Ok, this may sound a little weird, but I want to know what you guys think of me using my existing Rubbermaid Big Max shed as a chicken coop? Nothing has really ever been stored in the shed that could cause harm to the chickens...(the lawnmower has been out of it for over a year, and wasn't in it very long prior...no gas or oil leaks)...I was thinking of modifying the shed to allow for more ventilation (there are tiny slates at the very top, but no existing windows, etc)...For the exterior run, I was going to use welded wire or something that would help keep out predators..I do have a few concerns though-
1) I live in Florida where the temps can get really really hot...the coop would be open during the day so the chickens could go in and out as they pleased, but I am concerned how hot it would get at night?! putting electric to the coop is not an option, as my lab is a chewer and I can totally see him chewing the electric cord (labs...der!)
2) the coop will be under a large oak tree that was there before I was born, and pretty much shades a large area of my yard...that being said, the coop will still get some sun- do you think the plastic shed will give off harmful odors or whatever that could make my babies ill?!
3) the shed currently houses some decent sized black widow spiders (hey, i'm cool with spiders...they do a lot of good...I don't bother them, and they don't bother me!) Anyways, I plan on relocating the spiders (yes, I refuse to kill them!), but if I am not able to get them all, are they harmful to chickens, or just another delicacy?
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
1) I live in Florida where the temps can get really really hot...the coop would be open during the day so the chickens could go in and out as they pleased, but I am concerned how hot it would get at night?! putting electric to the coop is not an option, as my lab is a chewer and I can totally see him chewing the electric cord (labs...der!)
2) the coop will be under a large oak tree that was there before I was born, and pretty much shades a large area of my yard...that being said, the coop will still get some sun- do you think the plastic shed will give off harmful odors or whatever that could make my babies ill?!
3) the shed currently houses some decent sized black widow spiders (hey, i'm cool with spiders...they do a lot of good...I don't bother them, and they don't bother me!) Anyways, I plan on relocating the spiders (yes, I refuse to kill them!), but if I am not able to get them all, are they harmful to chickens, or just another delicacy?
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
