Can a metal shed be used as a coop?

[dkosh]

The ceiling of the metal coop will drip condensation in the winter. We put up insulating pannels from HomeDepot up on the celing and it fixed it. We have an old trailer box from a tractor trailer company. I love it! We did have to cut windows in the side. Not pretty but it works for me.

 

[purelypoultry]

Sure it can! You'll want to be sure of adequate ventilation for both summer and winter. keeping it well ventilated will help keep it from being too hot in the warmer months. And in the winter you can add extra bedding and such to allow the chickens to snuggle into to be warm as well. Like others have mentioned, you'll probably want to concider some insulation for the roof in the winter to combat condensation. One suggestion, after you have it where you want it, check it for sharp edges that you may want to take care of. Not just for your birds, but for your safety too!

 

[cointoss]

And since if it doesn't have a floor, you'll probably need to put wire in the ground around it to deter digging predators. But that's still less work than building a whole coop! Sounds great! $40 is a steal, too.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Chickens can usually handle cold better than heat. The two most dangerous times from heat are when they are in there during the day laying eggs and at night when they are roosting. Metal coops can be great as long as you are aware of this and manage it.

I don't know where you are located. That could make a difference in how you set it up. If you are in an area it gets hot and sunny, you might want to try to position it so that it gets protection from the afternoon sun. Maybe on the northeast side of a big tree so you are protected from the Southwest and West sun, something like that. That may not be an option or may not be necessary depending on where you are. That metal can really heat up from sunshine, so shade may be absolutely essential where you are. That just depends on your local conditions.

As others have mentioned, ventilation is very important, both for heat and cold. In the summer use the principle that hot air rises. Have vents at the top of the coop and at the bottom. As the coop heats up, cooler air will come in at the bottom and hot air will go out at the top. You'd be surprised how much difference this makes.

In the winter, you need to get rid of moisture and ammonia. The chickens give off a lot of moisture just from their breathing and their poop gives off moisture and ammonia. Ammonia can damage their respiratory system if it builds up. Since ammonia is lighter than air and will rise and hot air rises and can hold more moisture than cool air, in the winter you want vents up high but don't really want vents down low. The coop stays warmer that way but the big benefit is that you do not create drafts on the roosting chickens. Think wind chill. You do not want the chickens in a draft in cold weather.

Getting proper ventilation in a metal building can be difficult. An easy way in a lot of buildings is to cut out under the overhang and cover that with hardware cloth to keep out predators. Many metal buildings don't have much of an overhang, so you can't keep out rain with vents up there without some extra work and innovation. The other concern is how to attach the hardware cloth so a big raccoon can't just rip it off. There are ways top do this, but I don't know what that building looks like so I can't comment too much on exactly how to manage this.

I'd consider putting the nest boxes on the cooler side of the building, say the North or Northeast.

Metal buildings can be great, but they can present certain challenges. If you can manage those challenges, they can be great. One wall of my coop is metal. It can be managed.

Good luck!!

 

[Judy]

My coop is all metal and hardware cloth (it was cheap for us.) It's open air under the eaves all the way around the top, plus half of one wall on the south and the people door on the north are hardware cloth. No condensation. Works fine, but it wouldn't if we hadn't left so much open air space. Ridgerunner said it well.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Notice Ddawn is in South Georgia. She proves they can work well in hot climates.

 

[Hunter0704]

Insulation on all the walls and the ceiling will keep the coop warmer in the winter, and cooler in the summer just because the heat won't radiate through the walls and roof then. You don't want hot chickens! Vents high in the walls you will need, as said before, so winter moisture can leave and keep your birds healthy. Vents placed low on the walls is great for summer ventilation, but close them off in the winter. If a floor came with your metal bldg., I'd suggest laying a lineoleum floor on top of it just so it is easy to clean.

I agree with Dkosh...insulation on the ceiling will keep the condensation in the winter from dripping. Great idea!!!!

Do you have a run built? If not, be sure to put fencing such as hardware cloth on the ground, or under the ground, to keep predators from digging in and attacking your birds. Don't use chicken wire for the sides, as racoons can untwist the wire and enter. Again, hardware cloth is the best for safety from predators. It's a little pricey but it is worth it!!!!

Don't know where you are located, but if the weather gets really cold where you are you might consider putting a tarp up on the open walls in the winter. You don't want wind going through the coop, or any drafts.

Good luck on your new venture!!!!

 

[critterrun]

HI
I am also looking to use a old metal shed
I am thinking of putting pallets standing up against the walls
with straw in them for more warmth? good bad ???
also mine will be under a tarp in the run will that help?

I am going to get a vent they sell at home depo to put up high
it will keep the rain out but let the hot air out too

will be making nest boxes to mount on outside of shed

plain on getting a load of sand for it

any other ideas

Thanks

 

[Judy]

My coop is metal -- roof and walls -- but it is WELL ventilated, in effect a three sided coop, with open eaves all around and two sides partly hardware cloth rather than metal. It's 2 or 3 years old. It's never had condensation on the inside of the roof -- too much air in there, it's like a wind tunnel. In winter I put a little plastic up to keep the wind off the roosts but it's still very open air. I've also never lost a chicken to heat, and they sometimes go in there during the heat of the day for the shade. I just run a box fan all summer.

And there is nothing wrong with open air up north, either -- see the Woods chicken house design.

 

[stines4]

here are a few pics of ours and it does just fine!

the whole building

one side

the other side

and here is our water bucket