Newbies here - Converting a shed into a coop?

[saralrfurlong]

Hi there. My husband and I want to raise backyard chickens. We were researching building coops and had an idea but aren't sure if it will work.

We have a 10.5' x 20' shed that is currently being used as a playhouse for our kids. (It is about 6' tall). The kids are little and don't use it much, but we would like to reserve some space for them to play in there if possible. We wondered if we might be able to convert the far end into a coop that was, say 10.5' x 4'.

On the other side of the ...10.5' wall is our garden, but we could clear a few feet of space if access was needed. That wall also has a plexi-glass window, which could be left or removed and covered in wire with a wooden door that can be opened and closed. The 4' wall would be where the door was for the chickens to access a caged-in run.

This is really the extent of our ideas. I wondered if anyone with experience might be able to offer some advice or point out any problems with this idea. We've done some research but I can't help but feel like we don't know what we're doing and I don't want to gamble with the lives of the poor chickens.

Oh, it should probably also be noted that we live in upstate NY.

Any input you can provide would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks so much!
-Sara

 

[iwiw60]

Pics, please!!!!

 

[jennfurtrombly]

My first chicken coop was a converted lean-to (open shed that was for goats).
Let me just say that chickens will adapt to ANYTHING. There are people with open air coops that are just hardware cloth, a roof and some roosts. As long as your coop is predator proof, well ventilated and has nesting and roosting areas, you'll be set! I'd also love to see pics!

I found 2 pics of the shed. I used all old fence boards and 2x4s to build it. The next boxes were set back on that platform and the chickens would roost on the edge.

 

[TexJones]

I did something like this myself. I had a 10x8 garden shed and I partitioned a 6x8 section of it for the chickens. The other part is for storage of feed, bedding, etc. big difference is that I live in Texas and temperatures rarely get below freezing. My biggest concern would be keeping my kids out of chicken poop. I think your shed itself is likely more than adequate protection from the elements.

 

[thomasboyle]

I use an old shed for my coop. It is wonderful. mine as 12x16, and on the inside I have a dedicated chicken area, a duck area, space for 3 hay bales, 3 rubbermaid bins of scratch, corn and feed and brooding pens plus hospital crates. You will want to make access easy for you, and have plenty of ventilation - standard windows on opposite sides of the shed work well.

Once I got my shed in shape, I added a covered run so I would not have to endure mud and shoveling snow out of the run.

 

[pmpkinchick]

We did the same thing. We blocked off about 4 1/2 x 8 ft inside for coop and have plenty of room for brooders and feed (and room to expand). It is working out great! It also had windows already thereso we use one as the door.

This first picture is the "juvenile" brooder so they can all see eachother before integrating them. Good luck.

 

[saralrfurlong]

I apologize - I thought I'd responded to this thread!!

First, thanks for the advice! Second, what gorgeous coops!

While we were bummed because the shed would've been SO perfect for the chickens, we kept it a playhouse. My husband is building a small coop from scratch. We just got our chicks! Looking forward to them being able to live in their new coop!

 

[annbrdg]

We did this several years ago, but just finished a remodel on the coop to accommodate more hens. I went to the local Habitat for Humanity Restore and purchased some windows and a door for the interior so we can walk in a get eggs. The windows have screens to be able to open and vent in the summer, closing to keep the heat in in winter. I used buckets for nesting boxes so we can pull them out easy to be cleaned, and pond liner rubber on the floor also for easy clean up. I suggest making it any way you like. Ours looks like an old store front on the inside of our shed Just have fun with it!

 

[iwiw60]

Be sure to put 1/2" hardware cloth over your windows so predators can't gain access to the coop...just thinkin'