Plastic playhouse

[Laura80]

Was just wondering if anyone had converted a plastic playhouse with any success? If so was hardware cloth used to keep windows/doors safe and if so what was used to attach it? X

 

[HeatherKellyB]

My duck house was converted from a step2 plastic playhouse. We made frames around any and all openings and encased hardware cloth to prevent anything from getting inside. The frames with hardware cloth cover the door opening, shutter window openings and regular open windows. I also installed a lock on the door. It's been great for my ducks and I wish I had another one for a bantam chicken coop I'm working on. They're not for everyone but it was perfect for what we needed. I have a wire dog crate in one of the corners for my ducks that's been battling an infection for well over a month now. Still plenty of room and she happily goes into her "bed" at night. This provides for wonderful ventilation but possibly too much of a draft for chickens. You'd need to cover the bottom of the windows and just leave an area at the top open to air, but closed in with hardware cloth to avoid a too drafty coop if you have harsh winters. I have a way to do this but haven't needed to for my ducks yet

 

[aart]

@CapricornFarm

 

[CapricornFarm]

Yes, I have two that converted for fowl use. I will come back after supper and show pictures.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Here they are. I did the brown one first. I just finished the second one. I have Mille Fleur D'uccles in both of them.

 

[CapricornFarm]

This is the door I added after removing the red plastic half door that was original to the playhouse.

 

[CapricornFarm]

The window on the front is where I put the nest box. First I secured a frame, and then screwed the roll away nest box in place.

 

[CapricornFarm]

This is an example of the "tunnel" I use to connect the playhouse to the run.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I made a wooden frame for each window and covered it with hardware cloth to keep critters out. I also covered any areas on the roof that might leak with roof flashing cut to fit.
In this case I put the frame on the inside of the coop because the house has cute shutters to cover the windows on the outside.

You can also see that I made a hardware cloth and wood floor that I screwed to the house. Just in case the house got knocked over somehow.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I will try to return later tonight and add more pictures. Right now I am enlarging a brooder, and I want to try to get the roof on tonight in case it rains.
You can check my thread, Helpful hints for building coops. Just do a search for playhouse on the thread, it is rather long.