Playhouse to coop conversion?

[black_cat]

I am thinking of getting a plastic playhouse off craigslist to convert into a coop. Here is a front view of it:

I could probably do something similar with most other playhouses, but this one is the easiest/biggest. It has windows on both sides that open with shutters, and another alcove-window thing in the back. I plan to:
-Add floor
-make better door
-convert front alcove into nesting boxes, accessible from outside
-Seal one window
-Cover remaining window in hardware cloth(with shutters still able to open and close
-Create ramp down into run from back alcove
-Seal off part of back alcove and add some ventilation as well
-add roost
The coop is 5x5, which if I'm correct, should be enough for 6 birds.
I'm planning to put this in an 8x8 run. Here is my plan (it's kinda confusing, but I'll explain)

The pink is the outline of the run.
The blue is the outline of the playhouse/coop.
The red is doors and windows (shutters)
The purple is the direction that they swing to close.
The green is stuff that's inside the coop (you could see it if you took the roof off.
The South window that is in the run is going to be sealed. The nesting boxes will have dividers, and the hatches to open them swing up from the outside. The North window that is outside of the run will have hardware cloth, and the shutters could be adjusted depending on how much heat needs to be kept in or moving out.
The run will have a roof over most if not all of it.
Thoughts? Will the playhouse work as a coop? Do the modifications seem good? Is this overall enough space for 6 standard size chickens? They would be able to have some supervised free ranging time as well. I'm honestly probably forgetting something with this post but oh well. Sorry the plans are so confusing.

 

[RobertaD1]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mpfs-member-page.54498/
This might help! I would also raise it onto a simple platform if possible, gives them a bit more run.... but this was a decent build with directions.
It will be really cute!

 

[black_cat]

I am thinking of getting a plastic playhouse off craigslist to convert into a coop. Here is a front view of it:
View attachment 2203063
I could probably do something similar with most other playhouses, but this one is the easiest/biggest. It has windows on both sides that open with shutters, and another alcove-window thing in the back. I plan to:
-Add floor
-make better door
-convert front alcove into nesting boxes, accessible from outside
-Seal one window
-Cover remaining window in hardware cloth(with shutters still able to open and close
-Create ramp down into run from back alcove
-Seal off part of back alcove and add some ventilation as well
-add roost
The coop is 5x5, which if I'm correct, should be enough for 6 birds.
I'm planning to put this in an 8x8 run. Here is my plan (it's kinda confusing, but I'll explain)
View attachment 2203088
The pink is the outline of the run.
The blue is the outline of the playhouse/coop.
The red is doors and windows (shutters)
The purple is the direction that they swing to close.
The green is stuff that's inside the coop (you could see it if you took the roof off.
The South window that is in the run is going to be sealed. The nesting boxes will have dividers, and the hatches to open them swing up from the outside. The North window that is outside of the run will have hardware cloth, and the shutters could be adjusted depending on how much heat needs to be kept in or moving out.
The run will have a roof over most if not all of it.
Thoughts? Will the playhouse work as a coop? Do the modifications seem good? Is this overall enough space for 6 standard size chickens? They would be able to have some supervised free ranging time as well. I'm honestly probably forgetting something with this post but oh well. Sorry the plans are so confusing.

The poop boards! I forgot the poop boards. there will be poop boards under the roost(s).

 

[black_cat]

I think it could work. It looks like a good idea. If you do decide to make it, please post pics. I was thinking of converting one of these for a goat house.

Great! I've seen some other people use playhouses for conversions, and this would work better for me than making a coop from scratch. I've actually come up with another plan in my head-it seems like it would be a more efficient use of space for me. I'll draw it up in photoshop then post that possible plan as well. This conversion wouldn't happen until August/September-I'm at least semi-confident that this playhouse will still be available near me because I saw like 7 listings in my area for the same one. I will try to post pics if I end up doing this.

 

[black_cat]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mpfs-member-page.54498/
This might help! I would also raise it onto a simple platform if possible, gives them a bit more run.... but this was a decent build with directions.
It will be really cute!

Yes, I might do that, as I need to add a floor anyway. Thanks! Also thanks for the article, it should be really helpful!

 

[RobertaD1]

The only thing about the plan in the article, was I thought the nesting box should be lower.... but, if you can get the roost far enough away from the boxes... all the better. Keep us posted!

 

[black_cat]

The only thing about the plan in the article, was I thought the nesting box should be lower.... but, if you can get the roost far enough away from the boxes... all the better. Keep us posted!

Yes, I'll try to keep the roost higher than the nesting boxes, but low enough so that they don't bump their heads....if that doesn't work out I believe that under one of the alcoves there's a little cabinet, depending on the size I could put some in there. Getting eggs from the outside would be super convenient though.

 

[along121]

It looks cute. Make sure you keep it in the shade. That plastic gets hot and the sun really destroys the plastic. I think making a plywood floor and raising it up will give chickens more room in the pen And a safer floor. Always remember... safety from predators , dry shelter to get out of the rain and cold, enough space for 6 chickens. Check YouTube for some good videos on how much room chickens need to roost and the size of nesting boxes.

 

[black_cat]

I think that I'm going to go with the second plan I made: the playhouse (5x5) Raised over part of a 5x10 run. Depending on how much space the rest of the household is willing to give up, and what's still available when I can do the conversion, I may end up with a smaller coop, run or both. In that case I will do bantams. I'll have to ask what's the priority: the egg size and quantity, or how much space the coop takes up.

 

[black_cat]

Maybe....if run has a good solid roof and completely covers the playhouse.
Think feet of snow load....and winterized run walls so ventilation for coop is protected from wicked winter winds.

I've since changed my plan. That one wasn't as space efficient and probably wouldn't have worked out. My new plan is in a post further down, the same 5x5 coop over part of a 10x5 run.