Small coop: where to put feed? Attracting nuisances i.e. raccoons.

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks, @rosemarythyme . I linked my coop in the first post, but here it is again: https://www.urbannorthern.com/products/farmhouse-assembled-for-local-pickup-only-1-built-available

Hmm, the entire unit could be turned into a coop. It really isn't the worst prefab, at least it gives you a lot of space to work with and it's walk in height too.

This is just general conversion information. For a bigger unit like this, you could possibly leave the nests as is including the floor there, and run roosts outside of that section instead, since you have the space for it.

So to turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise across the newly open space. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, but I don't know how cold it gets in winter - though you also make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for hot and humid summers.

 

[Chicalina]

I would just clad the whole thing in plywood and make it all into the indoor coop, taking out the internal wall, add more roosts etc and some deep litter in the ground. Its a good size coop if you do that. And since you have a separate run/free range them, they will have enough sheltered and outdoor space that way.

Then you don't need to build something new.

Tarps will shred outside over the winter, i wouldn't bother with them except as a very temporary measure if you can't afford anything else, or its just a bit of weather protection when rain is forecast.

 

[NatJ]

Tarps will shred outside over the winter, i wouldn't bother with them except as a very temporary measure if you can't afford anything else, or its just a bit of weather protection when rain is forecast.

I suggested tarp because of this:

converting the entire coop + run into a coop....might be an economical winter solution while I build a bigger setup.

For a single winter, I thought tarp would be easier/cheaper than plywood.
For a more permanent conversion, then tarp is clearly not the way to go.

 

[Chicalina]

I get that @NatJ but the last thing the OP wants is for the tarp to rip unexpectedly in the middle of the night in a strong wind with the birds then exposed to rain and wind all night before she finds them.

Tarp is fine for run cover for a season, but not for birds sleeping area. It is just too unreliable in bad weather. Battening it down would be a middle ground, which i would do if I had no other viable option. I guess it depends on the tarp too. Waxed cotton or proofed canvas lasts but is expensive. Plastic shreds.

If money is a problem then reclaimed free pallet wood would work great instead of plywood. But this coop was expensive to buy so I didn't think a low budget option was needed.

The most economical option, I think, is fixing up this coop and run well so the OP doesn't need to buy or build another one at all.

 

[NatJ]

I get that @NatJ but the last thing the OP wants is for the tarp to rip unexpectedly in the middle of the night in a strong wind with the birds then exposed to rain and wind all night before she finds them.

Tarp is fine for run cover for a season, but not for birds sleeping area. It is just too unreliable in bad weather.

VERY different experience here.
I've used tarp on several different coops, in several different years. Yes, for birds sleeping area.
One location had heavy winds blowing right past it.

My tarps stayed in place. Always.

Some of it was years ago, but I think I remember using some of the cheap blue tarps. I know I've used plenty of the brown "heavy duty" tarps that are still fairly cheap. (I prefer to look at brown instead of blue, so the decision was based on appearance, not function.)

In each case, my tarps were on a wire pen (hardware cloth or similar). The wire provided predator proofing, and probably helped support and protect the tarp. Yes, I was careful about sharp edges that could make the tarp shred faster. No, the tarp did not flap in the breeze. I watched carefully the first few days after putting it on--if it flapped around, I needed to go secure it better.

I would use one tarp per pen to cover the roof in the summer.
In the fall, when the weather got bad, I would put a larger tarp over the roof and some of the walls. (Over the older one on the roof.)
The tarps would be getting a bit worn by spring. So I would take off both tarps, throw them away, and put a new tarp on the roof for the next summer.

So my own experiences are why I recommend tarps--they have worked well for me.

 

[RShayne]

No matter what you decide you are going to need a Predator Apron to protect from those masked demons. And please get in the habbit of putting you feeders in a can at night just so you don't feed the local mouse population.

 

[Chicalina]

Maybe you got really good tarps!!

 

[RShayne]

I don't agree with the tarps at all, the op has a really nice looking chicken coop and putting a tarp on it would just make it look like trash. Living in the south I don't know how cold it is but you should be able to run to a local hardware store (Home Depot) and buy sheets of plexiglass, cut it to fit each section (use a grinder with a cut off wheel or hand saw - no skill saw it may shatter) and pre-drill the holes (if you try to screw thru the plexiglass it will crack). Attach it to the inside to each 2x4 (so the screen acts as protection), this will stop the windchill factor and when winter is over remove them and store them away for next winter.

 

[NatJ]

No matter what you decide you are going to need a Predator Apron to protect from those masked demons.

Or cover the ground inside instead. It's only 4 x 6 feet--paving stones might be a good choice, then add plenty of bedding.

 

[RShayne]

Or cover the ground inside instead. It's only 4 x 6 feet--paving stones might be a good choice, then add plenty of bedding.

A 2 x 50 ft pvc coated rolled wire cost less than $40 and with a small coop like that would take one afternoon to install. I wouldn't even pave over the run if I was planning on turning the run into a coop (translation fell victim to chicken math bad). The coop would still need a run with a predator apron and dirt floor that chicken could scratch around on for their own happiness.