Shed to coop conversion

[moniquem]

Are there any restrictions on how close you can have a chicken coop to a neighbor? Do your neighbors know your getting chickens? Just a couple things people have had issues with on here.

I checked the ordinances and I originally thought the coop had to be 5' from property lines, but that is if I'm building a NEW structure. I'll be repurposing one already up I only have 2 neighbors, one is an older women who is very excited for the chickens! Neighbor behind me is a renter, a little cantankerous but last year I gave him lots of extra veggies from my garden and he was really grateful, I think I can bribe him with fresh eggs

As for supplies needed: I found some really old windows along with a couple really old screen doors in my basement when I bought the house. I thought I would use the screen door as the walk in door inside the coop and then repurpose some of the old windows.

Thats the plan!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

@moniquem any updates on the conversion?

 

[moniquem]

Havn't really started other than to pick around, measure, get ideas....over and over again. BUT.......I did want to start putting in some vents at the top today and was actually going to ask a vent question of you all!

Here is a list of first upgrades:

1.) Do I understand that ventilation needs to be 1 sq/per chicken? If so I could put in 3 12X12" vents along the top on each side.

2.) I don't like the constant rain falling off the roof so I plan on also putting up some rain gutters on either side of the shed. If I don't do this once the run is attached it will turn into mud quickly.

3.) Have ordered 2 rolls of 50x4' 1/2" 19gage hardware cloth from Amazon. I'm torn as how to put it down in the coop. Its a dirt floor so I can either dig the dirt out of the 8'X12' area and lay it horizontally across the floor, staple to bottom edges of shed then lay paving bricks along the edges or just dig 12" along perimeter of coop area and slide in horizontally then staple along bottom edges. Which one is better? The latter sounds easier.

4.) Planning on sifting all the dirt thats in the coop area as it has old wood, nails, cigarette buts and god knows what else.

5.) I have tons of storm windows in my basement, they came with the house. I would like to put in one large window on each side of shed where the coop will be. I'm struggling a little with this part as I have zero construction experience. I do know that I would like the windows to prop open from the bottom.

Well thats as far as I've gotten! Its been a balmy 41 degrees and sunny around here so working on the shed is fun! Any feedback is greatly appreciated

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

If you’re going to be sifting the dirt you might as well dig down while your at it.

 

[moniquem]

I forgot to mention that I just spent a few bucks on getting an outdoor electrical outlet installed by the shed. (My old house had no outdoor electricity ). This will allow me to run electricity to coop for box fans in the summer if needed and heated water in the winter.

I am also putting in a vinyl privacy fencing at the end of the month. This is to keep dogs, people and hopefully cats out of my backyard and will allow the chickens to have full yard access.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I forgot to mention that I just spent a few bucks on getting an outdoor electrical outlet installed by the shed. (My old house had no outdoor electricity ). This will allow me to run electricity to coop for box fans in the summer if needed and heated water in the winter.

I am also putting in a vinyl privacy fencing at the end of the month. This is to keep dogs, people and hopefully cats out of my backyard and will allow the chickens to have full yard access.

If you have outside electricity maybe make a seperate brooder section in the shed

 

[aart]

Can you put an anti dig apron on outside of shed walls(thinking we discussed this and it wasn't possible?) That would be most effective. Pics of outside all around might help.
Good examples of 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

Pics of storm windows would help too.

 

[lazy gardener]

Can you tuck your hdw cloth under the edges of the building? If so, I would not put the hdw cloth across the whole soil floor, but concentrate on the perimeter, putting a skirt around the outside, and either bending it up at 90* and attaching it to the siding, or tucking it all the way under, and setting your cinder blocks completely on top of it. Your points of entry are going to be at the edges. If you can keep critters from digging under, or possibly chewing up through the wood, the soil in the middle won't be breached anyways.

As for ventilation, don't forget: your windows will also figure into your ventilation numbers. Keep in mind that warm air rises. So, if you have some low ventilation which will draw in cool air, that will move the warm moist air up, where it can exit through your gable or soffit vents.

You can absolutely complete this remodel on your own for far less than the contractor price. I bet you can do so for less than 1K.

Your chicks will be here before you know it. You might want to spend a day knocking a brooder together for them so that they can go straight into the shed to be brooded (instead of stinking up your house, and filling it with dander). My first brooder was a 3 x 6 tractor that has given me lots of use every year since then.

 

[moniquem]

Can you tuck your hdw cloth under the edges of the building? If so, I would not put the hdw cloth across the whole soil floor, but concentrate on the perimeter, putting a skirt around the outside, and either bending it up at 90* and attaching it to the siding, or tucking it all the way under, and setting your cinder blocks completely on top of it. Your points of entry are going to be at the edges. If you can keep critters from digging under, or possibly chewing up through the wood, the soil in the middle won't be breached anyways.

I do not have access to the rear of the shed as it acts like a seperator between my yard and neighbors yard. Also the right side of shed butts up agains my side neighbors chain link fence. This is why I plan on laying hardware cloth inside.

As for ventilation, don't forget: your windows will also figure into your ventilation numbers. Keep in mind that warm air rises. So, if you have some low ventilation which will draw in cool air, that will move the warm moist air up, where it can exit through your gable or soffit vents.

So put a couple at the bottom? How far up from ground level?

You can absolutely complete this remodel on your own for far less than the contractor price. I bet you can do so for less than 1K.

Yes, this is my plan.....

Your chicks will be here before you know it. You might want to spend a day knocking a brooder together for them so that they can go straight into the shed to be brooded (instead of stinking up your house, and filling it with dander). My first brooder was a 3 x 6 tractor that has given me lots of use every year since then.

I have already set this up in my basement Chcikies will be here first week of April, hopefully it wont be to cold but I do plan on having the coop done before they arrive and yes I am so glad I have electricity to the shed. I was super worried about water in the winter, especially after reading so many horror stories about the cold lately

Pics of storm windows would help too.

@aart I'll post some pics today of the area where I want the windows and the actual windows I found. Thanks for all your help guys. I've never had chickens before, have always wanted them. Without this site I would be lost.

 

[aart]

I'd put aprons on the 2 walls you can get to the outside of and go straight down a good foot or more on the other walls from the inside.

I would not put the hdw cloth across the whole soil floor,

Ditto Dat^^^