Tuff Shed advice in GA

[Starrs]

I am going to order a Tuff Shed to convert. Here is what I am thinking: 8x8 with two windows on back wall and side walls (6 total) and ridge vent on roof. One 16” shelf on right side wall for storage and 2 rows of 3 nesting boxes below shelf. That should leave me room for a dog crate if needed for isolation etc.

Roosts on left wall - two rows of 6 feet or three rows of 5 feet. I don’t typically have more than 12 chickens.

Chicken door bottom left of center back wall (medium size dog door with lock?)

Since it’s Georgia and hot, humid, and rainy, I’m concerned about ventilation. All six windows will be able to open and close. With these plus the ridge vent is this enough? It also does drop into the teens and 20s in the winter usually after being 60° the day before, so drastic temp changes happen.

Is 8x8 big enough? I have a 152sf covered run. I used to free range all day, but I am transitioning to a few hours a day when I am outside due to a very increased predator load.

I did a search in the forum before posting and saw some great ideas All advice is welcome. This is my first time designing a coop.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have an 8x8 shed for a coop. It's fantastic.

My only suggestions are:

• Make sure you have approx 1sq ft of ventilation per bird. I have a larger flock, so I just leave the doors open (they open into a secure run). I never close my windows, either. Those 6 windows should be good if they're pretty large.
• Replace screens with hardware cloth.
• Use fewer nesting boxes. I think you could get away with 3 I stead of 6.
• Make sure nesting boxes are lower than the roosts.
• Use poop boards under the roosts. I'd be tempted to use the shelf you describe for that, if I'm correctly picturing what you describe. Birds will end up on that shelf anyway. I'm planning on switching to a 10x10 shed soon, and I'm installing a cabinet for storage to keep my supplies clean of dust and poop.
• Add a lip at the doorway to keep bedding in the coop.

Just my suggestions! You will love your conversion!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do you have a link to the specific shed you are looking at? It could help

One 16” shelf on right side wall for storage and 2 rows of 3 nesting boxes below shelf. That should leave me room for a dog crate if needed for isolation etc.

3 Nests should be plenty for 12 hens. I don't know how high that shelf is so i don't kniow how much room you will have underneath it, but I agree. The chickens will probably wind up sleeping up there if it is higher than your roosts.

Roosts on left wall - two rows of 6 feet or three rows of 5 feet. I don’t typically have more than 12 chickens.

I'd go with the two. The typical recommended set-up is the first roost 12" off of the wall, the second roost another 12" over so 2 feet. If you use a droppings board that would extend another 12" so 3 feet. You are limiting how much room you have to work in there.

Chicken door bottom left of center back wall (medium size dog door with lock?)

Again, which dog door are you looking at? I find different "medium" ones have different dimensions. Unless you have turkeys any of them should work but I'd like to see details.

Since it’s Georgia and hot, humid, and rainy, I’m concerned about ventilation. All six windows will be able to open and close. With these plus the ridge vent is this enough?

Yes

It also does drop into the teens and 20s in the winter usually after being 60° the day before, so drastic temp changes happen.

For chickens over 6 weeks old that is not bad at all.

Is 8x8 big enough? I have a 152sf covered run. I used to free range all day, but I am transitioning to a few hours a day when I am outside due to a very increased predator load.

For 12 chickens, yes. But if you decide to integrate new chickens or have broody hens raise chicks with the flock, let's chat.

 

[Starrs]

Do you have a link to the specific shed you are looking at? It could help


3 Nests should be plenty for 12 hens. I don't know how high that shelf is so i don't kniow how much room you will have underneath it, but I agree. The chickens will probably wind up sleeping up there if it is higher than your roosts.


I'd go with the two. The typical recommended set-up is the first roost 12" off of the wall, the second roost another 12" over so 2 feet. If you use a droppings board that would extend another 12" so 3 feet. You are limiting how much room you have to work in there.


Again, which dog door are you looking at? I find different "medium" ones have different dimensions. Unless you have turkeys any of them should work but I'd like to see details.


Yes


For chickens over 6 weeks old that is not bad at all.


For 12 chickens, yes. But if you decide to integrate new chickens or have broody hens raise chicks with the flock, let's chat.

Here is a link https://www.tuffshed.com/products/#/details/Premier Ranch/specs

I have not raised chicks before, but I am going part time in a few months (and will retire in a few years) and do want to raise chicks at some point.

I think I will nix the shelf.

 

[Starrs]

I have an 8x8 shed for a coop. It's fantastic.

My only suggestions are:

• Make sure you have approx 1sq ft of ventilation per bird. I have a larger flock, so I just leave the doors open (they open into a secure run). I never close my windows, either. Those 6 windows should be good if they're pretty large.
• Replace screens with hardware cloth.
• Use fewer nesting boxes. I think you could get away with 3 I stead of 6.
• Make sure nesting boxes are lower than the roosts.
• Use poop boards under the roosts. I'd be tempted to use the shelf you describe for that, if I'm correctly picturing what you describe. Birds will end up on that shelf anyway. I'm planning on switching to a 10x10 shed soon, and I'm installing a cabinet for storage to keep my supplies clean of dust and poop.
• Add a lip at the doorway to keep bedding in the coop.

Just my suggestions! You will love your conversion!

You are completely right about the shelf! I am going to remove that. What made you go to the larger size?

 

[Aunt Angus]

You are completely right about the shelf! I am going to remove that. What made you go to the larger size?

Chicken math. I have 18 chickens and 8 ducks now.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

Here is my hot climate chicken-keeping article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

Since it’s Georgia and hot, humid, and rainy, I’m concerned about ventilation. All six windows will be able to open and close. With these plus the ridge vent is this enough? It also does drop into the teens and 20s in the winter usually after being 60° the day before, so drastic temp changes happen.

Depends on how big those windows are and how good the ridge vent is. 1 square foot per adult, standard-sized hen is the usual guideline but my experience in central NC is that I have to have either DEEP natural shade under trees or at least 2-3 times that amount of ventilation to keep the coop temperature under 100F on a 90F day.

Your goal is to have the temperature and humidity the same inside and out.

Here's my article on coop ventilation: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

If it were me, I'd replace the doors completely with doors made from hardware cloth in addition to the other ventilation.

Dramatic temperature shifts *could*, but won't *necessarily* lead to condensation on the underside of the roof that could drip into the bedding and onto the chickens. Maximizing airflow directly under the roof is often a good idea in these circumstances.

Is 8x8 big enough? I have a 152sf covered run. I used to free range all day, but I am transitioning to a few hours a day when I am outside due to a very increased predator load.

In theory 8x8 is enough for 16 chickens.

 

[3KillerBs]

I almost forgot, here is a fabulous plastic shed conversion one of our members did: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-scoop-on-a-rubbermaid-big-max-coop.76444/

 

[Aunt Angus]

Welcome to BYC.

Here is my hot climate chicken-keeping article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/



Depends on how big those windows are and how good the ridge vent is. 1 square foot per adult, standard-sized hen is the usual guideline but my experience in central NC is that I have to have either DEEP natural shade under trees or at least 2-3 times that amount of ventilation to keep the coop temperature under 100F on a 90F day.

Your goal is to have the temperature and humidity the same inside and out.

Here's my article on coop ventilation: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

If it were me, I'd replace the doors completely with doors made from hardware cloth in addition to the other ventilation.

Dramatic temperature shifts *could*, but won't *necessarily* lead to condensation on the underside of the roof that could drip into the bedding and onto the chickens. Maximizing airflow directly under the roof is often a good idea in these circumstances.



In theory 8x8 is enough for 16 chickens.

I think this article about ventilation is the best on this site (of those I've read, which are many, actually).

 

[3KillerBs]

I think this article about ventilation is the best on this site (of those I've read, which are many, actually).

Well, I had plenty of advice and feedback when I was getting my diagrams right.