I just got a 4X8 (6ft tall at highest point) dog house off Craigslist for free (woohoo!). We currently have only 2 chickens in a 3X3 coop with a 4X8X2.5 run. We plan to connect the existing run to the 'new' coop once we get it renovated. We are hoping to add several roost levels w/poop boards on the sides. A few questions...
1) how many chickens could we have total in this space? Going by the 4sq ft rule it would seem the max would be 8, which would be fine for us (we would probably only have 5-6 for now and see how it goes). If we ever decided to get more than that, could we figure in the outside run space into the calculation? We have half the run covered by a tarp and that's where the 2 we have spend most of their day.
2) how do we make sure it's insulated for winter? We're in NH so we need it to be warm enough. There are 2 windows built in, which we will be covering with hardware cloth and hopefully adding windows that can be opened or closed (currently there is one missing and the other is built into the wall).
3) how about ventilation? How do we do that while avoiding drafts on something like this?
4) suggestions on material for a door? The opening is only about 3 feet tall, but we could still duck under and then stand up inside for cleaning and such. I just can't figure out what to use that is easy to use and easy to secure, since it's not the size of your average door.
Here is a picture of what we're working with, if that helps at all!
And here it is next to what we currently use:
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer us! The little red coop you see was our first attempt at a coop, so we don't have much experience with this stuff
1) how many chickens could we have total in this space? Going by the 4sq ft rule it would seem the max would be 8, which would be fine for us (we would probably only have 5-6 for now and see how it goes). If we ever decided to get more than that, could we figure in the outside run space into the calculation? We have half the run covered by a tarp and that's where the 2 we have spend most of their day.
2) how do we make sure it's insulated for winter? We're in NH so we need it to be warm enough. There are 2 windows built in, which we will be covering with hardware cloth and hopefully adding windows that can be opened or closed (currently there is one missing and the other is built into the wall).
3) how about ventilation? How do we do that while avoiding drafts on something like this?
4) suggestions on material for a door? The opening is only about 3 feet tall, but we could still duck under and then stand up inside for cleaning and such. I just can't figure out what to use that is easy to use and easy to secure, since it's not the size of your average door.
Here is a picture of what we're working with, if that helps at all!

And here it is next to what we currently use:

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer us! The little red coop you see was our first attempt at a coop, so we don't have much experience with this stuff
