Would this shed be worth trying to convert into a coop?

[Samjamrow13]

First time chicken father and I love it.

I am trying to find a good coop solution. There is a shed on my property. It has metal sides and a metal floor (that needs some gap work). There is a somewhat functional sliding metal door too. There’s already shelving I could use for milk crate nesting boxes. I’m just worried about ventilation. I could cut some windows and cover them up with mesh. I live in Austin so heat is an issue.

My other concern is the run. I’m trying to think up an idea to make the run connected to the shed some how or should I encapsulate it all for easier human access?

With today’s world I am home more and can let them free range a bit during the day but once work picks back up (fingers crossed) I would need something a little more hands off as I would only be able to get to them in the morning and night.

I have attached photos of the shed to see if BYC community thinks this shed is worth starting the conversion. Also where would you place ventilation. It’s in a shady area pretty much all day.

Cheers and Hoppy Easter!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Absolutely ! Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[sealer39]

Metal sheds can get too hot and will kill your chickens. It looks like you have shade grime trees which is good but I’d start with painting the outside with Rustoleum white. I can’t see the yard layout so I can’t comment on the placement of the run but do make it tall enough to walk into. For ventilation, I found it easy to just remove an entire panel from the sides and come back with hardware cloth in a wooden frame the same size as the panel that you can screw into place.

 

[jthornton]

Please add your location in your profile so we know the general weather you have.

If your comfortable in the shed in the middle of summer the chickens will be too. Some weather may make it rain inside the shed... getting draft free ventilation in that shed might be difficult to do.

JT

 

[Samjamrow13]

Metal sheds can get too hot and will kill your chickens. It looks like you have shade grime trees which is good but I’d start with painting the outside with Rustoleum white. I can’t see the yard layout so I can’t comment on the placement of the run but do make it tall enough to walk into. For ventilation, I found it easy to just remove an entire panel from the sides and come back with hardware cloth in a wooden frame the same size as the panel that you can screw into place.

Here is the location in the yard. It’s fairly shaded and I can make a decent sized run if I want.

 

[mowin]

I'd use it. Many have converted metal sheds into coops.

I'd open up the front, just below the roof for venting.
Do the same on the back side. Maybe some on the gable sides too

 

[jthornton]

Here is the location in the yard. It’s fairly shaded and I can make a decent sized run if I want.

At your location I agree with @sealer39 on making the side(s) fully open would be a good thing. A covered run with big overhangs would be ideal. Keep in mind the height of things, roost at the top, nest box well below the roost and a poop board under the roost.

I ended up putting my nest box and feeder in the run due to the very bad coop design I copied.


I ended up adding a 2' overhang on the nest box feeder side


Knowing what I know now the coop/run would look very different...

JT

 

[aart]

Some good stuff in this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/from-tool-shed-to-coop.1321135/

 

[jthornton]

Here is the location in the yard. It’s fairly shaded and I can make a decent sized run if I want.

At your location I agree with @sealer39 on making the side(s) fully open would be a good thing. A covered run with big overhangs would be ideal. Keep in mind the height of things, roost at the top, nest box well below the roost and a poop board under the roost.

I ended up putting my nest box and feeder in the run due to the very bad design I copied.
View attachment 2086839

I ended up adding a 2' overhang on the nest box feeder side
View attachment 2086841

Knowing what I know now the coop/run would look very different...

JT

 

[hayley3]

For ventilation, I found it easy to just remove an entire panel from the sides and come back with hardware cloth in a wooden frame the same size as the panel that you can screw into place.

Doesn't that make it drafty in the winter weather? A whole panel?