Suggestion on turning car port frame into coop

[GalloDude]

I have a 12' x 20' car port frame i was looking at turning into a coop for about 4-6 hens. Live in SoCal so don't think weather is too big of an issue.

Need advice on a coop and materials for the enclosure and any other suggestions for a 1st timer. Pretty handy with the tools, so no concern there.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[TwitchnChickens]

That would make a great chicken coop and run. I would put a coop on one end and add fencing around the whole thing with a man door on the end. Kind of like this. Add whatever roof you like.

 

[3KillerBs]

Oooooo!

That is EXACTLY what I'd like to get for my new coop, which I'm planning as an Open Air design.

If I had one (my silly sister-in-law, with whom we share the property, insists on parking her car in it. Can you imagine? ), I would adapt it as follows:

• Bolt 2x4's to the metal uprights to provide a good surface for attaching siding and wire.
• Fasten sheets of T-111, Hardiboard, or other suitable siding material (whatever is available/affordable), to the windward end to create a box that extends from about 18-24 inches above ground level to 8-12 inches below the level of the roof, leaving the gable triangle open.
• Use concrete blocks to create an interior sill to contain the deep litter.
• Create a frame in which to mount one of the various old screen doors (suitably reinforced with hardware cloth), that I refused to let DH throw away.
• Cover everything else with hardware cloth and apply an anti-dig apron.
• Install perches and nestboxes however is most convenient.

 

[3KillerBs]

P.S. Because of my climate I would not bother with creating a fully-enclosed box. Maybe stub walls if swirling wind created an actual problem.

 

[Alaskan]

P.S. Because of my climate I would not bother with creating a fully-enclosed box. Maybe stub walls if swirling wind created an actual problem.

Yep, x2... in southern California you want a pretty open coop... NOT closed box.

Definitely roof the entire thing.. but you want breeze at perch level.

You can have shutters to close up in huge sideways blowing storms

 

[RojoMarz]

Totally different climate than OP, but we used a carport frame for the run.

 

[aart]

Can be great framework to start with, will need lots of work still.

I've seen a couple really nice ones.
Take gander thru these threads:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/3189490/?q=carport&t=post&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

 

[GalloDude]

Thanks for all the great responses! I'll send updates once i get it going.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks for all the great responses! I'll send updates once i get it going.

Please do!