Need advice. Shed to coop conversion

[Russ13]

I also saw a watering system that I think I want to try. You set up gutters on the roof of the coop and have them run into a 50 gallon drum that feeds a watering system. Looks really neat. I live in East Tennessee near Knoxville and think I get enough rainfall to make it worth having

 

[Russ13]

I also saw a watering system that I think I want to try. You set up gutters on the roof of the coop and have them run into a 50 gallon drum that feeds a watering system. Looks really neat. I live in East Tennessee near Knoxville and think I get enough rainfall to make it worth having

Like this setup

 

[Happy hen lover]

Awesome shed to start with! I agree on ventilation. I have lino in my shed with deep layer of pine shavings that keeps it dry. We got our lino from carpet store as a remnant . ( I can't remember you shed dimensions) I would take out shelves and add 2x4 wide side up for roosts. Once chickens are grown .
You might want poop boards or trays under roosts ( they make cleaning easier as hens do most of their pooping while sleeping. Love the windows you lucked out on a great shed. I have a small door for hens to go in and out I can access from outside of run. Can't answer auto pop door sorry. I like your ideas. A light can be handy I used mine as a night light per SE when they were young to get them used to roosting in a dark coop. I don't need now but power has been utilized for water pumps and heaters. I'm in zone 5b pretty cold in winter. Good luck with flock . Remember more room is always better for flocks ! .

 

[rosemarythyme]

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

I'll answer this since the rest have been answered well.

Auto doors are great if you have a schedule where it can be difficult to be able to open the coop in the morning after sunrise, or close the coop just after dark, or if you travel with any frequency.

They're not a replacement for doing due diligence and checking in on the birds daily, however it is a handy tool to ensure chickens are securely locked in the coop at nightfall.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

Here are some other shed conversion coop articles in addition to Dobie's.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-scoop-on-a-rubbermaid-big-max-coop.76444/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/toy-shed-conversion.64879/

 

[Sally PB]

@DobieLover, @aart, and @3KillerBs have all built great coops. They have different situations, different climates. For anything building related, I take their ideas and advice as the "gold standard."

 

[3KillerBs]

@DobieLover, @aart, and @3KillerBs have all built great coops. They have different situations, different climates. For anything building related, I take their ideas and advice as the "gold standard."

*blush*

I'm fortunate enough to have both come from and have married into handy families.

I have access to a lot of information about building different things.

 

[Happy hen lover]

*blush*

I'm fortunate enough to have both come from and have married into handy families.

I have access to a lot of information about building different things.

I lucked out to be married to a handy man also. My Mom nicknamed him rent-a-man! So articles are great info for us handyman challenged! Keep us informed on build we are love watching progress for another crazy chicken lover

 

[630004]

Like this setup
View attachment 2935116

Oh wow! I love this! I live in Seattle, so we absolutely have enough rain for doing something like this.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[630004]

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?

We inherited a coup with the house we bought. I put in a Pullet Shut chicken door. It is solar-powered and rugged (made of metal, not like a lot of the plastic ones). We had a few incidents with not all the chickens always going home in time before the door closed, but they seemed to have it figured out now. I also have a security camera looking at the door so I can see if there are any stragglers