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

[DoeAndGander]

Sweet saw...have couple similar style and vintage but are Kleen Kutter

Aart, how many sq feet per chick would you recommend if I only have a coop til spring (no run) and free range when weather allows me to do so? 10?

 

[aart]

10?

At least.

Not sure if building a coop would less work than fixing the holes in that building.

 

[DoeAndGander]

At least.

Not sure if building a coop would less work than fixing the holes in that building.

Thanks! I’ll be crunching numbers this eve. So many things to consider. For example, the huge boulders of concrete I will need to work around or remove

 

[jvls1942]

I would not put a false floor in there.
rodents will thrive under it.
the building is not going to just collapse.
plug up the holes in the concrete by stuffing fiberglass insulation in them, then fasten chicken wire over the insulation as best as you can. stomp the wire into the holes with the insulation with your foot or a piece of board. you are not trying to insulate, you are just plugging holes so the wind stays out
the floor is just fine for now. no animal is going to try digging through even broken concrete..
put a thick layer of straw on the floor. like at least 8 inches after it gets packed down. add to it as it gets wet during the winter.
you can also use wood shavings along with the straw..
next summer you will know what to fix..
......jiminwisc.....

 

[EggWalrus]

I would not put a false floor in there.
rodents will thrive under it.
the building is not going to just collapse.
plug up the holes in the concrete by stuffing fiberglass insulation in them, then fasten chicken wire over the insulation as best as you can. stomp the wire into the holes with the insulation with your foot or a piece of board. you are not trying to insulate, you are just plugging holes so the wind stays out
the floor is just fine for now. no animal is going to try digging through even broken concrete..
put a thick layer of straw on the floor. like at least 8 inches after it gets packed down. add to it as it gets wet during the winter.
you can also use wood shavings along with the straw..
next summer you will know what to fix..
......jiminwisc.....

If you can attach HC around the bottom of the coop outside so predators can't get in, this sounds like the fastest, cheapest route till next spring when you can rebuild it right.

 

[Folly's place]

Rubber stall mats, sold for horse housing, work well over broken concrete flooring, and make shoveling it out easier too.
Mary

 

[Apocalypse]

it just looks like your parging crumbled away, the foundation underneath is still there and in reasonable shape. Just make some pargemix and sculpt it back again. Parging is just a clean covering for foundations, crumbles away like that all the time. Any remaining holes in the wall, just cover with chicken wire or hardware cloth.

 

[DoeAndGander]

I want to say a big THANK YOU to all of you that threw out ideas on fixing the existing pump house. You guys rock! I crunched numbers last night and found I could build a new coop for around $200, it will be much quicker and I won’t have to beg men with muscles to help me! I’m going to go that route and fix the pump house in the spring.

That said.. This is what I’m thinking. 5x8 with external nesting boxes. A total of five windows possibly six - all old decent sized farmhouse windows. Two above nesting boxes, two on opposite wall, and at least one on wall opposite of door. The eves will be open with a larger overhang than pictured. 1/4-1/2” HC for all openings.

I’m going for this style - raised walk in and high enough off ground I can sweep directly into wheel barrel during cleaning. And I may try to salvage an old external door so it will be a bit higher for head room.

Nesting box will be on right - one large communal (32x18x14ish) and the extra box space will be storage. Separate door for each section. Roost and poop board to left when you walk in door spanning inside length of coop@2ft wide. At least a 2x4 for roost. I will have to do some digging for ways to help large breed chickens up to it as the ladder will be steep. Food and water will hang under poop board. Pop door will either be on back wall or to left under roost. I’m pretty sure I will be insulating it as well. I’m still deciding on placement of coop within the acreage.

I know I’m forgetting something. I’m hoping to finish this by Sunday as Christmas is coming and the house needs a lot of work before hosting. Yikes!

 

[EggWalrus]

Sounds like you have it figured out and have a solid plan.

 

[DoeAndGander]

Sounds like you have it figured out and have a solid plan.

Kind of! I’m sure I’ll be picking your brain when it comes time to fix the building up. Thanks again!