Converting raised coop into walk in coop

[Cwildmon]

I have a raised coop and was wondering how hard would it be to convert it to a walk in coop. Pic of coop which has had a hard winter

 

[dearmeghann]

Not hard at all! We did that with our TSC coop last year. We used tongue and groove boards to close in the coop (you could use plywood and paint to match your original coop). Then, we took the middle wall down. We added a few 2x4s to make sure it was still supported. We also created a second roost and droppings board in the space where the original run was. It's worked well for us!

Currently, we're building a custom walk-in coop, but we'll be keeping our current one for raising chicks or having a separate quarantined space if needed.

 

[avjudge]

What are you thinking of doing? Just lowering the floor of the current coop area, or closing in the entire coop/run to make a larger coop?

It sounds like @dearmeghann enclosed the entire coop/run to make a larger coop, something a number of people here have done (based on accounts that I have read).

 

[perkolator]

Is that one of those expensive Carolina Coops? And you want to modify it? Personally I think those have a good design and I modeled a lot of my coop after them, so curious why you want to change the design?

I'd assume those are constructed as a platform base, and the walls sit on top of it. Technically can be done, you will have to cut through all the floor and joists, etc. Not sure if the floor sheeting is sandwiched between the platform and wall framework, but it might be - so you may have to cut it out with a sawzall or similar method and not sure how close to the studs you'd be able to get.

You'll have to reframe one side to accommodate adding a human door. When filling in the bottom gap to sheet the exterior you'll likely want to seal between so water can't enter the seam.

Personally I'd try to sell that coop, as they seem desirable, and buy a shed so you have walk-in.

 

[Cwildmon]

Not hard at all! We did that with our TSC coop last year. We used tongue and groove boards to close in the coop (you could use plywood and paint to match your original coop). Then, we took the middle wall down. We added a few 2x4s to make sure it was still supported. We also created a second roost and droppings board in the space where the original run was. It's worked well for us!

Currently, we're building a custom walk-in coop, but we'll be keeping our current one for raising chicks or having a separate quarantined space if needed.

Thank you! Do you happen to have a Pic of the inside? I went and got some chicks and I need more roosting space lol

 

[Cwildmon]

What are you thinking of doing? Just lowering the floor of the current coop area, or closing in the entire coop/run to make a larger coop?

It sounds like @dearmeghann enclosed the entire coop/run to make a larger coop, something a number of people here have done (based on accounts that I have read).

I need a larger coop, I thought maybe enclosing the whole thing may be better.

 

[Cwildmon]

Is that one of those expensive Carolina Coops? And you want to modify it? Personally I think those have a good design and I modeled a lot of my coop after them, so curious why you want to change the design?

I'd assume those are constructed as a platform base, and the walls sit on top of it. Technically can be done, you will have to cut through all the floor and joists, etc. Not sure if the floor sheeting is sandwiched between the platform and wall framework, but it might be - so you may have to cut it out with a sawzall or similar method and not sure how close to the studs you'd be able to get.

You'll have to reframe one side to accommodate adding a human door. When filling in the bottom gap to sheet the exterior you'll likely want to seal between so water can't enter the seam.

Personally I'd try to sell that coop, as they seem desirable, and buy a shed so you have walk-in.

My husband built it for me. I thought I could keep the current door and nesting boxes where they are. Just pondering. It's this or try and get him to make me a hoop coop which would work too

 

[avjudge]

My husband built it for me. I thought I could keep the current door and nesting boxes where they are. Just pondering. It's this or try and get him to make me a hoop coop which would work too

I think I would probably try to convert your existing coop. That looks like a nice solid roof, so adding some solid structure to the sides should make a nice coop. The biggest issue I see offhand is whether it will be easy to remove the floor of the existing raised coop portion. The ease of that would depend on how it is framed in.

I have a hoop run, 8 x 16’, and it generally functions well as a run, but for a coop I think I would prefer more of a shed type structure, such as you can create from your existing structure.

 

[perkolator]

I need a larger coop, I thought maybe enclosing the whole thing may be better.

In that case, enclosing the entire run structure should achieve what you're wanting. Going vertical with just the current enclosed section won't get you the most usable space, just vertical - which the chickens won't appreciate if they'll now have to fight every evening for preferential higher roost bars (at least mine used to get into bloody fights before I changed the roosts to be similar heights)

I'd probably not modify the enclosed space by taking out the floor if going that route, it could be a good brooder/jail/isolation space, etc. with a bigger flock in the rest.