Storage shed to Chicken Coop (Updated photo's 4-13-14)

[YardBirdMom]

Yes we worked VERY hard this weekend!! I have Golden and Black sex links (16), and have 9 Light Brahma's, 10 Buff Rocks, 3 Partridge Rocks, 2 roo's, 1 Partridge, 1 Light Brahma on order and they give 1 free exotic chick. Total will be 41 & if that winds up being too many at maturity, OR as they are growing up I'll sell a few.

 

[YardBirdMom]

Updated pic's as of 4/6/14 .....


We decided to see if the carport would fit over the top of the coop so we could ensure the door/chicken door would stay completely dry in rain/snow/sleet etc. It worked!



The tin on the carport trim is barely touching, but we put flashing on top instead of a standard ridge cap and now we are glad of that choice!


West side from under the carport


A view of both sides



This is the west side looking east


PS: It rained last night and I'm happy to report that this worked! Not a drop of rain on the door or front of the coop and 98% of the coop was dry. The only wetness was on the west side about 4" in. I think this was from moisture dripping off the sides so I may figure a way to put guttering on it.

Anyone know how to put that on the sides of a carport that has NOTHING to hang it from??? I thought about the open top kind and just screw it into the metal - Any thoughts?

 

[jetdog]

Is the carport going to be your run? I would use metal srcews pre drill and attach the gutters maybe into a rain barrel.

 

[YardBirdMom]

Jetdog,
Yes, the carport is the run. I think that's a great idea, however hubby doesn't think I need a gutter. When we come to an impasse what happens is I wait for this project to be done and when we have a major wet season (like spring for example) and my run gets wet from over saturation, I will bring the topic back up and we'll re-visit this subject

OR I measure, go purchase and have it installed by the time he comes home LOL

 

[YardBirdMom]

Update: Saturday & Sunday 04-12/13-14


New windows - let's in great light and helps the air flow!!


Ha! Nesting boxes on the right were removed and roosts (plus sandbox below) were put in it's place. The back wall contains another sandbox and roost. We opted to leave the low roost on the back wall for the use of young birds til they are big enough to graduate higher I've since painted the sandboxes, roosts, and floor with water proof coating, as well as the side/back boards along the floor to keep the bedding in place and make it easier to clean.


Austin (my son's friend) digging the trench


Hunter's turn


The ground was SO hard we had to fill the trench with water, let it soak, and then they could dig.


Sunday 04-13-14 ~ Finished the trench across the front of the run.


Putting the tin up was NOT fun in 20+ mph winds with gust up to 35!! But with 4 people it was manageable






Told the boys we'd use the tractor to back fill and make the job SO much easier! We're all soooo tired!


Viola! Great job!!! It is starting to come together!



We think we should have it 100% completed, inside and out, by next weekend .... we can all hope

 

[YardBirdMom]

Hubby finishing up the interior painting





Chicks are SO happy with their new digs!





We opted to leave the low roost for young birds.

 

[YardBirdMom]

So inside the run and next to the coop we had a problem. There was a tiny 2" gap between the ground and bottom of the coop. We solved it by burying tin and attaching it across the bottom of the coop. I don't think a coon could get in or even a cat, but it was big enough for a snake and I wanted to be sure NOTHING could get in


It is built! Yay!!! The only things left now are painting the boards across the top and some other trim work. I opted to not paint the 2x4's. They are treated wood and since I couldn't paint them before the welded wire was put on it would present a challenge now.


The girls' first trip out into the run .... The corner they're in has been filled in by some loose, old potting soil/dirt I had in multiple containers and while I don't want them in it that is the first place they opted to go!! I'll either make it their dusting corner or put a framed wire top over it to keep them from tearing it up til I get it solid.



This project turned out to be quite a bit bigger than we anticipated and we are HAPPY it is OVER!!

IF anyone decides to use a carport with a gambrel type roof here is some advice - Plus a few other tips we learned the hard way:

1) BE There when it is put up and have some help so that you can place a board across the outer frame and TRACE the shape. Unless you are a mathematician, engineer, or a builder the angles are going to be tough and very difficult to figure out and do.
To make it easier you could get a carport with a gable roof. Hubby wishes we had, but I needed the extra protection from a gambrel roof.

2) Rent a trencher -- We had very little moisture over winter and the spring rains have failed to arrive. The soil was hard as a rock and SO difficult to dig in.

3) Give yourself at least 4 full weekends and 2-4 nights per week to complete a project of this size. While I am glad I bought my chick's when I did, I really should have waited at least a week or two. Mine outgrew their brooder quickly and they spent a week being over crowded.

Best of luck to all future project doers!

 

[JanetS]

Wow! You have some very lucky chickens.

 

[YardBirdMom]

Wow! You have some very lucky chickens.

Thank you! My husband would agree wholeheartedly!!

Multiple times I heard this, "My grandmas chicken coop didn't have 'this'"! Or "Why?!?!? This is the 'Donald Trump' of chicken coops"!

I told him all the lovely coops at BYC inspired me (he said stay off that site! You keep changing things lol) Poor guy, I really did and he was a trooper, albeit a grumpy one at times) I also said I want them safe, safe, safe so we CAN take a weekend on the river or lake and NOT have me fretting...

For all the grief he gave me he's happy that I'm happy that the chickens are safe and happy!

 

[JanetS]

Lol.....You should have seen my husband when I told him I wanted another small coop and run. This is our coop and run. I want to add on to the end. My daughter and I want more chickens but our chickens can't free range because of hawks and bobcats.....so we need a small coop to put the chicks in until we can incorporate them with in with the big girls.....and them maybe some rabbits would be nice.....