Requesting advice for converting a shed into a Coop and building a run

[Tronracer]

Hi all. Newbie here.

Here is what I am working with. I have 7 chicks in my basement right now. They are 2 weeks old. I am converting this old shed into a coop and the clock is ticking. I am trying to get this done as inexpensive as possible.

Looking at this pic, how would you organize it? Roost in the back? Off to the right? How high? Where do the nesting boxes go? Should I cover the concrete with Linoleum? The walls with linoleum?

What about the run? For the size I am looking to build, how many 4x4 posts need to be set in concrete? Should I put a roof on it or just hardware cloth?

How many vents should I install? is a vent just a hole cut out and hardware cloth added?

I live in NJ

thank you for your help!

 

[aart]

The shed is actually a small addition to the back of my garage. It is 4ft x 20 feet, but I plan to cut off the beginning of the shed to use for storage an add another door. so let's say 4ft x 12ft. I'm not sure what the dark spots are. I think they are stains.

The eaves are open. also the bottom is also open. I will need to seal that off.

This "shed" used to be an outhouse for a pool that was filled in on my property.

the roof of the coop is actually the extended garage roof so it has a gutter and the rain water is diverted to a pipe underground that empties to a gravel pit.

Cover the eaves with 1/2" hardware cloth fro the outside see My Coop.
Apron for anti-dig barrier around base of walls:
Good examples of apron installation, tho I'd not recommend 1/2" HC...go with 14ga 1x2 or 1x1, will hold up much longer and is easier to lay flat.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208


The 4' can be hard to work with, things get tight once you start putting in roosts and nests and feeders and such. They need room to fly down from roosts. Could put nests in the separation wall you are talking about, then you can gather eggs from outside the 'coop'. You only need a couple nests for 7 birds, so 28" for a couple nests then the rest for a door. Unless you are thinking about more birds down the road, then you should plan now for that. Get out some graph paper and plan ahead.
Roosts should be 12" from walls. Here's some height tips to keep in mind:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

 

[Tronracer]

Welcome to BYC!

Good info you've provided, but I'll ask for more.
How big is the shed?

What you put on the floor may depend on how you plan to manage manure.
I like poop boards, dry shavings on the floor, and deep litter in run.

Is there water coming in....dark spots on floor??
Maybe from rain running off roof?

Is that eave open, or open-able?
Might think about adding a couple windows.

I would roof part of the run anyway, the part closest to the coop for winter shelter and as well as to divert coop roof run off(think about where that water will go).

There's a lot of ways to frame a run, I used Tposts.
How many posts at what spacing will depend on how you are going to mesh the walls,
it's good to have nailers that match the width of your mesh or ease and security of mesh installation.

The shed is actually a small addition to the back of my garage. It is 4ft x 20 feet, but I plan to cut off the beginning of the shed to use for storage an add another door. so let's say 4ft x 12ft. I'm not sure what the dark spots are. I think they are stains.

The eaves are open. also the bottom is also open. I will need to seal that off.

This "shed" used to be an outhouse for a pool that was filled in on my property.

the roof of the coop is actually the extended garage roof so it has a gutter and the rain water is diverted to a pipe underground that empties to a gravel pit.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Should be a good setup. Coop layout help is easier with the inside coop dimensions.

I've done an old wood shed conversion. I'll caution you that they take serious attention to small predator proofing, rats, weasels, mink etc. I've been digging and plugging holes all winter.

For dirt floors, trench the whole way around and bury hardware cloth along inside walls adjacent to the other structure(is there a common wall?), run that wire up the inside walls then cover with boards, linoleum, whatever so chickens don't get toes caught. Then a flat skirt on the outside walls. If a quarter fits so does a weasel or rat. Don't use chicken wire. Hardware cloth.

You have concrete. That's a different issue. I can see a crack so they can get in for sure. If you have unsound wood at the bottom they are coming in. Hardware cloth that crack. I poured some concrete patches, they chewed through somehow. Maybe if you concrete patched over hardware cloth?

Great coop builders here, you'll get great advice!

 

[aart]

STATUS UPDATE I filled any cracks with concrete and I bought blackjack 57 to coat the walls to waterproof and protect the wood. When the cement fully cures I will coat that with waterproof as well.

Great!!
.... but make sure it's warm enough long enough for that stuff to cure properly.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Good info you've provided, but I'll ask for more.
How big is the shed?

What you put on the floor may depend on how you plan to manage manure.
I like poop boards, dry shavings on the floor, and deep litter in run.

Is there water coming in....dark spots on floor??
Maybe from rain running off roof?

Is that eave open, or open-able?
Might think about adding a couple windows.

I would roof part of the run anyway, the part closest to the coop for winter shelter and as well as to divert coop roof run off(think about where that water will go).

There's a lot of ways to frame a run, I used Tposts.
How many posts at what spacing will depend on how you are going to mesh the walls,
it's good to have nailers that match the width of your mesh or ease and security of mesh installation.

 

[Pensmaster]

The shed is actually a small addition to the back of my garage. It is 4ft x 20 feet, but I plan to cut off the beginning of the shed to use for storage an add another door. so let's say 4ft x 12ft. I'm not sure what the dark spots are. I think they are stains.

The eaves are open. also the bottom is also open. I will need to seal that off.

This "shed" used to be an outhouse for a pool that was filled in on my property.

the roof of the coop is actually the extended garage roof so it has a gutter and the rain water is diverted to a pipe underground that empties to a gravel pit.

Use hardware cloth to seal openings. It looks pretty air tight which isn’t good. My “coops” are open on at least three sides except the greenhouse it’s ventilated with fans and automatic vents on roof.
How hot do you get there?

 

[Tronracer]

Here is a pic of the outside of the “shed” where I will build the run. Note there is concrete extended out about a foot from the structure.

Lots of possibilities here. Good that it’s on the south side. Heat is a huge issue for me. What type of wild critters do you have there? That will depend on how you build out run.
I’d cover it as well. Ive always used t-post for my post much easier and can be moved easier. Chicken math has required easy for me.
Do you have access to old building supplies or do you have a window there you can add to the coop? It could also be used as venting.
The height of roost depends on chickens abilities. Heavy birds lower roost. I like to use 2x4 for roost it gives them a flat area for their claws. Just remove any splinters from whatever you use.

 

[aart]

Then I could just clean it out and hose it down.

No need to ever 'hose' anything out, you want things to say as dry as possible inside the coop or you'll have odor and maybe mold and other organism growth issues.
A concrete floor is pretty good for scraping out without the need for water
How you manage your manure is key to how to bed the floor.
I use a poop board to remove much manure daily(goes to a friends compost),
then dry shavings on the floor changed out twice a year.

Any chance you could enlarge that coop, push it out a couple feet on the run side?

 

[Tronracer]

I'm sure its possible to extend out the coop, but not without major construction. I'm not willing to add that right now. What I can do however is enlarge on the side. So inside the coop I will have 16 feet by 4 feet and then 4 feet by 4 feet for the storage and build 4 nesting boxes so I can collect the eggs from "outside" the coop. A door on the left and the nesting boxes on the right.

I bought Thomson's water seal to protect the inside wood where you see blue... This structure needs to last as it is connected to my garage. Is that a bad idea? What can I do to protect the wood?

I bought 2x4's to make the partition and I also found 12foot x 26 inch corrugated plastic sheets to use for my run on clearance for $5 apiece. Regular price was $21 so I feel like I scored.