Preexisting coop in frozen MN... I’ve lost my mind!

[DoeAndGander]

Thinking about this design...

 

[Folly's place]

It's adorable, but needs more ventilation. A bigger window opening on the south side, a window opening in the door, venting above the door and in the opposite wall, maybe open soffits. All covered with well secured hardware cloth, and some plastic sheeting or something to block the winter winds.
Mary

 

[Percheron chick]

The easiest fix is to buy 4 8'x6' chain panels. Line the bottom 2' with hardware cloth before you assemble them. Then take them inside the coop and assemble. Cover the top to keep out raccoon size predators. Give them a roost and a nesting box and you're done. Run a strand of hot wire around the bottom outside if you need more protection. This is basically my set up for grow out pens that I use in stalls. Never had a breech. Dog pen panels always come in handy. I manage to find them on CL when I need more.

 

[Trux]

I know those MN winters Grew up around Willmar and St Cloud moved south in 2011. I would build a false floor, as you can do that inside the shed and out of the wind, then pour new foundation in the spring. It is always great to re-purpose old buildings and materials if it is feasible

 

[DoeAndGander]

It's adorable, but needs more ventilation. A bigger window opening on the south side, a window opening in the door, venting above the door and in the opposite wall, maybe open soffits. All covered with well secured hardware cloth, and some plastic sheeting or something to block the winter winds.
Mary

Thanks for ventilation warning! I have a few old house windows to choose from. Aside from ventilation, I was thinking larger windows for light as well. The nesting box is overkill. I’m thinking I can use the extra space for storage. The plastic sheeting you’re referring to is for a run, correct? Being the ground is froze, I will not be building a run as of yet (they will be closely monitored free ranged when weather is decent) but hoping to compensate a little for that with extra coop space!

 

[EggWalrus]

You could get a sheet of pressure treated plywood, cut it to fit from the ground to the bottom of the walls. Once in place, pour a few bags of high speed cement into those voids level with the floor inside. You may have to wait for a warmer day but they make Sakrete that sets up within a couple hours.
Another possible fix, just cut and lay sheets of plywood directly over existing concrete floor making sure to cover those gaps all the way to the walls. There aren't too many predators that can lift up a 3/4" sheet of plywood and squeeze between it and a wall.
The windows for light are a great idea. Be sure to put them on the south side because of how the sun traverses the southern sky in winter.
A couple of gable vent with louvers should fix any ventilation problems. That old out building has the potential to be a pretty good coop with a little repair and renovation. You could put egg boxes on the side so you could just reach in from the outside to get them. Would save a lot of floor space. You could also make a small counter with doors below it to store feed, hay, or whatever.
Good luck

 

[DoeAndGander]

The easiest fix is to buy 4 8'x6' chain panels. Line the bottom 2' with hardware cloth before you assemble them. Then take them inside the coop and assemble. Cover the top to keep out raccoon size predators. Give them a roost and a nesting box and you're done. Run a strand of hot wire around the bottom outside if you need more protection. This is basically my set up for grow out pens that I use in stalls. Never had a breech. Dog pen panels always come in handy. I manage to find them on CL when I need more.

Great idea! I’m assuming it wouldn’t work as great with an uneven busted up floor though?

I keep yoyoing between making the shed work for now and building a new winter hut to get me through. The ideas seem great. I’m motivated to get something started, I walked out there and I get overwhelmed with it all.

 

[EggWalrus]

If you are worried about concrete in the cold, you could just put plywood around the whole bottom of the coop. Maybe fil in the voids with hay or diet so the birds don't get hung up in them. That would be a quick easy temporary fix that would be predator proof.

 

[DoeAndGander]

I know those MN winters Grew up around Willmar and St Cloud moved south in 2011. I would build a false floor, as you can do that inside the shed and out of the wind, then pour new foundation in the spring. It is always great to re-purpose old buildings and materials if it is feasible

You enjoyed the winters so much you flew south?!? I love the false floor idea, I get stuck when thinking about the uneven walls and animals scaling the studs to get to my chickens. I’m extremely thrifty and will definitely be re-purposing this building... it’s just a matter of when. It has been standing for at least 50 years and has a slight lean to it but that just gives it character! So much potential. A few months back I built a 10x10 coop with mostly salvaged material. So fun!

 

[Percheron chick]

Great idea! I’m assuming it wouldn’t work as great with an uneven busted up floor though?
l.

. You just need the panels to make contact with the ground You might have to dig a small trench around the bottom to level it out. You can also make adjustments because each panel is independent. If the floor is lumpy and bumpy, just throw down a bale of straw. You will want to do it anyway to insulate the ground.