Coop/run advice/ideas (beginner)

[Axalea]

Hey yall, we currently are very new to chickens, we've had them since about February of last year and have finally had the time (after moving into the new place) to sit down and think what to do with our chicken coop. Right now our flock of 19 hens, 1 rooster, 3 ducks, and a peacock all live in a 25x48 Quonset hut (it was here when we bought the property and we know we're going to expand so that's where we decided on putting them) also please go easy on us for the bedding we mainly try and store hay bales in their for our horses and that gives us *some* "free" bedding but not 100% as you can see we're still in the cleaning and organizing phase of getting time to get all the previous owners stuff out. Would love to hear yalls advice on what would be good ideas to transform this into the perfect coop for a large flock (we plan to go from our regular flock to almost 50 chickens or more)

Also if anyone has ever tried using string to line the top of their run please let me know how that has worked out, I thought about grabbing 20,000 ft bale twine from Runnings and just on the weekends with spare time running strands across to each side and eventually weaving it cross ways for hawk deterrents.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

First, you've got tons of space. That's awesome.

Second, you need more ventilation. Possibly a forced air system, probably as an extension added where tohe door opening is now, since those huts don't lend themselves to windows.

Finally, someone is going to hop in and say you shouldn't have ducks and chickens together. They are right, though the risks are not as high as some claim, and having LOTS of space helps. If you aren't planning on free ranging, then you definitely need to partition to keep your various species apart. Not only for physical protection (ducks can do severe injury to chickens) but also so slightly reduce risk of disease transmission - though side by side, you really aren't getting much risk reduction.

 

[Shadrach]

I can see gaps between the metal sheeting and the breeze blocks below. You don't want that. I'm going to assume you don't have a hardware cloth skirt around the hanger; you do want that.
I would want the option of more natrural light in the coop.
As U_Stormcrow write, options/partitions for dividing up the coop for a brood space, a medical holding pen and general peace between species would be a good idea.
50 chickens will generate about 600 watts along with a lot of moisture. Tin roofs are prone to collecting condensation so U_Stormcrows suggestion for improved ventilation, possibly fan driven would seen sensible.

 

[Axalea]

Thanks @Shadrach @U_Stormcrow I'm going to work on separating the ducks and chickens first and see what I can do about the hardware cloth given that 3 sides of it are concrete. Maybe some tarps for blocking the breeze and wind gusts. Fortunately we have a heated barn that is more secured that we use to brood chicks. It has one window opposite the door behind where I took the photo that the wind can flow through and force air out the door however we don't open it very often unless during summer.

Do you guys think it would be a stupid idea to run a bunch of bale twine over the roof of the run in a tight criss cross pattern for hawk deterrent? Almost homemade netting? We've tried a tarp before but the wind is TOO strong and the rain collects on it even if we slope it and doesn't run off fast enough

 

[aart]

Do you guys think it would be a stupid idea to run a bunch of bale twine over the roof of the run in a tight criss cross pattern for hawk deterrent?

It can work, many have used it.
It's no guarantee, but it should deter them.

It has one window opposite the door behind where I took the photo that the wind can flow through and force air out the door however we don't open it very often unless during summer.

They need good ventilation all year around.
How hot does it get in summer?
Metal building could become and oven.

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @Axalea
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[linguini]

Have you thought of using aviary nettings? they are relatively cheap and easy to install!

https://a.co/d/7ebTkAw

As for tarp, I wonder if it'll be easier to hang tarps inside - so if there is condensation, it'll drop on the tarp, and can block the draft, won't be blown away by wind. We have metal roof on one of the coops, since the ceiling was high, we hung a tarp across the ceiling to make a "drop ceiling".

 

[Penpal]

When hay gets wet mold will grow on it. If your horses won't eat a bale of hay, it probably has mold growing on it. I would not have hay with chickens. You can use straw, it won't grow mold.

 

[Axalea]

Have you thought of using aviary nettings? they are relatively cheap and easy to install!

https://a.co/d/7ebTkAw

As for tarp, I wonder if it'll be easier to hang tarps inside - so if there is condensation, it'll drop on the tarp, and can block the draft, won't be blown away by wind. We have metal roof on one of the coops, since the ceiling was high, we hung a tarp across the ceiling to make a "drop ceiling".

My only concern with the string/nerting idea is we have a peacock named Cornelius who spooks and has flown out multiple times out of the top of the run and I'm not sure if he tries to do that with a net whether it would injure him (tangle him) I'm going to Menards right now to get tarps as well for the drafts as a temporary fix

 

[linguini]

My only concern with the string/nerting idea is we have a peacock named Cornelius who spooks and has flown out multiple times out of the top of the run and I'm not sure if he tries to do that with a net whether it would injure him (tangle him) I'm going to Menards right now to get tarps as well for the drafts as a temporary fix

Oh, how I dream of having a peacock in my backyard! So lovely!

 

[paintedChix]

First - WELCOME to BYC!!

I LOVE hooped buildings. I've looked at quite a few & worked in quonset huts. I utilize CP hoops on chicken pens, feed sheds & dog pens. Haven't done a greenhouse yet...

But I've never worked w/ one already built that didn't have ventilation installed during build for livestock. Maybe you could look @ opening up fairly high, a strip that extends the full length on both sides. Have the sheeting above new opening extend out - protecting the new ventilation area. The new ventilation would need to be covered in HWC. You still may need to do the forced air fans on both ends - similar to a commercial poultry building.

As to hay string over the run(s), it should work. The aviary netting is probably better. Your peacocks or other birds will probably tamgle up less in aviary netting than hay string or fish line. Doing the weaving of haystring worked for me short term, but was major PITA since I did it right at top of 5' fencing. I could not easily acess the run for anything, since I was bent over.

Bedding - coop areas & after grass gone from runs. Consider "true" DLM. Natural materials to include wood mulch/chips, straw or hay (i would chop - chipper or mow), shred paper & cardboard, pine straw, pine shavings, sawdust, lawn clippings, leaves, garden trimmings, horse bedding pellets & hemp. The more different materials provides water flow through & aeration. If you plan on doing separate pens inside & doing DLM, consider raising either wood or metal framing off the ground. This will prolong the life of pen bases - less rotting or rusting.

You can still do an apron of wire w/ the cement foundation. This would keep critters from tunneling under & creating holes at foundation. I've even found that a bit of apron on the inside can keep chickens from digging holes at foundation edges.