Upgrading store bought coop

[Xannisavia]

So my husband refuses to buy a new coop .. so we behave to use one from our older home we brought with us we will be using this coop to house 7 chickens (too small I know!) was they will have 100 square foot outside of this coop as well I’m wanting to try to convert the “run” portion of the coop to just a coop adding more roosting bars on the bottom and using the nesting area for.. well.. nesting.. my plan at first was to use plywood and fit it into the gaps where the chicken wire is but the dimensions are odd and we don’t have experience Cutting odd sizes properly. My next idea was (ugly ) but white corrugated plastic... id rather not. I came across this photo of a cover over chicken wire .. does anyone know what this is.OR have any better (and not to expensive) ideas other than building /buying a new coop)? Thanks guys

 

[chickitychickity]

I think plywood or boards should do the trick. Use a powered circular saw. If you don’t have one already, someone probably has one you can borrow. Add a few new roosting bars and if your nesting boxes inside are really tight, you can remove the divider and add a second box in the run that you are converting. It won’t cost very much if you purchase the big 8’ sheets of plywood. You can then paint with exterior paint to protect from the rain if you choose. My neighbor just recently converted hers and I am currently feeding her bird so I’ll take a picture in the morning.

 

[CindyinSD]

Your Pinterest photo isn’t very clear, but it looks like they’re using double-walled greenhouse panels. Very pricy and probably too hot for Texas. Exterior plywood should work, but don’t get less than exterior grade, or alternatively just toss your money into the shredder—less work: same outcome. Do paint it inside and out, especially the edges. I would, for this application, get the thinnest exterior grade plywood they carry. I’m not sure how you’ll attach it, but you’ll be in a better position to figure that out than I would.

You can leave the people door as is, but I would completely remove the inside walls of the loft bedroom. Leave its frame if you need to for structural integrity.otherwise get rid of it: you don’t need it.

Run a 2x4 roost the short way from one wall to the other, narrow side of the board up (since you’re Texas). Give them some nest boxes. Any roughly 10”x10” will do. They’ll be very happy with two but one will do. Screw them to one of the walls, so they’ll leave them alone. Otherwise I think they use them for soccer practice. You can make them a pop door if you like, but they’ll happily use the people door.

The roof is fine... now fence up a run for them and you’re golden.

Oops! I forgot to say, Whatever you do, don’t forget: LOTS of ventilation up near the eaves. Good luck!

 

[Xannisavia]

Your Pinterest photo isn’t very clear, but it looks like they’re using double-walled greenhouse panels. Very pricy and probably too hot for Texas. Exterior plywood should work, but don’t get less than exterior grade, or alternatively just toss your money into the shredder—less work: same outcome. Do paint it inside and out, especially the edges. I would, for this application, get the thinnest exterior grade plywood they carry. I’m not sure how you’ll attach it, but you’ll be in a better position to figure that out than I would.

You can leave the people door as is, but I would completely remove the inside walls of the loft bedroom. Leave its frame if you need to for structural integrity.otherwise get rid of it: you don’t need it.

Run a 2x4 roost the short way from one wall to the other, narrow side of the board up (since you’re Texas). Give them some nest boxes. Any roughly 10”x10” will do. They’ll be very happy with two but one will do. Screw them to one of the walls, so they’ll leave them alone. Otherwise I think they use them for soccer practice. You can make them a pop door if you like, but they’ll happily use the people door.

The roof is fine... now fence up a run for them and you’re golden.

Oops! I forgot to say, Whatever you do, don’t forget: LOTS of ventilation up near the eaves. Good luck!

I now reside in Florida so there’s more of a breeze. I was thinking of using liquid nail around the edges and gluing plywood to the outside of the coop(so there still is the chicken wire inside). My only issue is the measurements are soo wonky getting it cut right would be such a pain. I wanted to add roosting bars under the loft and one extra roasting bar above the already existing in the run. I am leaving the very top right side open for ventilation and I have a fan in the loft portion that circulate air In there . Thank you for your advice!

 

[Xannisavia]

I think plywood or boards should do the trick. Use a powered circular saw. If you don’t have one already, someone probably has one you can borrow. Add a few new roosting bars and if your nesting boxes inside are really tight, you can remove the divider and add a second box in the run that you are converting. It won’t cost very much if you purchase the big 8’ sheets of plywood. You can then paint with exterior paint to protect from the rain if you choose. My neighbor just recently converted hers and I am currently feeding her bird so I’ll take a picture in the morning.

Please let me see it when yoU can! I cant find any examples online really. Thanks for your advice !!

 

[Xannisavia]

A reverse image look up It appears it’s sun shade cloth. They have trees overhead .. maybe I can use the sunshade cloth, or a brown tarp staples behind the wire to temporarily Close it off ? Me not being handy I’m worried I will mess it up cutting plywood

 

[chickitychickity]

A reverse image look up It appears it’s sun shade cloth. They have trees overhead .. maybe I can use the sunshade cloth, or a brown tarp staples behind the wire to temporarily Close it off ? Me not being handy I’m worried I will mess it up cutting plywood

Shade cloth won’t do anything regarding predators or rain but it will be more visually appealing than a tarp. Maybe find some scrap plywood to practice on? Not sure how trusty it would be, but you could use a bolt with a nut and washer to secure through the plywood onto the chicken wire. That way if your cuts aren’t perfectly flush, you don’t have to worry about the glue.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Don't forget to make a way to get in there for cleaning it.

What part of Florida are you in now?

Keeping it dry could be a challenge with driving rain.

 

[chickitychickity]

I don’t have the pictures from before since it isn’t my coop. My neighbor had a 5 chicken plastic coop with a wire run and had 20 chickens living in there! (They do free range.) They added boards over the wire and attached it by putting another board inside.

 

[Xannisavia]

Thanks for the washer idea. Predators shouldn’t be an issue as I will have an electric fence around the coop itself, as well as yard dogs. I’m located in west palm beach now .. I think I am going to give plywood a try and seal it with weatherproof spray and use your but and bolt idea thanks guys. I will try my best to show you the final result ! Love that coop upgrade as well!!