Metal Shed For Chicken Coop ?

[ObedienceGoldens]

We just bought a metal shed for a chicken house.
It is 10' x14'. I wanted a wooden one but it was way out of our price range.
This one was only $300.
We are going to install windows and a small door for entry.
Now my question is should I cover the inner walls with plywood or
will it stay warm enough in the winter for the chickens to be comfortable?
They will free range during the day. We have (right now) about 50 laying hens.
Thank youo [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[egon]

Suggest the plywood and some insulation plus ventilation. Is this intended for 50 hens?

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ObedienceGoldens]

Hi Egon,
We will have ventilation in the shed.
Yes, this would be for 50 chickens.. Should be big enough?
Thank You
[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Fred]

I'm in the process of starting into chickens.
I was out looking at sheds today and was thinking of getting a wooden one and I was still going to insulate it with some 1-1/2" insulboard I have left over from a job plus cover that with something "non-peckable". Also, from the research I've been doing I was under the impression it was 4 sq ft/bird, so an 8'x8' would allow me 8-10 birds comfortably from what I read others do. Unless you are raising small chickens, I don't think you are big enough.

I just ordered a book on how to build chicken coops. I've run across quite a few pics online, but nothing specific enough to tell me where to put the nesting boxes compared to the perches and things I have no idea about. I also read it's a good idea to have access from outside the coop to gather the eggs. I was standing in a shed running all this through my head and decided it would be beter to build one myself, but I would be very interested in your modifications if you can post some pics when you're through.

[ObedienceGoldens]

Hi Fred,
Sure, once we get the shed done I will post pictures.
We read that you need 1 to 2 sq feet per chicken
Putting in windows.. We also have some sliding glass doors..
thinking of using them so they would have more light..
Still in the planning stage [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Thank you,
Karen

[Fred]

I'm still in the planning stages, too [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I can't wait to get going, though. I was told there is a poultry show coming up about an hour from me, in Hamburg, NY on the 15th of May. I'm hoping to get my birds there, so I better get hustling on my coop.

And I just saw one of the coyotes that's been rumored to be around in my back field yesterday morning, so that changes the location of my chicken coop a little. Now it needs to be "strategically positioned" if you know what I mean... [img]/forums/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[ObedienceGoldens]

Just got the shed up last weekend... Now waiting to put windows,vent, etc
Will send pictures as soon as it is done