Shed Coop Idea

[IceStorm]

I've also looked into metal sheds to use for coops, and have seen plenty of reviewers lose their sheds to winds. So if you're in a windy area, that'll be a consideration for making it safe for animals.

Yes that's a BIG concern of mine right now. We have a way to attach it, but in order to stake it down we need to make sure we won't be hitting any lines/pipes.

 

[jwcarlson]

There are auger style anchors made for mobile homes that are fairly inexpensive and can help anchor things like these metal sheds.

I owned a 10x12 metal "shed in a box" an our old house and it would have needed some modifications to be an OK shed. It would be OK for a good part of the year, but like others have said. They get hot. Sure, a light colored one would be better than a dark one, but mine was cream colored and it was extremely hot. If you have a spot where it would mostly be in the shade, it might work alright. One other thing to consider on the flip side of the heat issue is that in the winter whatever moisture will be in the coop (from chicken respiration and their manure and their waterer) will be constantly condensing on the walls and roof because the walls are going to get extremely cold. Which can cause issues.

I winter my birds in a 40x20 hoop house (and unless there's a lot of snow, they still have fenced outdoor space. Moisture is an issue, but with adequate ventilation, it's manageable. If you go the metal shed route, I would try to figure out a way to make a couple of the metal panels into hardware cloth (or at least the bottom halves), closable panels. You might be able to make a wood frame "sandwich" and make the metal into a cover for the outside. In the summer you could open them up for a nice cross breeze. And in the winter during the day you could open them up to help keep things dry.
You'd probably also want ventilation up top in the winter to keep the warm, moist air able to exit.

Also matters if they're going to be in this shed 24/7 seasonally or if they'll always be able to get outside.

 

[Blairsey425]

I've also looked into metal sheds to use for coops, and have seen plenty of reviewers lose their sheds to winds. So if you're in a windy area, that'll be a consideration for making it safe for animals.

Our little metal shed coop made it though the Seattle bomb cyclone in 2024 (90mph gusts) with no damage, we don't have it anchored to anything except a 3/4" piece of plywood for the floor.

 

[Blairsey425]

Yes that's a BIG concern of mine right now. We have a way to attach it, but in order to stake it down we need to make sure we won't be hitting any lines/pipes

Our thick plywood bottom has worked great without having to anchor anything into the ground.

 

[IceStorm]

Our little metal shed coop made it though the Seattle bomb cyclone in 2024 (90mph gusts) with no damage, we don't have it anchored to anything except a 3/4" piece of plywood for the floor.

That's very good to hear! Thank you for the feedback!

 

[Ahoragi]

My take on it is that the metal shed will WORK if you are not too concerned about all the variables and needs of the chickens. Some of us learn ALOT and adapt our coops/spaces to allow most of what we learn. Some folks just open up a small structure, toss in a horizontal bar, and lay down a milk crate then call it good. The chickens WILL make it work because they don't have a choice but it may not be ideal.

I personally, from experience in our first year, would go to your local lumber store or big box store, and grab a bunch of 2x4's, roll of chicken wire, pressure treated boards and build it how you would like it. It may cost an additional 50 to 100 bucks BUT it will be a lot better than a thin metal structure and can easily be modified, which we can guarantee you will want to do here and there to make improvements. There is also no metal to cut which can be a risk if metal shavings get past you.

One thing to remember is the cost of those structures are pretty cheap and you will see why once you start assembling it. Metal is not cheap and them being low cost tells you something.

 

[Tahai]

I suggest building on to your existing shed. If you are free-ranging in your yard, you don't need as much space in your coop as people who don't free-range. 4x4 is adequate for 4 hens who are only using the coop for nighttime roosting (more space is always better, though). In the winter, you could put up an open-ended covered hoop house as a kind of "porch" to the night coop, so that they could get out and move around some. You could leave that up year-round, or take it down in the summer after the spring rains. Also, most common chicken breeds don't need warmth; they need ventilation. Winters get into the negatives where I live. I have a lot of ventilation, and I only cover it up during really strong wind events (and then open it back up as soon as the strong wind passes). I don't heat my coop, and I never fully seal it up, even in the worst wind. (If you have breeds that are only suited to hot weather living, then obviously, this advice does not apply.)

 

[IceStorm]

I suggest building on to your existing shed. If you are free-ranging in your yard, you don't need as much space in your coop as people who don't free-range. 4x4 is adequate for 4 hens who are only using the coop for nighttime roosting (more space is always better, though). In the winter, you could put up an open-ended covered hoop house as a kind of "porch" to the night coop, so that they could get out and move around some. You could leave that up year-round, or take it down in the summer after the spring rains. Also, most common chicken breeds don't need warmth; they need ventilation. Winters get into the negatives where I live. I have a lot of ventilation, and I only cover it up during really strong wind events (and then open it back up as soon as the strong wind passes). I don't heat my coop, and I never fully seal it up, even in the worst wind. (If you have breeds that are only suited to hot weather living, then obviously, this advice does not apply.)

We've been thinking about this! we currently have a very nicely made wooden storage shed with our yard tools in it, but we've been contemplating using that for the chickens and just attaching a run to the back of it and making a corn of it their's. I guess I just don't know... they're probs gonna poo on all our tools and stuff huh?

 

[NatJ]

they're probs gonna poo on all our tools and stuff huh?

Yes, they will poop on your tools. They will probably also knock things over, and hide eggs in the corners that are hardest to reach.

If you put up a divider of wire mesh, that can keep the chickens from directly pooping on your tools, or hiding eggs under the tools. They will still spread lots of dust on your tools, and probably a few feathers as well.

If you put up a solid divider, it will keep the chicken mess much more contained. Make sure the chicken section gets plenty of ventilation, but venting it directly to outside will at least reduce how much dust gets on your tools.

If you move all the tools out, and give the whole shed to the chickens, then you have the problem of where else to put the tools.

I don't know which things are worth how much effort to you. You might decide that letting them poop on the tools is the best use of the time, space, and resources you have available, or you might decide to do something else-- but it's probably better to know what you are choosing, rather than being surprised by the situation.

 

[Ridgerunner]

We've been thinking about this! we currently have a very nicely made wooden storage shed with our yard tools in it, but we've been contemplating using that for the chickens and just attaching a run to the back of it and making a corn of it their's. I guess I just don't know... they're probs gonna poo on all our tools and stuff huh?

You did not say how big that shed is or how much room you'd give them. How air-tight or well-ventilated is it now? How cool does it stay in summer? Does it stay perfectly dry when it rains? What kind of floor does it have, dirt or raised wood?

When you say yard tools I envision a wheelbarrow, rakes, shovels, and such. Dust from the chickens would not hurt those. But lawn mowers, edgers, power tools, and other things with motors may be more of an issue.

Chickens create dust. Part of that is dander, bits of skin and feathers. They shred bedding with their scratching. If they are on dry dirt their scratching can turn some into dust. When their poop dries their scratching can turn some of that into dust. Many people do not appreciate how much dust they can raise. It can be a lot more than just dander.

I made my coop by converting a 12' x 60' loafing shed into a storage shed. It stayed dry but had great ventilation up high and down low. It was metal. I made an 8' x12' end into my coop with adequate predator protection, leaving one wall metal, and using wood panels on the end and other side. Inside, I had a wall partly wood panel (T-111) and partly hardware cloth so there was great ventilation between the inside of the shed and the coop. I stored my "farming implements" (hoes, rakes, shovels, axe, etc.) in there along with a trailer, spare wood and wire. And of course the chicken stuff. The only motor was on my riding lawn mower and I covered that with a piece of plastic to keep the dust off.

Yes, there was dust but it wasn't a problem. If I'd had power tools like hand saws or drills it would not be good. Dust would be bad for them.

If the chickens have access they will poop on whatever is in there. If you have a wire wall between the coop and the rest of that shed they will generate dust, even just four chickens. If you build a solid wall around that corner you should be able to keep the dust out.

To me, that tool shed has real possibilities if it is big enough. How you set it up will depend on what tools you are storing in there.