Playhouse to Coop Conversion on Shoestring Budget (UPDATE)

[MotherJean]

The coop is so small, light and heat will be one and the same. I'll probably use the same hanging light with the big metal shade I currently use for brooding. It will be suspended from a wood rafter at the peak of the roof using chain. It won't be hard wired. I'm told that my breed is fairly cold hardy, so they probably will only need extra heat on the rare occasions. I'll use a heavy duty outdoor extension cord when necessary. I'm not too concerned about the girls slacking off egg production in the winter, either, so they won't need artificial light to compensate for the shorter daylight hours.

 

[card5640]

Hello, I have an over builder in my home too, if 3 screws will work he puts in 6! He hates my building skills, he has to walk away and takes a deep breath when he sees me with the saw. I think it is fine for 6, with a roost bar and a poop board under it it will keep the floor cleaner and give them extra space. If the poop board is even with a window it makes it easier to scrap it off and out. A light on cold nights will keep it warm. They be able to go outside in the winter, if so I wouldnt worry at all about the space it really is plenty.

 

[rancher hicks]

Bet that would make a great "tractor" jacked up and on a platform w/ wheels. Wonder about preds though. In my case I could just pull it into my fenced in yard.

 

[Mrs.H]

Love it!

 

[MotherJean]

Actually, using this for a chicken tractor was my first thought, Rancher. The house is lightweight and with the addition of wheels, even a small woman could probably drag it where she wants it. I envisioned it with one of those runs made of PVC pipe. I'd bet it would be swell for daytime use. The downside for me was that I needed a secure coop and run for overnight. Even though I live right in town on this little island, I've had coyotes through my yard in the wee small hours and the raccoons are regular visitors to my backyard pond (I no longer buy fish to put in it since the coons eat them as fast as I get them). It seemed more sensible for me to set it up as a secure, permanent structure. Our biggest threat for daytime predators are bald eagles. So long as the run is secure, the playhouse wouldn't be a point of vulnerability. Of course, we are very fortunate here to have excellent enforcement of leash laws so the chances of neighborhood dogs or strays running loose and attacking my chickens is about as slim as my chances of winning a jackpot on the slot machines at our local Indian casino

Hey, Card, you know what will send my over-builder right round the bend? Using mismatched screws. I once fixed a gate latch with 2 slotted and 2 Phillips screws - and no two were exactly the same size or length...hey, it was an emergency!

By the time DH discovered what I'd done the local hardware store was closed. He drove 36 miles round trip to Lowe's to buy matching phillips head screws and fixed my shoddy workmanship in the warm glow of a flashlight

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Great Job!!!


This is my version with the same playhouse

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=286294

 

[MotherJean]

Your playhouse to coop conversion was one that inspired me to try this myself, CoyoteMagic. Got several good ideas from your posts on it. Thanks.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Thank you!

 

[AtholCoop]

Love it...

Which Island are you on?

 

[MotherJean]

No rain today so I was able to get the platform set up and the coop in place. Coop and run are located in my vegetable garden. You can see one of the raised beds with strawberries in the background. To the left is the raspberry bed (the girls will love the summer treats). Just out of the photo to the left is my greenhouse.

The platform began with a nice 5'X5' pallet covered in 3/4" plywood that my DH scavenged from the boneyard at his work. I love a bargain! Luckily, the forklift driver on the 2nd shift was free and able to lift this into the bed of the pickup so we could save our backs. Wasn't so bad unloading it, even though it weighs 100 lbs. or more. I purchased (4) 8"x8" concrete foundation blocks for the footings - cost $3.20. Also purchased a 4"x4"x8' pressure treated timber for the legs at my local lumber yard because they will cut it to size for me - cost $7.99. I had them cut (4) 24" pieces. I intend to fence in the area underneath the platform, add a retaining wall and fill the area with sand and diatomaceous earth (DE) so the ladies can sunbathe there. This area will also provide shade in the heat of summer. I primed the platform with KILZ paint and will give it a finish coat in the same teal color as my house. Paint is leftover from last summer's house painting - cost $0. I had a several L-brackets kicking around in my junk drawer so I'll use those to secure the coop to the platform in three places.

Here's a view of the backside of the coop. This is the side that will face the run, which will be 6'x10'x6' and will have a full roof. Notice the little arched opening near the floor. That will be the pop door and there will be a ramp down into the pen. Right now it's screened off so I can put the little girls out in the coop on sunny days before the run area is finished. This wall is facing south, the wall with the shuttered window faces east. The coop and run will get full sun from sun-up to mid-afternoon. The coop and run will be full shade during the hottest part of the day in summer.

This is looking at the front (north) and east side of the coop. That's the raspberry bed (again) to the left.

I'm really pleased with the progress I made today while DH was at work. He threw a fit when he learned I moved that heavy pallet myself. Who was it said, "Give me a lever long enough and I can move the world..."?

Tomorrow I'm off to the building materials recycler to purchase ceramic tile for the floor of the coop. I have the thinset and grout left over from my bathroom remodel. Figure the tile will last longer than vinyl flooring and easy to clean. Expecting the cost to be less than $1 a sq. ft. so about $16 total. Haven't decided yet what litter I'll use on top of the tile. I'm thinking sand because a poop board will take up too much room in this small coop. Hope you enjoy the updates. I'll post more in a day or two.