Shed-to-coop users

[newtochixx]

Anyone using a shed and converted it to a coop? Like an 8x6? I posted in this forum asking about advice and someone said a pretty cheap & easy route would be using a shed. Which one did you buy? I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, but also don’t want a “cheaply made” one. Provide pics if you can!

 

[Debbie292d]

Anyone using a shed and converted it to a coop? Like an 8x6? I posted in this forum asking about advice and someone said a pretty cheap & easy route would be using a shed. Which one did you buy? I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, but also don’t want a “cheaply made” one. Provide pics if you can!

Most folks buy an old shed or in cold states, ice fishing houses and convert them. Many I know find those on Marketplace.

The basic needs are the same as if you built a coop but here you'd have four walls and a roof already, and probably a human door and a window. You'd need provide some ventilation, roosts, a chicken door, and nest boxes. Depending on where you live, maybe insulation as well.

In a BYC search of shed coops, I found a ton you might want to go through just for ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/49691074/?q=shed&t=ams_article&o=relevance

 

[newtochixx]

Most folks buy an old shed or in cold states, ice fishing houses and convert them. Many I know find those on Marketplace.

The basic needs are the same as if you built a coop but here you'd have four walls and a roof already, and probably a human door and a window. You'd need provide some ventilation, roosts, a chicken door, and nest boxes.

In a BYC search of shed coops, I found a ton you might want to go through just for ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/49691074/?q=shed&t=ams_article&o=relevance

I really want to buy one like the ones that Lowe’s sells? You know the ones they have built outside? I just wasn’t sure if there was a specific brand that has worked well for someone on here! I have tried Facebook marketplace but unfortunately I live in one of the SMALLEST towns so nothing is near me. Closest one is an hour away & not in good shape :/

 

[21hens-incharge]

How handy are you?
Those kits usually need a bit of beefing up in the studs department, a floor framed out and sheeted as well as roofing added. Look at the details of what's included closely.
They also have no roof overhang at all and the doors tend to warp.

They aren't bad at all but they do need assembled and things like a floor and roofing shingles aren't included.

For a 6x8 you need 7 sheets of siding. For an 8x8 it's 8 sheets. If you have tool experience it's less $$$ to build than to buy a pre-kitted model.

There are a lot of very knowledgeable and helpful people willing to guide you through here on BYC.

 

[saysfaa]

Anyone using a shed and converted it to a coop?

Yes. It works wonderfully.

Like an 8x6?

I got a 10x14. The chickens get 10x8, there is a garden-fence wire divider with a door made from an old screen for a doorwall (aka sliding glass door), and the rest is a storage area for the chicken supplies and the garden tools/supplies.

It is also really nice to be able to go in and shut the door behind me before opening the door to the chicken's area. Especially when bringing in bedding or feed.

It also allows the possibility of expanding the chicken's space either permanently or temporarily (like for raising chicks).

Which one did you buy?

I had one custom build by a business that does nothing but build sheds. I had two good choices of such businesses. One was the winter job of an Amish guy and his friends. The other was a family business that builds year around.

We also looked at all the options at Lowes and Home Depot.

We went with the Amish. The other custom builder was our second choice.

Both would make the modifications we wanted - the overhang to the roof, the open eaves, the extra big door in the side so the chickens have a three-siding coop (inspired by the Prince T Woods' coop design), two fairly big windows in the back, and a large double door in the front. The front doors are to leave that side open also if I want to and to fit a riding lawn mower in easily if the shed is ever used for only lawn and garden storage.

We went with the Amish builder because I liked the board and batten style better than the plywood the other shed building company used. This Amish builder bought logs from a local logging company and sawed the boards himself.

Some of the lowes/hd sales people said they would make modifications but they really didn't make that kind of modifications. We considered buying a standard one and making the modifications ourselves but it would have cost much more than the custom build options even if we didn't count our time or hassle.

 

[saysfaa]

Oh. For what it is worth - we bought just the shell, delivered after they built it. We put the drip edge and shingles on the roof (that was probably a mistake, they would have done it for less than we paid for materials but we were reroofing the house and garage soon and wanted to match the roofs).

We also painted, added the inside fence/divider, poop board, nests, and metal lath over the windows and doors that stay open and hardware cloth over the eave openings. And set (wedge, really) old barn windows into the window openings each winter.