Old Fighting Cock pen needs update to raise Chicks. Ideas and suggestions?

[SutalleeChicks]

Front view

Front view

Front view

Inside pen view

Inside enclosed part, dirt floor, with shelf

Wire over top of pens, inside

Separate pens, can be used as run area?

Inside pen

Inside pen, dirt floor

Wire over pens

Walk way between pens

Shelf

Back of pen

Side view

Front view

 

[noahsmom]

You fought your chickens?

 

[SutalleeChicks]

No! This old house I bought had several pens, the old owners of the property raised fighting cocks. My son and I would like to convert the pen into a chicken coop.

 

[theoldchick]

Might want to reinforce the wire with hardware cloth to keep out the opossums and raccoons.

 

[noahsmom]

Ok, I read the thread title and was a little concerned!
I'm new myself and I'm finding a wealth of information on here! Just read around and the new information will start to sink in

How large is the building you are working with? I only seen two pictures and it looks like it definitely needs some work, needs some hardware cloth for the sides and not the wire with such large holes.
What about a run? How large of an area do you have to work with a run? and how many chickens do you plan to have?
Just keep researching around the forum and enjoy! Their are a ton of pictures with ideas and hundreds of thousands of threads on here with ideas.

Good Luck! & Welcome!

 

[Trefoil]

Depending on where you live, you might want to make "shutters" for he windows for winter. If you cover them with plastic, you'll still have the light from them without the wind. For chicks you'll need a heat source and very good protection from any drafts. Does it have electricity?

 

[centrarchid]

Modifications to be made are going to be a function of what you intend to do with your birds, how many and their age(s).

Not all components photographed were used as pens and as such may be well suited for use as brooder or supplies storage area. The table like structure could even be used in manner similar to what previous owner used it for, namely working birds to give them excersize when they are otherwise cooped up in relatively small areas. Such workouts will enable you and birds to bond.

 

[SutalleeChicks]

OK. So I have uploaded all pictures I have of the old pen.

 

[centrarchid]

I like it although it will not be coon proof. It will be shaded in summer and in sun during winter so closing it up to keep birds warm not needed. Biggest concern is periodic cleaning. It was designed for a relatively small number birds one male or male and a small number of females in pens so keeping manure under control was easy. Going with more birds will result in some tight work when cleaning pens. Pens as they are used to could be used for rearing juveniles.

I would like electricity as well but even now must do without.

To round out I would have dog. Any short comings building has with respect to predators could be resolved with dog working perimeter and possible going down isle.

 

[SutalleeChicks]

Do I need a wood floor in the enclosed area where the shelf is? We plan to raise chicks for eggs mostly, might expand. This is a father/son adventure. Structure is 11 feet wide by 20-25 ft roughly. I will eventually run power.