Plastic Barrel Coop

[Jambo88]

Hi

I’m making a coop at the moment but was wonderingly if I could have other people’s thoughts on it

When I had chickens before I converted an old 8 x 4 shed into a chicken coop which worked quite well at first and being new to keeping chickens I didn’t have a clue about Red Mites! So when I finally realised that I had a problem with them my coop was overrun with them and I really struggled to get rid of them

With that in mind I’ve seen lots of people converting 55 gallon Plastic Barrels into small coops and I thought I’d give it a go as it would be really easy to keep clean

Here’s how it looks at the moment
The slatted floor is so the poop will just fall through in to the poop tray underneath

The back ply section is going to have a divider put up to separate the nesting box from the main coop part

My query is that from the slatted floor to the top of the barrel is just over 13” (350mm) which I think isn’t tall enough or could I get away with it as the chickens will only be sleeping in there?

I’d be very grateful for everyone opinions

Thanks

 

[DobieLover]

Hi

I’m making a coop at the moment but was wonderingly if I could have other people’s thoughts on it

When I had chickens before I converted an old 8 x 4 shed into a chicken coop which worked quite well at first and being new to keeping chickens I didn’t have a clue about Red Mites! So when I finally realised that I had a problem with them my coop was overrun with them and I really struggled to get rid of them

With that in mind I’ve seen lots of people converting 55 gallon Plastic Barrels into small coops and I thought I’d give it a go as it would be really easy to keep clean

Here’s how it looks at the moment View attachment 2103741View attachment 2103742
The slatted floor is so the poop will just fall through in to the poop tray underneath

The back ply section is going to have a divider put up to separate the nesting box from the main coop part

My query is that from the slatted floor to the top of the barrel is just over 13” (350mm) which I think isn’t tall enough or could I get away with it as the chickens will only be sleeping in there?

I’d be very grateful for everyone opinions

Thanks

What happens when the barrel rolls down the hill? JK.. I hope.
That barrel has no real room in it. You couldn't fit more than 2 chickens in it. And shutting them in! If someone got pissed off at someone else there is NO WHERE to get the hell out of the way. They are going to take a beat down.
How will the chickens roost? If they have to sleep on the floor, expect to have to clean poop off their fluff daily.
How will you predator proof that?
I think you would have been far better off with a wood coop that you preventatively sprayed with permethrin to keep mites and lice at bay.

 

[Jambo88]

What happens when the barrel rolls down the hill? JK.. I hope.
That barrel has no real room in it. You couldn't fit more than 2 chickens in it. And shutting them in! If someone got pissed off at someone else there is NO WHERE to get the hell out of the way. They are going to take a beat down.
How will the chickens roost? If they have to sleep on the floor, expect to have to clean poop off their fluff daily.
How will you predator proof that?
I think you would have been far better off with a wood coop that you preventatively sprayed with permethrin to keep mites and lice at bay.

You’ve basically put what I was thinking so I think I’ll just get rid of it and make a wooden one instead!

There was going’s to be 2 next to each other (to house 4 hens) that we’re going to be raised off the floor basically housed in a wooden coop as my other half didn’t like the look of of the barrel

I think it’s back to the drawing board I’m probably going to go more down the route of a Ark or a Hoop House instead thanks for your reply

 

[rosemarythyme]

Depending on any build restrictions you might have (like an HOA saying a coop must look a certain way) maybe consider a hoop coop instead? That really minimizes the use of wood so mites have less space to hide.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

That's a great idea and I love anything sustainable (such as using random plastic barrels for something!) but sadly as others have pointed out, probably not the best option for your chickens. Great thinking though!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Just make sure you take predation and huge ventilation into consideration with anything you build.
I don't know where you live but don't be naïve enough to think you don't have predators just because you don't see them, no matter where you live. Sometimes urban areas have way more predators than rural areas per square mile. They are everywhere. Mink and weasels can get into a 1" opening. A raccoon can open most latches and are strong enough to rip siding off of a building, as are coyotes. All those things have happened to me.

 

[Jambo88]

That's a great idea and I love anything sustainable (such as using random plastic barrels for something!) but sadly as others have pointed out, probably not the best option for your chickens. Great thinking though!

I always try to reuse or re/upcycle materials whenever I can to try and do my bit for the environment, it started with my other hobby of building guitars I started building them out of reclaimed timber and it’s kinda had a knock on with any other projects I do

Just make sure you take predation and huge ventilation into consideration with anything you build.
I don't know where you live but don't be naïve enough to think you don't have predators just because you don't see them, no matter where you live. Sometimes urban areas have way more predators than rural areas per square mile. They are everywhere. Mink and weasels can get into a 1" opening. A raccoon can open most latches and are strong enough to rip siding off of a building, as are coyotes. All those things have happened to me.

I’m quite lucky being in the UK we don’t seem to have half the amount of predators you lot over the pond have to contend with!! The main ones round my area are Foxes and Red Kites

The run is going to have 1/2” hardware cloth all over and underneath mainly to try and keep rats and mice out but also to keep any other predators out, and having good ventilation is high on my list of priorities

Depending on any build restrictions you might have (like an HOA saying a coop must look a certain way) maybe consider a hoop coop instead? That really minimizes the use of wood so mites have less space to hide.

I think the hoop house style is the route I’m probably gonna go down luckily as I’m rural I don’t have any restrictions on what I build all that’s round me is farmland

 

[OlympicChick]

I love my hoop coop and as such I am a big proponent of them. Easy to build, pretty strong, simple, they can be made to look cute if that is your goal.

 

[Jambo88]

The whole barrel idea has been changed now and the coop is now going to be a bit like a chicken tractor with a low level run 4’ in height, 6’ wide and 24’ in length and the coop is going to sit about 18” off the ground and is going to sit slightly higher than the run probably about 18” the coop is going to be 4’ high, 6’ wide and 4’ in length and have external nesting boxes which I think will comfortably hold 5 hens and maybe a rooster (if I can manage to persuade the OH!?! Who is dead against the idea!) I’ll post pics once I get started

I need to get my finger out because my mother in law rung today and said they are ordering so chickens today and do we want to add on to the order but they won’t be delivered till the end of September which I thought great gives me 3 months to build the coop but now she’s told us the delivery is the beginning of August we’ve ordered (some of the names might be different over the pond) the following:
1 x Sussex Ranger (Light Sussex Hybrid)
1 x White star (White Leghorn Hybrid)
2 x ISA Brown
1 x Pied Ranger (Silver Sussex Hybrid)

 

[centrarchid]

I like the concept and may try it with broody hens. It is hotter here so would place an additional shade over barrels to keep barrels themselves from heating up. Properly separated, they could good places for broods to retreat to after dark, even after mother stops being broody.