Should I...?

[malia]

turn this old open barn into a chicken coop to free range? There is 2 acres surrounding it with only cattle fencing around the perimeter. I wouldn't be able to lock them up at night as I don't get home till 11pm. I would keep my "favorites" in my coop by the house that has a covered run. I just don't know if it would be worth it to expect to lose birds to predators. Quite a bit of work would be needed to make it chicken ready and it's a long trek to carry waterers. Just seems like a waste of a barn sitting there.

 

[Buster]

I'd make that into a coop in a second! Happy renovating!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Shoot yeah! I would have that thing remodeled and working for me in no time. That is awesome.

Maybe you should get a LGD to stay out there with them. They are super great for that. Pyrenees, Anatolian, etc.
I would have 50 layers, with 2 roos and a dog. And a small opening for the dog and birds to go in and out.
I drive my truck around the farm to fill up waterers in the tractors. Yeah, call me lazy, I used to use a wagon that I walked and pulled along with food and water. that tiny hill on the west side of the farm kills an old woman like me!

Keep us posted on that cool barn. I want to see what you do with it!

 

[Fowl Visions]

The building looks awesome and would make a great coop!

 

[malia]

Man, you all were supposed to talk me out of it. I guess I just might have to do it.

 

[RendonRoo]

Do it. A little hot wire around it could help with the predators. I only wish i had something like that to work with. Order your chicks and get to work. O Yea post pics of your progress. Good Luck

 

[embkm]

I would get some goats and donkeys

 

[patandchickens]

Honestly, it looks like a raccoon buffet waiting to happen, to me, sorry... although you could *try* putting up copious amounts of strategically-placed metal flashing to deter them from being able to climb up to where the chickens were roosting.

You could try it... but I would not put a lot of money into it, as the odds of it being longterm successful do not seem high to me.

Make a great barn for goats or ponies or something, though

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[WoodlandWoman]

If I left the coop door open until 11 pm every night here, I'd lose all my chickens. I'd think about confining them, guard animals or an automatic door. Besides the ones you can buy, there are a couple of different versions of doors that people have built, on the forum.

Other than the predator issues, I think it's a great idea to convert it, to have more chickens.