Metal shed for coop

[Bossroo]

Does anyone raise chickens in one of those metal shed kits? How hot does it get inside of it in the summer, cold in winter compared to the outside temps?

 

[yomama]

A little bump to get some responses. I've been curious about this too.

 

[Kansaseq]

Several people on here do use metal sheds as coops. Can't remember now who uses them,but you might try doing a search.

 

[DutchieWannabe]

I have one and am always doing research to make improvement.

First it does get hot inside during the summer, so u will want to have planty of ventilation, I have cut vents near the top of the walls and I leave the door open during the summer and let the ladies run free. next summer i am going to build a lattice and plant some honey suckle on the south side hoping to reduce the suns impact as well.

as for winter... this will be my first winter but from what I have read its condensation on the metal/aluminum walls that will be a problem, so i am going to "line" the inside of my walls with plywood. my shed was also guilt on a cement slab in the 70s and the seal isnt great so during heavy rains (which are few and far between here in Idaho) i have to watch and make sure the bottom dries out, for the winter i am adding pallets on the ground to raise the ladies up from the moisture, I'll put *food grade* DE down as well to help with this in case. then a layer of old lanolium then use the deep litter method of pine shavings on top.

rain noise is also a factor with metal/aluminum sheds if the roof is also metal. I have seen some "living roofs" on here and I am toying with this idea for added coolness in the summer and to protect their ears from the rain noise (they have gone outside and sat in the rain as opposed to staying inside and dry, so i know it bothers them.)

if you have any other questions go ahead and PM me, I am always tryign to think of new ways to freecycle stuff and make my old metal shed a better coop for the ladies.

-Heidi

 

[teach1rusl]

Dutchie covered it. Just from having a metal storage shed (for storage, not chickens...lol), I can tell you they get HOT in the summer if you're in an area that gets tons of sunshine (think of touching something metal that's been sitting in the sun on a summer day). And they get cold in the winter, colder than a wooden shed. Metal conducts heat and cold much moreso than wood. So then (in winter), you take that cold metal and add the warm moist air from chickens breathing and from their droppings, and you can get some decent condensation going, unless maybe you just had a few birds in a fairly large shed. Insulating with pretty much anything as a barrier can help...

 

[crazeetxn]

It'll get plenty hot in the summer. Ventilation and isulation will be key. Instead of the regular fiberglass insulation, get some reflective bubble insulation. I put this in my shop and love it. Can tell a huge difference. Not too bad to install either.

 

[sheila3935]

I have a metal shed I am using right now. In the summer only time it got sun was early morning otherwise it was in the shade. We made 2 windows in it and put a fan in there so it was pretty good all summer. Now that its getting colder I'm trying to come up with ideas to keep it warm and condensation free. What do you think about foam board 1" thick with plywood over that so chicks wont peck the styrofoam? Im going to insulate celing too. Mine is probably 8x10 and right now has 3 barred rocks in it, but before winter I want to move the rocks to the big girls coop and put the next batch which ther are 6 in there.

 

[bburn]

LOL....mine is framed out in wood and we used the metal roofing from a barn that fell down.

We had really high temps here this summer and although they would get hot, everyone was hot, we were really lucky in that the coop is behind a really big open shed that gives it shade. We cut a window and put in a door....the door is still open and we put a chain link gate over it that we use. The cross breeze in the coop is really wonderful. We will hinge a cover for the window for winter.

Ventalation is the key. Where the coragated roofing attaches to the frame at the top is plenty of ventalation for us. I don't know about really cold weather yet as this will be our first year. If condensation becomes an issue we will have to do something about it.

I am however on a mission to build a second run and coop as soon as I can gather up all the materials needed. I would like wood and would like to insulate it......but for now I am happy with what I have. Heck, this is country and it should look like it!

 

[eKo_birdies]

any more pics of modified metal shed coops?