Should I buy this shed?

[fiddlebanshee]

This shed is for sale at a local shed builder. They want $725 for it, including delivery to our new place, which I think is a steal. I wonder what you all think about modifying this to house about 15 chickens. It has no ventilation nor windows, so I'll have to do something about that. So here are some thoughts about the ventilation. Please chime in if I'm completely nuts.

How easy do you think would it be to rip off the roof and elevate it one foot up in the air, so that there is airflow all around with optional boards to board it up when it's cold? This might be a bit beyond my building skills though, although I could ask if they could make the modification. The advantage is that the height of the coop would be a bit taller for my tall husband to be able to get in without bending. The roof right now also doesn't have a lot of overhang, so that might make this plan unworkable.

Another thought is to cut a number (maybe about 4 holes in three sides) of openings for small windows (14x14 inch), that would be covered in hardware cloth and covered with plexiglas that would be hinged at the top so that we can open any number of them. Would that be enough ventilation? This would give just over 16 square feet of ventilation if they are all opened. I could also install one or more standard vents that you get at the hardware store (this is what they suggested but I don't think it'd be enough for 15 birds). Where would you put the vent?

I'm thinking I'd need about 3 or 4 nesting boxes, which I will probably try to let butt out, accessible from the outside, but I'm mortally afraid of cutting through studs and have the whole shed collapse, so I thought I'd make three or four separate ones, and insert them in between the studs. Is there any rule that says that the nestboxes need to be one unit? This is all I have seen in pictures so far, they're always one solid unit.

TIA for your thoughts. Being brand spanking new at this, all of it is rather horrifying at the moment.

 

[MiniBeesKnees]

This is just a WAG but I think it would be more difficult to raise the roof and end up with a structurally sound building then it would be to build one from scratch.
Depending on the quality of the construction of that shed cutting studs to put in windows may not be an issue.
I have two sheds. One was built by a shed company and is an actual shed 12 x 20 feet...built and delivered to me. It is built beautifully with 2 x 4 studs 16" on center and is built like a fortress. It wasn't cheap.
I have a coop made from a Lowe's kit that the studs are not 16" on center...actually only the two sides have what I'd call studs and there are four in a wall that is 9' 8" long. When I cut windows into it...it will be easy to avoid cutting into the 'studs'. The guy who put it together did a spectacular job, but you can only make so much of a silk purse out of that sow's ear of a kit.

My experience with the shed that I had the builder's make is that any changes to the shed are costly because they are made in a mass production method and any change at all changes the whole thing too much away from the 'standard' as to price it in a 'custom built' price range.
Terry in Tennessee

 

[PhilErvin]

If you husband has the basic skills required to raise the roof then he has the skill to build this shed from the ground up. Believe me when I say that this is a VERY EASY project. If he dosn't have the tools this would be a good time to purchase them and justify it by the cost savings in building it himself. Buy a book or get one at the library on Shed Building. This will give you plans and instructions for building a shed (coop) that will be easy to follow. Good Luck

 

[mdbokc]

Check around, you can likely have a custom built shed on skids for that money, on-site. You can here. I would keep looking rather than modify a building such as you are considering. jmho

I agree with PhilErvin also. If you/spouse can raise the roof, you can build this thing in a weekend or two yourselves and have it all just the way you want it

 

[fiddlebanshee]

If you husband has the basic skills required to raise the roof then he has the skill to build this shed from the ground up.

My husband? What has he got to do with it? I'm puzzled by your assumption that gender would play any role in this.

I figured the cost of building something like this ourselves and I think the material alone would run up to about $500, if not more. Then there is the learning curve, since we have never built anything like this, so there would be waste, multiple trips to the hardware store and frustration.

Paying someone $225 to not have the hassle and the time spent to build it yourself I think is a better deal than trying to make it ourselves. I have basically already decided against raising the roof, unless the shed company can/will do it for a small fee.

Check around, you can likely have a custom built shed on skids for that money, on-site.

I checked, believe me. Northern Virginia is not a cheap place to live and this is the cheapest I have seen anywhere.​

 

[mdbokc]

Then I would seriously consider it and put the ventilation in it as is. It's not like you are in there a lot. But perhaps, these same people can construct the same structure with higher walls so you can do the walk in without stooping. The lumber cost difference is virtually nonexistent.

It appears that part of the selling feature is it can "fit under a deck" and has been built with that in mind.

 

[babyblue]

Quote:
this made me giggle a little because during construct of our coop, my fil, dad and husband (a builder, plumber and the attistant to both) were discussing proper angles for the roof structure and I came up witht he quickest math for it.

 

[mdbokc]

ROFL Too many bosses and not enough workers. Soooo reminds me of our family at times.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

It appears that part of the selling feature is it can "fit under a deck" and has been built with that in mind.

The seller told me it was custom built for a customer who then didn't want it. Their regular lean-to sheds 8x8 feet are about $1200, so they're giving a good deal on this because they're stuck with it. I'm going to look at it this week and hopefully we can work out a deal. BTW I am only 5'1" tall so I think I'll be fine with the roof height, my husband will hate it with his 6'1" frame. But I think I'll be in there the most, anyway, since this chicken thing is my thing mostly and he just likes the fact that the chickens will eat the ticks around the house.

Edited because I can't spell today.​

 

[1acrefarm]

Shed looks like a decent deal. I think if you put one of those AC vents like you would have in the house on two walls up toward roof then I think you would have plenty of ventilation. Another way of going is to see if they would put in a roof vent for a reasonable price. As far as the nest boxes go I would build them where the dividers would be about even with studs and cut my access holes through plywood not interfering with studs. A one piece box should be no problem.