.

I love dirt floors and use DLM. I even put some nesting boxes directly on the ground/DLM as well.

Going to check that other link now, too! edit to add - Wow! I really like post #7 by RidgeRunner...