What Shed to get for Converting to a Coop?

[RJM1109]

Hello All,

I am currently building a coop for myself, however a friend of mine is looking to get a shed to convert to a coop. Since he doesn’t have as much time to start from nothing. He rather have a starting frame and to build off of it and renovate.

Does anyone have a recommendation or a link to an affordable shed with good bones and a good structure. One with possible vents and or “openable” windows for ventilation?

 

[DobieLover]

Hello All,

I am currently building a coop for myself, however a friend of mine is looking to get a shed to convert to a coop. Since he doesn’t have as much time to start from nothing. He rather have a starting frame and to build off of it and renovate.

Does anyone have a recommendation or a link to an affordable shed with good bones and a good structure. One with possible vents and or “openable” windows for ventilation?

Have him visit a local shed builder and ask if they have any used sheds that have been removed from customers properties that he could have delivered to his site. Also look on FB Marketplace and CL for used sheds.

 

[RJM1109]

Have him visit a local shed builder and ask if they have any used sheds that have been removed from customers properties that he could have delivered to his site. Also look on FB Marketplace and CL for used sheds.

Thank you!

Yes we’ve been checking CL and FB for sheds. There’s either ones that are completely falling apart or ads for people who build custom sheds.

He tried a local shed builder and even for a used one there like $2k and +$3k for a new shed

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I paid $2,000 for my 8x10 shed over 10 years ago and have been pretty happy with it, though I've since made some modifications, so that sounds about right. If you don't have time, you need to have money and vice versa. Have him look on the coop section here for ideas.

 

[RJM1109]

I paid $2,000 for my 8x10 shed over 10 years ago and have been pretty happy with it, though I've since made some modifications, so that sounds about right. If you don't have time, you need to have money and vice versa. Have him look on the coop section here for ideas.

8x10 wooden shed? Or did you go the metal route?

How much did you end up putting into your shed to convert to a coop?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

8x10 wooden shed? Or did you go the metal route?

How much did you end up putting into your shed to convert to a coop?

Wooden, yes, it's a Mennonite shed. Not much, I've put in nests, roosts and poop boards. I had the builders put in a window and I've since added ventilation opposite the window. I've done it piecemeal, hiring handymen, and not keeping track of the cost, or doing it through barter. I'm an old woman so doing it myself is no longer an option. I do wish I had put vinyl flooring in or otherwise sealed it but it's held up well and been worth the money. I wouldn't do metal because of condensation.

 

[Sefirothe]

I paid $2200 for my 8x12 shed. That included tax and delivery, an exterior nest box (that was mounted too high), a pop door cut in that we ended up reconfiguring anyway for an automatic door, a window, and a useless set of roosts.

It required work on top of that to make it chicken worthy....and the nest boxes still leak somewhat. I hope to address that with some more caulk when the weather warms up.

If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten a plain shed, not one marketed as a coop.

I had to go to Ohio (I'm in PA) to get this one, everything similarly sized was double the cost locally.

All that to say maybe expand your search? The company I worked with must have had a couple slow sales months because when I initially approached them they said I was out of their delivery range. A few weeks later they had a special for free delivery to OH and PA, so when I contacted them again they were then willing to work with me.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Do you use the ladder to gather eggs? Other than that (and no ventilation) it looks pretty good.

The biggest mistake I made with mine was just having it set on the ground with no foundation. I def should have paid for a concrete pad, leveled and tamped. Blocks would have sunk, and I didn't even think to do that. Even footers would have helped, but a pad would have been been best due to snakes, skunks and other varmints living underneath.