Plastic sheds as coop Ideas

[blessedchick]

I've been looking at this shed:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_299053-7512...83_4294937087_?Ns=p_product_price|0&facetInfo=

I would also be interested in putting in a pop door and modifying the ventilation that is already on the shed. If purchased thru ebates (2.5% discount) and use my cash back credit card (another 2% off) I'm hoping for a reasonable deal.

I've been leaning towards a poly shed since it would be fairly easy to clean/sanitize and easy for me to maintain and put together. I'm just not finding anything in wood that fits the bill...I have ZERO building experience and, again, it would just be me putting this puppy together!

Ideas? Pros? Cons? Lovin' the ability to dip into so many experts brains! Thank you!

 

[Imp]

Blessedchick, Did you read the pros & cons on the website? I've had mine for nearly 8 years with no problems, but that could vary depending on where you live and where you site it. I'm very pleased with mine.

Imp

btw- I bought mine as the display model, and got about 30% off.

 

[Pharm Girl]

There are some fun ideas in this site, plastic and wood.

http://thecitychicken.com/tractors.html

 

[wowmanacat]

I plan on having 30 to 60 chickens that free range(depending on where we move) most of the time so I am looking at a 6x8 or bigger. As for build on that is out of the question since i have no building skills and hubby just does not have the time to build from scratch. We are going to have to have something that can go together in a weekend or less. I am now looking at going with a wood shed. We can only wait and see what we are going to buy as for the house.

 

[blessedchick]

Blessedchick, Did you read the pros & cons on the website? I've had mine for nearly 8 years with no problems, but that could vary depending on where you live and where you site it. I'm very pleased with mine.

Imp

btw- I bought mine as the display model, and got about 30% off.

Excellent deal!! I'm all about the deals!

Yes, I studied the pros and cons on the site...I guess that I'm looking for more chicken related pros and cons. I live in central Ohio so it does get cold in the winter, but not unbearably hot in the summer. This would be for a maximum of 12 Silkies/showgirls and they would have access to an approximately 8'x64' run - most of it covered. I'm shying from wood from a purely maintenance standpoint...I don't want to be concerned about painting or staining it every year or two or rotting...The flooring would be covered in rubber stall mats with pine shavings on top. Please let me know if that is not a good idea...it has worked so far in my guinea's house, although it has been less than a year.

Thank you for the direction! And the website with ideas...love it all!

 

[Pico de Gallo]

Quote: Have you ever accidentally left onion-y food in a tupperware container in the back of the fridge...just a little too long? How many consecutive washings does it require to purge the plastic of its odor?

Now, extrapolate this scenario, but instead of onions...chicken poo. And instead of 38 F...90 F.

Quote: Bigger. Much, much bigger.

 

[Daisy8s]

I plan on having 30 to 60 chickens that free range(depending on where we move) most of the time so I am looking at a 6x8 or bigger.

My coop is 6x5 and I only have 7 chickens who free range most of the time yet I wouldn't want to put one more chicken in there. During the winter they won't walk on snow so by choice they're not free ranging at all.

I don't even know how you would physically fit that many chickens in the size coop you described. Perhaps there is a typo in one of your numbers? A 6x8 coop is only 48 sq feet. If you had 30 birds that's only a few inches more than 1 sq ft per bird--which is akin to battery hens on a factory farm.

I know you're only talking about types of coop but I would highly recommend a dirt floor and then using the Deep Litter Method. Very little maintenance and almost no odor (if maintained properly and this means not overcrowding the numbers of birds: 4-5 sq feet per bird is ideal). I have 5 sq feet per bird. I add about 6 inches of leaves/grass clippings every 4-6 weeks; also add kitchen scraps on bedding to encourage scratching which turns under fresh manure, hence no smell. Clean out the coop once a year in the spring for great compost. Very easy and my garden profits.

 

[Imp]

I agree with you on the maintenence issues, ugh! they never end. I have a middle aged deck that I am beginning to hate for that reason. Thinking it's going away this summer.
No maintenence on my coop yet. Cleaning is a breeze, just use a broom of leaf blower, after picking up the litter. I use shredded newspaper. For the past couple years I have had sand in the bottom and I am not very thrilled. It just always feels like the coop is dirty/messy. I'm going back to the newspaper. Less than an hour to clean several times a year. Not exactly sure what rubber stall mats are, but the only potential problem I can forsee is if moisture could collected between the floor and mat. I have never used shavings.
I put duct tape down covering the metal bolts on the floor to keep the metal from constant contact with anything wet.
If you can buy more of the shelf hangers (the wire brackets that fit into the walls) I waited a couple years and by the time I went back for them the style had changed, and they were no longer available. See the link to my pictures in post #7.
I put shelving up in the roof area, for a little storage.
You will need to put a lip along the door to keep the litter in. I just lay a 2 x 6 along the door.
You do need to shovel around the door, to open it when there is snow.
I had no problem bolting the run directly to the shed, with carriage bolts, nuts and washers.
I have had no issues with degradation of the resin or issues with heat or cold. It pretty much stays the same as the ambient temp. Remember I am in Seattle and it is in a shady spot.
5 years ago during a windstorm a tree fell on it, no damage.

Imp

 

[blessedchick]

I hadn't thought about the smell...I use bleach and water on my plastic animal carriers to get rid of any odors and in between uses (they carry anything from barn cats to parrots!). I was also hoping that this might help alleviate any mite trouble from those buggers hiding in cracks or the porous parts of wood. I will continue to use DE, of course, since I'm paranoid about parasites.

I would love to use the deep litter method, but I'm thinking that keeping the floor on the shed will help with the stability. Something to ask the manufacturer about...I'm all about no maintenance! When I built my house and barn 4 years ago I bit the bullet to invest in vinyl fencing rather than wood. I have never regretted that decision! I plan on staying in this house for many, many years (till they drag me out, kicking and screaming) so I considered it an investment for when I'm too old to be pounding nails

Thank you for all of the tips, Imp! If I do decide to go with this shed I will certainly be buying some shelving units to go with it, just in case. I'm getting good at installing door sills for bedding since I just had to do that for my guinea house last weekend...messy things wouldn't wipe their feet on the way out...

Any tips/pix/criticisms still welcome! Oh! What are the advantages of a wooden coop???

 

[EweSheep]

I own a resin shed, Royal Outdoor shed, and I would not trad that shed for anything! I've bleached it, washed it and moved it four times, nay a problem with it! I love it!

I use horse rubber mat (or truck bed mats will do!) and I've had this shed for eight years now. No wood rot!

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/HensOnly/Coopandchickens021.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/HensOnly/Coopandchickens018.jpg