It’s important to find the best place for your chicken because poultry is one of our main home income sources. Often, we start with two or three chicks, and because they grow fast, you end up having trouble with them in your house.
Thankfully, we have a great idea on how to turn a shed into a chicken coop. So, if you have an old unused shed, you don’t have to break the bank to keep your chicken safe and comfortable.
That aside, poultry farming is awesome because you do little work and earn the income or get food for the family. Chickens produce eggs and meat for home consumption. On the other hand, you can sell them and their products to earn income.
Luckily, keeping chickens in a shed is easy. You will have to perform a DIY job for a few days. Ideally, you can divide it into small projects to tackle in the evening after work, and within a few days, your chicken coop is ready.
Ahem! Read on and learn how to turn a shed into a chicken coop.
Contents
How to Turn a Shed Into a Chicken Coop
You need to perform the following tasks;
Relocating the Shed
1. Find a location
Location matters a lot when converting a shed into a chicken coop. If you had located a shed in a safe area to store your items, it’s time to relocate it to a favorable environment for your chicken.
First, note that chickens love scratching with their feet to uncover food. Additionally, they have no regard for plants. They can damage your nice flowers and other plants.
Moreover, chickens need an area with a cool breeze for relaxation during summer. Also, ensure the coop can get sun during winter.
2. Level the Ground
You need to prepare the ground before moving the shed to a new location. Clear the vegetation around and level the ground where the shed will sit.
3. Move the shed
Move everything out of the shed before transferring it. Remember, the shed is heavy, so you need to brace the shed and find ways to move it.
Ideally, attach a chain to the reinforcement board at the base. Then, secure it at the back of a tractor or a truck. In case you don’t own truck or a tractor, you can hire one for the job.
On the other hand, prepare several logs as the rolling bed. At first, insert the logs at the bottom of the shed and remove the concrete raisers for easy movement.
Once the tractor starts moving, you will perform the task of lifting the back logs to the front as you head to the new location. The process should be slow.
4. Set the shed in a new location and stabilize the base
Use concrete blocks on the corners as raisers. Then, fill the other parts with blocks around the shed. This will prevent the predators from digging and getting into the coop.
Afterward, you can lay a concrete floor or use 6×6 timbers for the flooring.
See also: Best DIY storage shed kits
Dealing With the Interior and Exterior
Now that you have moved the shed, you need to perform some DIY activities. Take a look;
1. The door
Apart from the shed door you will use to access the coop; you need a small door for the chicken to get into the pen.
Make a door of 12×12, probably using plywood, and install some hinges and a latch.
Hinges
Latch
See also: Shed door lock ideas
2. Nesting boxes
Chickens need a special place to lay their eggs. As such, nesting boxes are used by many poultry farmers.
12×12 is the ideal size for a nesting box. You should fill the box with bedding like pine shavings, straw, or sawdust. You can also add a few fake eggs to entice the chicken to lay eggs on them.
Ideally, you can make a row of wooden boxes or use plastic buckets. However, the nesting boxes should be raised to prevent the chicken from pooping on them.
Screw them on the shed’s wall with strong screws. The chicken can jump to a height of 10 inches.
3. Roasting bars
Roasters are bars that chickens step on while sleeping. Naturally, chickens love a raised sleeping area.
You can stagger the wooden bars across the coop for them to hop. On the other hand, you can opt for roasters with a ladder design.
4. Windows
A fifth of each wall should be ventilation. Chicken love a cool area with a breeze. You can use the existing windows or cut some openings on the walls.
Install a hardware cloth on the windows by securing them with screws to keep off the predators.
5. Vents
Create vents above the floor to circulate fresh air around the coop. The vents allow the ammonia from the chicken droppings out. You can cover the vents with welded wire to keep predators off.
See also: How to destroy a rats nest under shed
6. Hang waterers and feeders
Chickens have an innate behavior of scratching the ground to forage for food beneath. As such, if you leave the food on the floor, they will waste it.
To avoid wastage, hang the waterers and feeders at least 8 to 10 inches from the ground.
Drinker Gallon
Hanging Feeder
7. Dropping board
For easy cleaning, lay droppings boards beneath the roasting bars. The boards are easy to scratch regularly to remove the waste.
8. Fan
Install a fan on the roof to cool the coop during the summer season and keep the chicken comfortable.
9. Outdoor run
Chickens usually remain outside during dusk or early dawn. During this time, most predators may be around. So, it’s wise to have an outdoor run made of chicken wire to access the outside.
See also: Storage shed skirting ideas
10. Bedding
Lay wood shavings, sawdust, or straw on the floor to keep the chickens warm and introduce them into their coop.
FAQs About How to Turn a Shed into a Chicken Coop
Can I Make a Chicken Coop From a Shed?
You can turn a shed into a chicken coop but ensure it meets all the requirements to keep the chicken comfortable.
Can Chickens Live in Shed?
Chicken can live in a shed, but you have to customize it first to meet the standards.
Does a Chicken Coop Need to be Off the Ground?
The chicken coop needs to be off the ground to prevent moisture and leave space for good drainage.
