Upgrading store bought coop

[Xannisavia]

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.

I’m gonna try to leave all doors usable so I can still get inside it

 

[Xannisavia]

I can’t see the message yet but I. Saw it in my email. This is the coop now I have it on blocks, with chicken wire underneath the edges for predators . I plan to cover the bottom with dirt to hide the wire as well.

 

[CindyinSD]

I can’t see the message yet but I. Saw it in my email. This is the coop now I have it on blocks, with chicken wire underneath the edges for predators . I plan to cover the bottom with dirt to hide the wire as well.

Yeah, sorry about that. I was working on the post off and on all morning, but when I posted it I discovered the convo had moved on so I thought it was probably irrelevant and deleted it right away. I forgot about the email notices.

Anyway, what a pretty location! Is that Clear lake behind your coop, through the trees? I think your major consideration is going to be wind. The trees should help, but you need to make sure the coop is well anchored. We put in a shed (purchased) last year and only just got it anchored before a big wind storm came through. I’m gonna go take a pic for you. Just a sec...

 

[CindyinSD]

Okay, here are a couple of the anchor:

And here’s the shed, for perspective.

The tie downs worked great. You screw them into the ground. We had to drill a hole with an auger, so we filled it in with quickcrete (premix cement). If you’re on sand, you’ll probably need a couple bags of premix as well. We only did one on each corner. If your building is more flimsy you might want more tie downs, but you’ll be the best judge of that.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hardware cloth needs to replace the chicken wire as you may find a few snakes even

 

[CindyinSD]

You might find you can get away with tarps around the parts where the girls will be sleeping. I put them along parts of the south and north sides of my run to give my turkeys a little wind protection and keep some of the snow out. You can get long, narrow tarps on Amazon in a good range of sizes, including “clear.” I got a reinforced clear one. It’s got threads running all through it which makes it more translucent than transparent, but I’m pleased with it. The opaque ones are cheaper so I got a gray one for the north side which isn’t getting any sun anyway.

I fastened them to the wire with heavy duty zip ties. Awkward to do, especially if you wait until the blizzard is blowing in, as I did. It survived some brutal winds with no fraying or damage to the grommets. It will greatly increase your wind resistance though, as will plywood, so don’t forget the tie downs!

Also, don’t seal them in too well... keep a bit of the top of the run uncovered for ventilation.

 

[CindyinSD]

I forgot to say, even if you paint it all around, you should still spring for exterior plywood or you’ll definitely be buying it twice and doing all that work twice. Voice of sad experience...

 

[Xannisavia]

No lake it’s a yard behind us, I’m gonna use outdoor plywood, I considered clear tarp— but I don’t think it’s great since it is so hot in this part of Florida all the time. I have 2 ventilation points at the top by the roof- as well as a fan circulating in the loft area - do I still need to replace with hardware cloth if i intend to cover with plywood? As far as needing an anchor I haven’t had any issues with it the year we have had it in the yard ..

 

[Xannisavia]

Here’s a better pic of the area.. the tree in front is way far from it but will most likely be included in the run I’m using premier 1 fencing to set up

 

[Xannisavia]

Also thank you all for your suggestions !