Where to start? Old, abandoned coop repair

[peacRN]

We just bought an old farmhouse this summer. It came with this 12x14 ft chicken coop that clearly hasn’t seen any birds in years. I have a ton of work to do, and I’m not sure where to start in terms of the best materials to use or where to begin. I’m not very handy and I don’t want to rely entirely on my husband or my dad to do everything.

From the outside alone, you can tell the roof needs to be replaced and it needs some hardware cloth or something around the bottom.

The inside is divided in half. I haven’t measured them yet to see if they are the same dimensions

Standing in one half, looking toward the door. I don’t know if the electricity that’s wired out here is still working.

The back section. Obviously the roof is no longer in good shape, and there are small sections of rotted out walls. The chickens would probably be put in this half of the coop. I’m planning on building the run so that it’s attached to the left wall here.

The second window, in the half of the coop where the chickens will be.

Another view. The run will be built off of the left side. Probably a 10x20 foot run. They’ll have a decent amount of shade from the old 100 year old trees growing nearby. None of the trees are dead or dying, and there aren’t any huge branches that I’d be concerned about falling on the coop or run.

It’s clear that I’ll also need more ventilation. A lot more. Need advice on that for sure.

 

[FrostRanger]

Hmm, I would start with the roof since water getting in could damage any repairs you make inside.

As for what's next I'll let the handier members chime in lol

 

[aart]

Definitely replace roof, rafters and sheathing.
Good opportunity to build large roof overhangs with fascia and open soffits. This will give you good ventilation even in winter.

Do those windows open?

 

[peacRN]

Definitely replace roof, rafters and sheathing.
Good opportunity to build large roof overhangs with fascia and open soffits. This will give you good ventilation even in winter.

Do those windows open?

They don’t, unfortunately. Adding soffits and fascia when we redo the roof is gonna be the way to go, I bet. I may also add some ventilation fans on both sides.

 

[aart]

They don’t, unfortunately.

You may be able to remove the window panels and top hinge them.
That's what I did in my shed.

 

[peacRN]

You may be able to remove the window panels and top hinge them.
That's what I did in my shed.

That’s a great idea, I’ll have to look into it. Thank you!

 

[gtaus]

It’s clear that I’ll also need more ventilation. A lot more. Need advice on that for sure.

Adding soffits and fascia when we redo the roof is gonna be the way to go, I bet. I may also add some ventilation fans on both sides.

This thread just popped up on a list for me. Don't know if you are still working on this project, or not. Would love to hear any updates and more pictures.

FWIW, you might be able to get by with passive cross-ventilation. I have a couple of screen windows that I open for side-to-side ventilation and a couple of vents on the roof line for end-to-end ventilation. It's not as much ventilation as recommended by most people, but my coop was built twice as big as needed for my chickens. Plus, I have a gambrel roof that allows a lot of air space above the chickens as they roost. So, I did not need as much ventilation as I thought I would.

Of course, that all depends on where you live and your local climate. In any case, I would try to find a way to improve ventilation without the need for electric ventilation fans. Unless you invest in barn fans built for the dust, you risk seizing up a normal fan motor and causing a potential fire.

Hope your upgrades are working out for you. I only wish I had something like yours when I got into chickens. You are way ahead of where many of us start with chickens. Would love to hear about your project upgrades.

 

[Penpal]

I might clean the shed first off. Use bleach water.