Should I build a coop in an old existing barn or get a new coop?

[vannaHaines]

Recycle, reduce, reuse!!!!

 

[Buckeye11]

The wild Birds could pass on Disease, tho the chiCkens may effectually repel those Starlings; I don't have that Knowledge.

The Cieling could be used as Storage, or you could lay in a Floor and put in more chiCkens! Maybe a brooder Area with electric Power? You could have a minor Hatchery in such a commodious Building.

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate so many postive comments on what the best solution for a coop with what I am working with. That was my worry was that if I would build a coop in the barn that it could negatively effect the birds health. I could cage the wild birds out but not what the chickens would breath inside the barn. I need more information on this topic before I start building.

 

[gg706]

LUCKY YOU!!!! I would consider buttoning up the barn so the nuisance wild birds couldn't get in. Then I would take my pressure washer and spray the rafters and everything to get the droppings out. My parents have chickens in an old barn that is open so the horses can get in and out, of course wild birds also home in the barn, they have not had any problems with the chickens getting a disease....yet. I do feel precautions are a good idea. then just go for it. The chickens will come in contact with wild bird doppings etc. out free ranging. there is only so much you can do. If you are going to free range might I suggest you keep a good rooster. This is my first go round so take it for what it is....My Araucana rooster seems to be more intellegent than the hens. Some of the hens will walk the fence trying to find a way out with the door wide open...the roo sees the door open and goes right out and the hens follow. While the hens peck and forage he keeps a watch out. He has a certain noise he makes to sound the alarm and the hens take cover. Without a roo a hen may take over this role. But I don't know as I have only had this 1 flock and the roo has always been here. Some breeds are also seem more suited to free range than others. I have Wyandottes and Araucanas (not easter eggers) They both do well ranging. The Araucana are a very fast agile bird with a good intellegence factor. The Wyandottes are fearless and have effectively "trained" my Weimaraner pups to leave the chickens alone. If the pups get too close they get flogged and pecked. The dogs avoid close contact with the chickens now! One of the pups is full grown now but she still avoids the chickens as she doesn't know any different. If you have alot of wide open land you might want to consider making some cover boxes for the chickens and set them out...if there is a threat they can then take cover without having to go too far. Good Luck! Let us know how it turns out!

 

[debid]

Thanks, this barn is more of going to waste than anything and was in much worse condition before I power washed everything. I was thinking that it would be much cheaper in building supplies rather than a small coop for 6 hens. I like your ideas a lot on the setup inside the barn. This barn gets a lot of starlings and other birds that nest in the barn. Would I have to worry about respiratory issues with the chickens sleeping in there if the barn has other birds dropping and some molded wood around?

What would I do with the ceiling in between the 2x6 boards? I could probably do the cages but the roof is not waterproof so I do have extra metal roofing in the bottom pic behind my dog. During the day could I just let the chickens out to free range? We are in an area that has lots of coyotes, hawk, and coons. The barn is near the house but I could let the chickens roam since there is no traffic.

Coyotes are dissuaded by proximity to humans and presence of a dog. We have lots of coyotes around and no fences but they don't come into the yard because we have a dog that marks the perimeter of his space (where we mow regularly) and there is an ample supply of other food. Of course, an electric fence would be even better but you do what you can. Raccoons are primarily a nighttime concern. But, given enough time, there will surely be losses to raptors. It's more a matter of what's acceptable to you. You can help them by providing ample cover so they can run somewhere relatively safe when a hawk is sighted. You can have a rooster to help watch for trouble (just don't expect him to do more than sound the alarm and lead them to cover). And, again, a well-trained dog simply hanging around is supposed to help.

We were able to set up a covered run on the cheap by purchasing a used dog kennel. With that, they have access to a bit of the outdoors all of the time and then just range when I can keep an eye on them. We happen to have a good bit of forest around and not much open space between so the chickens can't always see a predator coming until there isn't time to run.

 

[Buckeye11]

Ok so if I bleach the entire coop vicinity and power wash it out, then board the place up. Would this be enough precautions to let the chickens nest inside? I would just hate to get them started in a clean environment but a year from now the wild birds could make them sick if they found a way to nest close by.

OK so sounds like a rooster would increase my chance of not loosing a bird so I guess I will figure that in too. The area is managed for pheasants, so there is tall bluestem grass all around with just this barn. The hawks don't have any trees to perch on nearby, other than the barn. The hawks now prey on pheasants, rabbits, and mice, so most the time I see them is around 100 yards behind the barn. They swoop real close the the grass when not perching in the weeds, plus we have a few different hawks here.

What types of cover should I scatter out through the grass? And how long do you like to make sure your chickens get to free range a day?

 

[gg706]

you could make some little triangle houses for the birds to run under if a hawk is nearby. Or maybe some well placed shrub beds to provide some cover. I don't know how well the shrubs would mix into managing the area for pheasants as I don't kow anything about that. My chickens range all day and go back into the coop on their own for bed. I have not lost one yet but I have dogs a cat and trees and shrubs everywhere. Someday I am sure something will happen but my chickens enjoy ranging SO MUCH! There is a balance for me between quality of life and quantity of life. My chickens are VERY unhappy if I don't let them range everyday. Seems to me chickens easily get into a routine and do NOT appreciate ANY change! My brother in law came to visit and brought his dogs...I did not know if they would kill my chickens so I kept the chickens in the coop while he was here. BOY I heard about it EVERYDAY, ALL day long! The hens cackled and paced the fence ALL day waiting to be let out! They were NOT happy! They also punished me by not laying for a couple of days.

 

[Buckeye11]

you could make some little triangle houses for the birds to run under if a hawk is nearby. Or maybe some well placed shrub beds to provide some cover. I don't know how well the shrubs would mix into managing the area for pheasants as I don't kow anything about that. My chickens range all day and go back into the coop on their own for bed. I have not lost one yet but I have dogs a cat and trees and shrubs everywhere. Someday I am sure something will happen but my chickens enjoy ranging SO MUCH! There is a balance for me between quality of life and quantity of life. My chickens are VERY unhappy if I don't let them range everyday. Seems to me chickens easily get into a routine and do NOT appreciate ANY change! My brother in law came to visit and brought his dogs...I did not know if they would kill my chickens so I kept the chickens in the coop while he was here. BOY I heard about it EVERYDAY, ALL day long! The hens cackled and paced the fence ALL day waiting to be let out! They were NOT happy! They also punished me by not laying for a couple of days.

Thanks, yea the pheasants are just wild that live in 4-5 ft grass. The pheasants hide in the grass from hawks but Im not sure if chickens will walk and hide in the grass. Its only 100 yards from the side of the barn and could offer cover . I will plan on building smaller cover scattered throughout. Araucana looks like a breed that could fit well for me, since they are better at hiding from hawks and adaptable free range.

 

[gg706]

There is an Araucana thread if you are interested in more info on the breed. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/288425/araucana-thread-anyone Araucana can be difficult to get ahold of, there are several breeders on the thread but most only ship fertile eggs. I got mine from Chicken Scratch Poultry she will ship straight run day olds. You will get male and female so you will have to get rid of some roos and choose one to keep. I put my roos on craigslist as soon as I knew who was who and they were picked up that evening. If I could have butchered myself I would have but I got too attached to them. Her stock is not show quality most are clean faced (my rooster has 1 tuft) but all will be rumpless. Araucana are tough birds once grown but they are not for the faint of heart. I had to kill 2 chicks because they were born with too short of a back which causes digestive issues that makes them not pass waste properly. So I put them out of their misery as they would suffer a terrible death.
I will warn you several hatcheries claim to sell Araucana...be warned they ARE NOT Araucana! They sell Easter Eggers totally different thing! I do feel the Araucana would hide in the grass very well they are a smaller, lighter body sized bird. They will probably lay a medium sized egg so if you want huge eggs they will not be for you. The Araucana also seem to take quite awhile to begin laying...I am still waiting. She also sells Blue Laced Red Wyandottes which are also not show quality the color is off but still very pretty. Their coloring would hide in prairie grass VERY well. Would be almost invisible to the human eye, hawk may be another story.... All of the birds I got from her have wonderful personalities! I have heard horror storys about roosters on this site...mine is a gem! I could have gotten lucky but it does seem genetics plays a definite role. Good Luck!

 

[lbrtyldy]

If you don't need it for something else, I would go ahead and use the barn. Cheaper, quicker, etc. I don't take my own advice - have a big barn but hubby wants it for a workshop and storage so had to build me 2 coops - coop 1 has 38 girls and coop 2 has 43 hens and 2 roos.

 

[Buckeye11]

Well here is the start to the coop. I was able to salvage a door for lighting and ventilation. Any ideas? And do I need a window close to the coop side? I will be putting chicken wire up top and above and a door and run on the back or south side of the barn.