Expanding TSC Coop?

[nnheacox]

Has anyone expanded/converted a Producer’s Pride Sentinel coop+run from TCS into a larger coop? We are looking at having ten-ish hens total and it’s getting too small QUICK. Our flock current range between 6-10wks, so it’s not crazy crowded, but it won’t be long. My dad gifted me this coop, so I’d like to get more than a couple of months tops use out of it.

We’ve already built a larger run around it with an old trampoline and hardware cloth, so we’ve addressed the day time space. I just want to make sure they have room at night. I was thinking of enclosing the smaller interior run that’s attached to the coop, if that makes any sense. Or do I need to just suck it up and attempt to build a bigger coop from scratch. Thoughts? Tips? Experience?

 

[GodLovesU]

I have a friend who has an older flock (1 year)in a tsc that was in a run and a younger flock (3-4 months) in a run with a shed.She ended up putting the older birds and tsc coop in the run with the younger birds and shed.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not sure what your coop looks like but if it's one of those small coop above a larger run set ups, then:

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

 

[nnheacox]

Not sure what your coop looks like but if it's one of those small coop above a larger run set ups, then:

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

Yes! This is the inspiration I was looking for. Thank you so much!

This is the coop I have. The bottom of coop box area is a tray slides out to clean, so removing the innards is literally just sliding it out. We living in Alabama, so we have crazy weather. It’ll be triple digits in August but we might spend January under 6 inches of snow and ice for over a week So, I should probably figure out walls that can go on/off or up/down…