Hi all! This is my first post. We will be getting chickens (my first, DH grew up with them) this spring and would like to convert a shed we already have. I used to use it for a mini horse run-in.
I have something very similar to this: http://www.lancasterbarns.com/acatalog/Alpaca-Run-In.html
It is 6 feet x 12 feet. Mine has a wood floor (with very small spaces between the pressure treated boards), two dutch doors in the opening, and vents on either side in the peaks.
The dutch doors look like the double doors on here:
http://www.lancasterbarns.com/acatalog/BB_Quaker_Storage_Shed.html
I have so many questions.
1. Should we put another floor over the existing one?
2. Here in northern New England we plan to insulate. DO we need to insulate the whole thing or just the roof and half way up the sides?
3. The back of this will sit on a fence line. We plan to put the run off the side. Should the run enclosure incorporate the whole front too or just the side? Will it be a hassle to enter the run to get to the door for cleaning etc? The double doors can be set so only one side opens for my access.
4. If we enclosed the front I was thinking in the summer we could leave the dutch doors, or one side open. Or is it better to lock them up totally at night? We are rural (fisher cats, raccoons) and I doubt the horses on the other side of the fence will be much of a deterrent to predators.
5. Due to snow and bad weather should half the run have a roof over it?
6. What am I forgetting?
7. Oh and thoughts on the best placement of nesting boxes in relation to front doors and side chicken door.
8.Do we need a window for light at all? We already have the slatted ventilation.
Thank you!!!!
I have something very similar to this: http://www.lancasterbarns.com/acatalog/Alpaca-Run-In.html
It is 6 feet x 12 feet. Mine has a wood floor (with very small spaces between the pressure treated boards), two dutch doors in the opening, and vents on either side in the peaks.
The dutch doors look like the double doors on here:
http://www.lancasterbarns.com/acatalog/BB_Quaker_Storage_Shed.html
I have so many questions.
1. Should we put another floor over the existing one?
2. Here in northern New England we plan to insulate. DO we need to insulate the whole thing or just the roof and half way up the sides?
3. The back of this will sit on a fence line. We plan to put the run off the side. Should the run enclosure incorporate the whole front too or just the side? Will it be a hassle to enter the run to get to the door for cleaning etc? The double doors can be set so only one side opens for my access.
4. If we enclosed the front I was thinking in the summer we could leave the dutch doors, or one side open. Or is it better to lock them up totally at night? We are rural (fisher cats, raccoons) and I doubt the horses on the other side of the fence will be much of a deterrent to predators.
5. Due to snow and bad weather should half the run have a roof over it?
6. What am I forgetting?
7. Oh and thoughts on the best placement of nesting boxes in relation to front doors and side chicken door.
8.Do we need a window for light at all? We already have the slatted ventilation.
Thank you!!!!