Advice on converting a step 2 plastic jungle gym into a coop for 5 hens(pics included)

[smashley52683]

I have decided to start a backyard flock, we have 5 two week old pullets( 2 RIR, 2 Barred Rocks and 1 Araucauna). My husband and I are not terribly handy, and we had originally planned on purchasing a pre-fab coop. However, with all the terrible reviews on the ones I've researched, I'd much rather have something hand built that wouldn't cost us a fortune and a ton of skill to build. We have a step 2 kids plastic jungle gym just hanging out in the backyard and thought that maybe this could be up cycled into a cool coop. The measurements are 4'x4'x4'h, it's a big cube. Id of course have a run attached, so the girls have plenty of room to run. Any ideas on how to make this work? Will it even be big enough to use? Thanks in advance

 

[gillisjordan]

Looks to be a bit on the small side. In their sheltered coop you'll need their food, water, roost, and some laying boxes. I don't think you can achieve all that with comfortable living space for them with this. You'll need a vented and dry area for them to roost at night and be out of the weather as well. (not to mention prey)

 

[gillisjordan]

What is your typical weather?

 

[smashley52683]

We live in Maryland, so we definitely have all 4 seasons when it comes to weather. After looking online at a lot of different coops, my thoughts were to use this structure as a base, raise it off the ground, and enclose it. On the orange side, build a nesting box where they would enter through the arch way, with a hinged top that we could access from the outside. But, I don't know if this would be feasible, or worth all the effort. I just thought, why not use it, since it's just sitting in our backyard.