New coop… but didn’t account for chicken math

[ALChickenDad]

Built a coop last summer for my 7 RI Reds. At the time we lived in a house with a very small yard and close neighbors. So my coop was designed to fit under my deck stairs. We’ve since moved and I have a bunch of new chicks that will triple the size of my flock. So I’m going to retire the coop I just built and move them into a much bigger coop that is on the property at our new place. Alas, the big coop hasn’t been used in decades and requires a lot of repairs, but I should have it ready before the new chicks are ready to join the flock. I plan to use the little coop I built for the pullets and have it and the little enclosure right beside the main enclosure so they can all get to know each other before the pullets go in with the big girls.

Attaching build pics of the coop I built. I was really happy with it given the space I had at the time. There is a little vent at the back and a window at top of the front side. When it gets warm, it creates a nice natural draft pulling cooler air in the bottom and venting the warm air out the top. In the winter I closed the shutters and built the straw up over the little vent in the back. It kept it warm but still allowed enough air in to keep it from getting stale.

 

[cavemanrich]

Post pix of the large old coop,,, if you would like ideas on incorporating the two together..

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[Auntiejessi3]

How exciting! Yes, pics of the new project coop (and chicks too )

 

[ALChickenDad]

Here’s the old coop that will soon be my flock’s new home.

 

[Windrider]

Sure, the old coop looks a bit weathered and worn, but it looks like whoever built it knew what chickens needed. It even has a little shelter for feed outside!

Does the AL in your name mean you are in Alabama? I'd give it a bit more light and air for that climate, if so. You could take down a lot of that old beat up plywood and just hardware cloth a wall.

Love your under the stairs coop!! I, too, had to find a way to fit a coop in a tight spot and can really appreciate what you built.

 

[3KillerBs]

Good bones on that old coop!

I agree, if the AL means Alabama (you can put your general location in your profile and we can give better targeted advice), replacing the entire downwind wall with hardware cloth would be great.

 

[Krugerrand]

what a great way to work with the space you had!

 

[ChickenLeg]

Yeah that old coop looks awesome, maybe a little tlc and some new paint and you'll be on your way to starting your own hatchery

 

[ALChickenDad]

Does the AL in your name mean you are in Alabama? I'd give it a bit more light and air for that climate, if so. You could take down a lot of that old beat up plywood and just hardware cloth a wall.

Good bones on that old coop!

I agree, if the AL means Alabama (you can put your general location in your profile and we can give better targeted advice), replacing the entire downwind wall with hardware cloth would be great.

Yep! I am in Alabama. (Just added that to my profile. Thanks for the suggestion!) I definitely think some more light and air would be good. My only concern with covering an entire wall would be rain. We get a lot of it and I don’t want it to rain in and make it soggy inside.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yep! I am in Alabama. (Just added that to my profile. Thanks for the suggestion!) I definitely think some more light and air would be good. My only concern with covering an entire wall would be rain. We get a lot of it and I don’t want it to rain in and make it soggy inside.

If you're fortunate enough to have that end be downwind it's unlikely that much rain will get in.

If the coop is big enough the rain is unlikely to penetrate very far except in the most severe storms and a small amount of moisture right at the wall would just contribute to the needed moisture in composting deep litter. But you could extend the roof. Or, if it's short enough, park a picnic fly next to it for both shade and rain protection.

Here's how-to (and how not to), extend a roof by sistering the extension to the rafters: https://strousehomeinspections.com/blog/structural-roof-extensions.html

And here is how to use lookouts to extend the roof at right-angles to the rafters: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...e-overhangs-eaves-of-a-shed-coop-house.76599/