Refurbishing An 1880’s Barn Coop

15 Replies

by Texas Homesteader

We have really enjoyed raising these baby chicks so far. Their antics are good for hours of entertainment! 

But our temporary coop is only large enough for 4 grown chickens and we have 6. And these chicks are growing fast. We’d love for them to finally call our 1880’s barn coop their home, as it was meant to be!

We're finally ready for our chicks to call our 1880's barn coop their home. But steps were needed to keep them safe. See what we did! #TexasHomesteader

Years ago when we had the barn refurbished, the builders replaced the crumbling exterior boards of our barn, leaving the barn’s old internal areas intact. The floor was sound but the planks were not tight enough to form a good barrier. We decided adding a layer of plywood over it would offer the chickens a little more protection.

Next we added nesting boxes for them. As much as I hate plastic we decided these bins would be great nesting boxes and be easy to keep clean. They are placed up off the floor and anchored to the wall.

Nesting Boxes Using Crates. We're finally ready for our chicks to call our 1880's barn coop their home. But steps were needed to keep them safe. See what we did! #TexasHomesteader

We placed an old gate panel against the adjoining wall to allow them to perch off the floor and we sprinkled hay to cover the coop’s floor.

We nailed chicken wire tightly across the door and anchored it securely to the floor so we can open the door for ventilation during the day and still close them in at night. They’ll stay confined to the coop for a few days as they learn that this is their home. 

By the way, this is the same procedure we use to teach our Free-Range Hens To Come Home Each Night instead of roosting in the trees, under the barn, etc.

Their new house is finally ready, it’s time for them to take the next big step!

The coop is 7 feet wide by 9 feet deep so the chicks are loving their spacious new (old) diggs!

~TxH~

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15 thoughts on “Refurbishing An 1880’s Barn Coop”

  1. Pingback: Teaching Free-Range Chickens To Come HOME

  2. Bee Girl

    How wonderful! It looks as though the ladies are very happy with their new, bigger space! I love that you used an old panel for them to roost on!

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    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      Yes ma’am, they’re loving it. And they love roosting on the corral panel too so it worked out great. ~TxH~

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  3. Texas Homesteader Post author

    Thank you Kathy – we’re new at this chicken-raising thing and soaking up all the information we can! ~TxH~

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  4. Bonnie

    I love how you reused things. Especially the fence panel.

    Reply ↓
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      Thanks Bonnie – it’s important to me from an environmental standpoint to try to use what we already have before considering a purchase. Mission accomplished! 🙂 ~TxH~

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  6. Joan @ The Chicken Mama

    Love it! What a beautiful, useful barn. Cute chickens too 🙂 Love the gate as a roost – use what you’ve got!

    Reply ↓
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      Yep Joan, I think at TMR we’ve made “use what you’ve got” into an Olympic event! LOL ~TxH~

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  7. PK Kirkpatrick

    Wow those baby chicks are growing like weeds. They look like they love the new spacious area.

    Reply ↓
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      Yes ma’am, PK – they’re loving it. I’m loving the fact that this beautiful old barn is once again housing chickens! ~TxH~

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  8. Rachael

    Now THIS is what I picture when I think of a chicken coop! It’s absolutely gorgeous, and I love knowing that you reused materials that would otherwise go to waste. Plus, those hens look mighty thrilled, too! AWESOME!

    Reply ↓
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      Thanks Rachael – we’ve wanted to be able to use this section of the barn for years, but now that we’re finally getting our feet wet raising chickens it’s a dream come true. The old coop is once again housing chickens the way it did waaaaaaay back then! Love it. ~TxH~

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  9. Ashley

    I love your nest boxes! I prefer the look of wood as well, but I love how these look so easy to keep clean.

    Reply ↓
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      Thanks Ashley, we were looking high & low for something that would work & I think these will be perfect! ~TxH~

      Reply ↓

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