Renovating a 40+ Year Old Coop!

[boggart]

This old half chicken coop half small livestock barn has been on our land for at least 40 years, and probably more than that. It existed when the previous owner purchased the property sometime in the early 80s! And it came with the best old barncat we called Tiger, who’s since passed away. We’ve used it as a chicken coop and goat barn, but currently it’s being used for extra storage.

My grandfather and I are renovating and redoing this coop together (around 1/3 of the barn) for my new chickens, as well as adding an outdoor run. It’s the first time I’ve really used tools in my 20 years of life, so good thing my papa is a blue collar man who’s worked construction since the dawn of time He’s a great teacher, though somewhat impatient.

I’ll keep updating with pictures of our progress, and don’t be afraid to add input or ask questions! I don’t really know what I’m doing so I can use all the tips/suggestions you have to offer.

Total cost so far = $150 for the hardware cloth

Outside

Inside
The back room behind this door will stay closed (until chicken math strikes and we need to expand)
We added hardware cloth to the bottom 3rd of the inside door to keep the chickens out

I’m not sure what to do with this wall, it’s covered in some sort of old insulation... any ideas?

To the left of this garage door will be solid hardware cloth. The other side of the barn will stay open for storage (and future chicken coop expansion )

This corner needs to be cleared, and we plan on adding hardware cloth or a screen to the window

 

[boggart]

Since one side of the coop will be solid hardware cloth, and two sides have a screen door (leaving only one fully walled side), any suggestions on where and how I can install the roosts, poop boards, and nest boxes?

If you can’t tell, I’m more of a do-it-as-i-get-to-it person than a planner. Oh well

 

[Sueby]

Oh the possibilities @boggart! I'm jealous. Have you looked in the coop build section for ideas? There is some great stuff in there.

 

[aart]

I would suggest an HC ceiling in the coop area, attached to bottom of rafters, keeps bird from roosting in the rafters and predators that may get into barn out of coop area.

I'm a planner, hate doing stuff over...even with my ~6 months of planning I had to do some 'field design' modifications...as I was building and after birds moved in.

My coop is in a larger shed, check out My Coop page for ideas.
Also 3 good reads linked in my signature(let me know if you can't see or access them).

 

[boggart]

Oh the possibilities @boggart! I'm jealous. Have you looked in the coop build section for ideas? There is some great stuff in there.

I’ve looked into and read many coop threads! It can be so overwhelming

I would suggest an HC ceiling in the coop area, attached to bottom of rafters, keeps bird from roosting in the rafters and predators that may get into barn out of coop area.

I'm a planner, hate doing stuff over...even with my ~6 months of planning I had to do some 'field design' modifications...as I was building and after birds moved in.

My coop is in a larger shed, check out My Coop page for ideas.
Also 3 good reads linked in my signature(let me know if you can't see or access them).

Thank you for all the suggestions, I’d almost forgot that I should cover the rafters


Outside the coop
We’ve got the hardware cloth wired against small livestock panels and buried 2-3 in. deep (had to water the ground for two days in order to make it soft enough to work with)
We miscalculated by a few feet (look at the gate and the left-side corner behind the Oak tree) and need to find more hardware cloth. Whoops

The small pasture on the backside of the old barn is ours, after researching and planting numerous native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers I will allow the chickens to “free range” back there

To do
Bury cyclone/chain-link fencing horizontally around the outside of the run this will prevent predators from digging beneath the fenceline

Put up more 2x4s and add a cattle panel trellis/arbor to the run
This arbor will be covered in (soon to be planted) Kentucky Wisteria “blue moon,” which is a non-invasive USA native species, and perhaps some hardy grapes

not my photos, used for example

Total cost= around $350 for hardware cloth and six 2x4s
Everything else used is either found or reclaimed

 

[webbysmeme]

I’ve looked into and read many coop threads! It can be so overwhelming

Thank you for all the suggestions, I’d almost forgot that I should cover the rafters


Outside the coop:
We’ve got all the hardware cloth wired up against small livestock panels and buried 2-3 in deep... (had to water the ground for two days in order to make it soft enough to work with) but we were off by just a few feet (look at the gate and the left side corner behind the Oak tree) and will need to find some more hardware cloth. Whoops
View attachment 1871835
View attachment 1871794 View attachment 1871795
the small pasture on the backside of the old barn is ours as well, after researching and planting numerous native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers I will allow the chickens to “free range” back there

Cyclone/chain-link fencing will soon be buried horizontally to surround the outside of the run and prevent digging

We’re putting up more 2x4s and adding a cattle panel trellis/arbor to the run
This arbor will be covered in (soon to be planted) Kentucky Wisteria “blue moon,” which is a non-invasive native species, and perhaps some hardy grapes
View attachment 1871814
View attachment 1871818
View attachment 1871816
not my photos, used for example

Total cost= around $350 for hardware cloth and six 2x4s
Everything else used is either found or reclaimed

My girls would be in heaven if they had your set up! Good job!

 

[boggart]

My girls would be in heaven if they had your set up! Good job!

Thank you Webby! It’s certainly getting there

 

[boggart]

Just got my backhoe load of construction sand for inside the coop! It will go on top of the concrete floor. Now you can (barely) see the backside of the old barn.

It’s been a couple years since I’ve been to the beach and felt sand on my bare feet

Total cost= free

 

[boggart]

Inside the coop
I need to sweep, remove skis, remove excess wood from a completed pergola project, and remove old electric wire and staples (electric no longer runs out here, we intentionally cut the lines around 10 years go)

Need to add wood paneling in front of this hideous and quite itchy insulation.
The wood panel already behind the insulation only goes up halfway
I plan on covering this whole area (planks, boards, insulation, and all) with one to-size panel
After installing the wood panel I would like to cover it in a rainbow of upcycled feed sacks to add color to the coop

Currently having a screen being fitted and made at the local lumberyard for this window

Updates tomorrow!

 

[aart]

Currently having a screen being fitted and made at the local lumberyard for this window

1/2" Hardware Cloth?