Years ago we turned an old smokehouse into a coop. Someone offered my husband some bantam/game chickens so we put did what we could. There were already holes from rot or age so we made one of them bigger so the chickens could go in the yard area. We put rocks & chunks of concrete where we saw other holes. We fenced one side of the building.
The chickens eventually died out & the smokehouse/coop hasn't been used since. We made obvious (now) mistakes. There wasn't a door for the yard part so no way to get in there. The holes in the fence were too big, allowing chicks to run in & out.
I need to take the whole thing down & start all over. I just don't know what to do next!!! I'm hoping to find an old screen door & getting smaller fencing. Chickens will free range & only roost in the coop so the yard will stay small but I may make it bigger than what it is now.
The building is about 6 feet by 6 feet. Height inside is 7 or 8 feet tall. The floor is hard packed dirt. I'm wondering if I should make the floor concrete & have a pipe going out one of the holes for easy clean up? Just spray it down with a water hose & everything goes out the pipe.
My husband is disabled & won't be able to help with anything but he really wants chickens again. And that'll give him something to do & a reason to get up. I'm going to set him up some chairs close by but since they'll be loose, not too sure how it's going to work.
Can someone give me step by step instructions? I'll be doing most of the work myself but as I get the money (& find reliable help), I'll get help.
I haven't made up my mind on what breed. We both like bantams because they're small & manageable. But we're wanting egg layers so the regular size might be best. How many adults will fit in the coop do you think?
