Remodeling a coop! Ideas?

[happylittlehens]

This coop is coming with 5 hens that I’ll be taking in a week or two. They’ll be added to my flock of 9 and our 4 new chicks. Yes I went from 9 hens to 18 in 1 month!!! Anyway, it needs some remodeling and a few modifications. I’m thinking of adding an outside opening nesting box and definitely changing the roost set up. Maybe take the tin siding off and do some vinyl siding or hardboard. The coop is 6’ x 8’ with a 2’ x 6’ feed room. Total usable space of 8’ x 10’ if I opened the feed room up into the coop. What would you do with it?

 

[Latestarter]

Congrats on getting a "new" free coop. birds really need about 4 square feet per bird. That being said, with 18 birds I recommend that you eliminate the "food room" and make that floor space available to the birds, they'll need it. The existing roosts are completely inadequate and should be replaced/re-organized/located. Keep in mind that each bird really needs at least 1 linear foot of roosts space so you'll need about 18 feet of roost. Also, if you'll have more than one height roost, make sure they have at least 18" between them so the birds on the higher roost don't poop or feather pick on the lower birds. You also need to add substantially more ventilation from what I can see.

 

[jthornton]

The first thing I would do is clean it out and remove everything so you have a clean slate. Then address the ventilation as I don't see any. I would remove 12" or so of the tin under that nice overhang and cover it with hardware cloth and if flies are a problem in your area under the hardware cloth put metal screen. I would not swap the tin for vinyl, rats can chew through vinyl pretty quick.

You don't say if all the birds will use that coop or not.

JT

 

[happylittlehens]

The first thing I would do is clean it out and remove everything so you have a clean slate. Then address the ventilation as I don't see any. I would remove 12" or so of the tin under that nice overhang and cover it with hardware cloth and if flies are a problem in your area under the hardware cloth put metal screen. I would not swap the tin for vinyl, rats can chew through vinyl pretty quick.

You don't say if all the birds will use that coop or not.

JT

The eaves are open, so there is some ventilation. No, not all 18 will go in this coop. I have another 6'x8' coop for my original flock and the chicks. But it is a permanent structure in an inconvenient area of the property, so we'd like to tear it down. The ultimate goal, hopefully before winter, is to add on to this coop and make it big enough for all 18. Thanks so much for your advice!

 

[happylittlehens]

Congrats on getting a "new" free coop. birds really need about 4 square feet per bird. That being said, with 18 birds I recommend that you eliminate the "food room" and make that floor space available to the birds, they'll need it. The existing roosts are completely inadequate and should be replaced/re-organized/located. Keep in mind that each bird really needs at least 1 linear foot of roosts space so you'll need about 18 feet of roost. Also, if you'll have more than one height roost, make sure they have at least 18" between them so the birds on the higher roost don't poop or feather pick on the lower birds. You also need to add substantially more ventilation from what I can see.

Thanks for your input! Not all 18 birds will be in there. I have another coop as well. But that being said, this one will eventually be added on to and the other coop will be torn down. What height do you recommend the roosts be at? I think I'd like to put them the same height to hinder the 'Queen of the coop' fight since I'm integrating flocks. I would probably run them along both long walls. So that would be roughly 20' of linear roost which should be sufficient.

 

[Latestarter]

Typical birds will always try to get as high as they can to roost. Limiting factor is room to fly up, and room to fly back down. Generally takes twice the height to "glide" back down so that's a factor unless you give them a ramp or steps to use as intermediate level. Even with a ramp or steps, they'll still typically jump off and try to glide down...

If you make multiple roosts, as long as they are at the same height, less fighting and less popping on those below or feather picking. 18" (24" is better) of separation horizontally will stop most of those issues. If you have multiple roosts at different heights, the alpha bird(s) will try to "own" the highest one.

 

[jthornton]

In addition to what @Latestarter said the roosts need to be at least 12" higher than the nest box. For a standard size bird put the roost at least 14" from the wall to keep them from pooping on the wall. If you add a 24" wide poop board with some sides and put some Sweet PDZ in then poop scooping is super easy.

JT

 

[lazy gardener]

Good advice re: roosts. So, the inside foot print, including the feed room is 8 x 10, not counting that fantastic front overhang?

If I had the time, this is what I'd do:

1. Be sure to get it raised up off the ground so that moisture doesn't rot out the floor joists.

2. Gut it, and bleach it.

3. Cut in some windows. Awning style, hinged at the top so they can be left open when it rains/snows. Be sure to have 1/2" hdw cloth firmly attached under the windows.

3A. Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate: multi level. Louvers are nice b/c they allow air flow while restricting rain/snow. Plan on at least 1 s.f./bird or 10% of floor space, which ever number is greater. My coop in zone 4B is 10 x 12. When ALL possible ventilation, including doors and windows are opened, I have 64 s.f.!

4. Remove the in coop feed room. Use some of the overhang space to add a feed room, if you would like to have one in your coop area. (who wouldn't, if they had the space!)

5. Paint the interior to help prevent rot and to lighten it up. Apply vinyl or black jack to the floor, and run it up 12" on each wall.

6. Build outside access nest boxes. If you are in an extremely cold climate, make the nest boxes part of the floor foot print. If your weather is a bit warmer, you might like to make them a bump out style.

7. I would turn that nice overhang into a predator proof covered run/sunroom to give the flock a safe haven if you can't let them out into their regular run early in the morning.

 

[DobieLover]

Good advice re: roosts. So, the inside foot print, including the feed room is 8 x 10, not counting that fantastic front overhang?

If I had the time, this is what I'd do:

1. Be sure to get it raised up off the ground so that moisture doesn't rot out the floor joists.

2. Gut it, and bleach it.

3. Cut in some windows. Awning style, hinged at the top so they can be left open when it rains/snows. Be sure to have 1/2" hdw cloth firmly attached under the windows.

3A. Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate: multi level. Louvers are nice b/c they allow air flow while restricting rain/snow. Plan on at least 1 s.f./bird or 10% of floor space, which ever number is greater. My coop in zone 4B is 10 x 12. When ALL possible ventilation, including doors and windows are opened, I have 64 s.f.!

4. Remove the in coop feed room. Use some of the overhang space to add a feed room, if you would like to have one in your coop area. (who wouldn't, if they had the space!)

5. Paint the interior to help prevent rot and to lighten it up. Apply vinyl or black jack to the floor, and run it up 12" on each wall.

6. Build outside access nest boxes. If you are in an extremely cold climate, make the nest boxes part of the floor foot print. If your weather is a bit warmer, you might like to make them a bump out style.

7. I would turn that nice overhang into a predator proof covered run/sunroom to give the flock a safe haven if you can't let them out into their regular run early in the morning.

I agree with all of this.

I would also go with DLM with the walls moisture proofed to the 12" that lazy gardener recommended.

Something we did with our coop that we really love is we used polycarbonate roof panels to allow light into the coop. We used the "smoke" tinted panels that allow 83% light transmission. It is a very nice feature.

 

[happylittlehens]

So, the inside foot print, including the feed room is 8 x 10, not counting that fantastic front overhang?

Yes, 8 x 10 not including overhang.

Paint the interior to help prevent rot and to lighten it up. Apply vinyl or black jack to the floor, and run it up 12" on each wall.

I am planning on bleaching and painting. i love the idea of the vinyl floor!

Build outside access nest boxes. If you are in an extremely cold climate, make the nest boxes part of the floor foot print. If your weather is a bit warmer, you might like to make them a bump out style.

Our average lows in the winter are 10 to 20 F at night and about 30 to 40 F during the day. But occasionally we get an unexpected drop into the below 0 range a couple nights per winter. Is this too cold to do the bumpout nesting boxes?