Need advice. Shed to coop conversion

[Russ13]

So I have this shed I want to turn into my chicken coop. I’m guessing I will have 10-20 birds and they will be free range. The shed will have power to it soon so I can have lights and water heaters if needed.
Questions
1-
The shed has shelves in it, should I keep them and put straw on them for chickens to roost on or take them out and put in other things for them to roost on? I thought maybe they would get dirty to fast but I’m thinking if I keep straw on them I will be ok. Should the shelves stay or go???

2-
The floor is slotted wood the doesn’t have that big of gaps between them but should I look into possibly putting linoleum or some other flooring over the wood??

3-
Will I have enough ventilation in the coop?
It has gaps at the top of the roof that are about 1/2 on inch where the wall meets the roof. It also has windows on each side the have screens in them and that I am going to cover with wire to help keep predators out

4-
Should I make a small opening for them instead of using the big door? It has two doors that swing open. It will be great for cleaning but will it be to big to leave open all day. Most coops I have seen have had very small doors to get the chickens in and out.

I know this is a lot of questions but just pick a number and let me know what you think. I will have pictures up soon

 

[Russ13]

Photos

 

[DobieLover]

Awesome shed!! I'm going to again strongly suggest you give my coop article a read as you are starting with something quite similar to what I started with.

The shed has shelves in it, should I keep them and put straw on them for chickens to roost on or take them out and put in other things for them to roost on? I thought maybe they would get dirty to fast but I’m thinking if I keep straw on them I will be ok. Should the shelves stay or go???

Gut it. Keep what you remove for building materials to reconstruct the shed into a coop.
You don't want the chickens roosting too close to the wall or each other. They will have the wall splattered with poop in no time. Try to keep the roosts at least 12" from the walls.
IMO, you should install poop boards with the roosts centered over them.
What are the dimensions of the shed?

2-
The floor is slotted wood the doesn’t have that big of gaps between them but should I look into possibly putting linoleum or some other flooring over the wood??

You will want to install a predator apron using 1/2" hardware clothe around the perimeter of the shed to keep mice and other critters from getting under the shed and chewing their way up into the coop.

3-
Will I have enough ventilation in the coop?
It has gaps at the top of the roof that are about 1/2 on inch where the wall meets the roof. It also has windows on each side the have screens in them and that I am going to cover with wire to help keep predators out

No. You will need to add ventilation. The best place to install ventilation is between the rafters in the soffit area and secure the area with 1/2" hardware cloth then install a ridge vent and/or gable vents. All I did was leave the siding off in the peaks between framing members of my coop then secure the opening with 1/2" hardware cloth and covered it with trim.
On your coop, I would cut off the tops of the siding where it overhangs the top plate then run a strip of 1/2" HC over the rafters up to the first purlin so you have something to secure it to then notch around each rafter and staple the HC to the inside edge of the top plate so that there is no gap larger than 1/2" up there.
Cut out the gable ends where the red lines are and attach HC there then pin it down/trim it out with some of the shelving you salvaged by ripping it into strips.

I also recommend you install more windows and secure 1/2" HC in the openings. Top hinge the windows. Add some HC to the outside of the double hung windows you already have so you can open them in the summer. You have nice overhangs on the shed. That will be very useful with keep wind driven rain out.

4-
Should I make a small opening for them instead of using the big door? It has two doors that swing open. It will be great for cleaning but will it be to big to leave open all day. Most coops I have seen have had very small doors to get the chickens in and out.

I would make a pop door. Otherwise, any large animal can just waltz in there if it wants to.
Where in general are you located? It is decidedly useful to update your profile with that information.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Hello.

1. You can use some of the shelves for storage but I wouldn't use for roosting since their butts have to hang off the edge. You can remove the rest
2. That's your choice. Some bedding could get stuck in the gaps and make it hard to clean. In my shed-coop I put lino so it's easier to scrub clean
3. You might need to add some holes. I'm not a ventilation expert. In my shed-coop, the wood is overlapped, leaving gaps for airflow so I didn't add extra ventilation
4. In winter you might want the coop to stay warm inside, so you might want to add a pop door. Of you have an auto door opener you'll need one. I cut one out of the human door in my coop.

Here are some pics if my shed -> coop conversion. Mine can only hold around 10 chickens but I hope it helps. The shed is new but everything else is made of recycled pallet wood and things I found (didn't buy anything)

This coop is for bantams (mostly silkies) so the roosts aren't very high. No one uses the top nest box so I put trreats and stuff up there

 

[Windrider]

I just want to say: What an amazing shed to get to work with! None of this plywood and OSB, that is REAL wood!

Protect it. Use the lino on the floor. Follow DobieLover's link to her coop page to get ideas about poop boards and window placement. Her coop started as a similar shed to yours.

I agree with Dobie on the ventilation placement (for all year ventilation). For summer, we'd have to know your approximate location to recommend whether you need just windows or you need the ability to make those big doors into full hardware cloth "screen doors."

 

[Sally PB]

You have gotten excellent advice here already, so I have nothing to add.

Your shed will make a fantastic coop! Lucky you!

 

[Russ13]

I’ve done some more research and have a better idea of what I want to do but I have a few more questions

1
Round poles or 2x4’s for roosting? I’ve seen people use both

2
Has anyone tried an automatic door? How does it work for you ?

3
Where would be a good place to get cheap Lino flooring?

 

[aart]

Round poles or 2x4’s for roosting? I’ve seen people use both

Either are fine, round should be at least 2" dia.

Where would be a good place to get cheap Lino flooring?

Don't go cheap on vinyl(not linoleum), unless you want to have to replace it sooner rather than later.


Great building!!


Welcome to BYC! @Russ13
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Windrider]

I thought of another things to add.

I don't know how big your shed is, but it looks big. With a large shed like that, it is great to have a "people door" leading to an area separate from the chickens where you can store feed, etc, without it getting pooped on. Really nice to have the egg collecting in an area like that, too, in bad weather. Again, check out DobieLover's coop pages for layout. I haven't seen a more thoroughly thought out coop on BYC. There is a reason it is the first coop in the articles section.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-mulligan.74743/

 

[aart]

I don't know how big your shed is, but it looks big. With a large shed like that, it is great to have a "people door" leading to an area separate from the chickens where you can store feed, etc, without it getting pooped on. Really nice to have the egg collecting in an area like that, too, in bad weather.

Yep, and also another space, with a people door, for brooding chicks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/