Need to tear down the coop

[Caincando1]

It's hard to tell but that looks like a corigated roof with the corigations running the wrong way. This would explain the water inside the coop. It looks to me like it just need some roof repair or like the others said a tarp and some inginuity.

 

[Evernf]

Send that coop to Stinking Water Wyoming

 

[Big Chicken Little]

Roofing looks like it is your problem ...it could be a $50 fix so do not tear down a 300+ dollar coop, fix this one

 

[chookchick]

I know the frustration of having a coop that you really don't like, and is hard to work with. The others here have given you good advice--a few modifications would make a world of difference. You could build your dream coop later, with the knowledge you have gained, and keep that one for a young chick/isolation coop. It will come in handy....

 

[SarahFair]

The roof and body came from a job site my SO was working on. It use to be an old shed. It didnt leak at frist but just started up about mid summer. The reason it doesnt look like there is any water damage is because that is a picture of the coop when it had just been finished. I have plexi glass over the window and I know it doesnt leak. Ive been in the coop while its raining and see where its leaking from on the roof. Its running down and dripping heavily into the middle. The bottom wood has taken to bowing and collecting the water.

I reckon a tarp will work for now. I just hate this coop. To clean it out or to gather eggs I have to lean over all that poop. Its too wide.
Oh well my girls have stopped laying as of now.

Ill put a tarp up there till spring.

 

[startingaflock]

hens & chicks :

I would not tear down your coop. It is too nice. The tarps work great-long time user-right next to duck tape in usefulness. The hardware stores have a spray sealent used for cracks and fillers. It is an expanding foam. That will last for several yrs. even and can be sprayed in a leaky nail hole as well as in a line. I just saw a coop that was recently built and they had used a wonderful panel of smooth acrylic like material. All I got from the people on it was that it came from something that was being used for factory walls. They used it on the walls and the floors and ceiling. Just open up the doors-turn on the garden hose and flush everything out. I am now in search of that product. Vic

I think the acrylic board that you are talking about is barker board. You can purchase it at home depot or other reno stores. It's a bit expensive but I think that it would last in the long run and then you can just hose it down as it's meant for shower stalls and bathtub walls.​

 

[gsim]

Don't trash it. Fix it. Tarp now, permanent later. Go out there when raining heavily and take a flashlight and observe what is happening where and them make a sketch of it for a warm-weather project on some nice spring day. Looks like a case of not enough pitch to me from pics. Easy to fix by adding a 2x8 across front to raise it, then use 2x4's at 16" OC to run rafters to existing back frame. Then install metal roof, or do plywood with tar paper and shingles over that. If you get much snow, then you will need to run stringers between the rafters at right angle to rafters to support sheet metal before installing it.

The best leak preventing caulk that you can buy is Sonneborne N P 1. Comes in orange tubes that fit caulk gun and comes in several colors. Is available at roofing supply places and some lumberyards, but not usually at home improvement places tho. Use throw-away rubber gloves. It is that hard to get off of your hands! If going back with shet metal, used gasketed screws and seal seams.

 

[hangin'witthepeeps]

We used "used" corrugated metal on all our chicken houses. Because of the previous "holes" from the screws I filled them all with Lexon (sp?), which is like liquid nails or caulking. Then we used the typical sheet metal screw with the fancy rubber gasket on it for a good seal. If you tighten them too much and squish the rubber gasket, it will leak. I had several leaks and just found them when it was raining and marked the holes and when dry I but more Lexon or a new screw. The I discovered that rain was coming around the wavey part of the metal where it attached to the roof beams, so I put that spray foam insulation in those. I also had to caulk one corner on the outside of the coop because if it rained hard and fast it would leak there. It has just been a fix as I go. I also have external nest boxes which leaked. I tried to fix them several times but ended up putting a piece of left over linoleum on top. Doesn't look pretty but its functional and no leaks. I hope my experiences help you out some. Just fix what you have, plug all holes and build bigger and better next spring/summer.

 

[LynneP]

Yep, looks to me that some sealant on the seams and repairs to the roof should fix this and possibly the installation of plexiglass or a smilar product on the windows that can be hinged to deflect rain and opened when it is dry...If you are getting pooling on the floor, drill a few holes and coat the underside with 1/2" gauge hardware cloth to maintain integrity and predator protection.

 

[patandchickens]

An easy solution to your access problem would be to build a second access door on the other side... either just for eggs (i.e. a hatch you can reach through into the nestboxes), or for cleanout too.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat